Lexus IS: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Lexus IS problems by model year, from 403 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2012 (40%, 6 drivetrain complaints) and 2010 (35%, 16 drivetrain complaints). 2 of the 5 Lexus IS years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2015 (23%), 2014 (29%) and 2011 (32%). 2015 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2010 drew the most drivetrain complaints (16 of 50 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021, 2022 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Lexus IS year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 IS | elevated | 35% | 16 | 112 | 2/5 | 6 |
| 2011 IS | no elevated signal | 32% | 6 | 62 | 3/5 | 3 |
| 2012 IS | high | 40% | 6 | 41 | 1/5 | 2 |
| 2013 IS | too few to score | – | 4 | 13 | – | 2 |
| 2014 IS | no elevated signal | 29% | 16 | 65 | 4/5 | 2 |
| 2015 IS | no elevated signal | 23% | 6 | 30 | 5/5 | 0 |
| 2016 IS | too few to score | – | 3 | 18 | – | 0 |
| 2017 IS | too few to score | – | 6 | 21 | – | 2 |
| 2018 IS | too few to score | – | 4 | 9 | – | 0 |
| 2019 IS | too few to score | – | 2 | 10 | – | 0 |
| 2020 IS | too few to score | – | 3 | 9 | – | 0 |
| 2021 IS | too few to score | – | 1 | 3 | – | 0 |
| 2022 IS | too few to score | – | 3 | 5 | – | 1 |
| 2023 IS | too few to score | – | 2 | 5 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Lexus IS years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Lexus IS fuel system recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the Lexus IS involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 8 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2014 | 14V647000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2010 |
| Jan 2020 | 20V012000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2014 |
6 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2009 | 09V388000 | vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal | 2010 |
| Jan 2013 | 13V030000 | visibility/wiper | 2010–2011 |
| May 2016 | 16V340000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Jan 2017 | 17V006000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2012 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V024000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V005000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 |
What the free pages leave out on the Lexus IS
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Lexus IS
What are the worst years for the Lexus IS?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Lexus IS years are the 2012 (40% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2010 (35% of relevant complaints, elevated). 2 of 5 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Lexus IS?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Lexus IS years are the 2015 (23%), the 2014 (29%) and the 2011 (32%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Lexus IS have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 5 scored years, 50 of 162 relevant NHTSA complaints (31%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010 and 2012.
Is the Lexus IS reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 2 of 5 Lexus IS years we score have an elevated complaint share and 3 do not. Pooled across those years, 31% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Lexus IS?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Lexus IS years we track, out of 8 in total: 14V647000 (Oct 2014, 2010), 20V012000 (Jan 2020, 2014). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.