Lexus IS
Owners filed 595 complaints across 29 model years of the Lexus IS. The 2006 drew the most (143); the 2026 the fewest (1).
Model years29
Complaints595
Recalls25
Fires5
Deaths1
Every Lexus IS model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | — | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Routine | |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | — | — | Structure | Routine | |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | — | — | Visibility | Routine | |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | — | — | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2022 | 4 | 1 | — | — | Fuel/Propulsion System | Routine | |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | — | 1 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 | — | — | Engine | Routine | |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | — | — | Visibility/Wiper | Routine | |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | — | — | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2017 | 10 | 0 | — | — | Fuel/Propulsion System | Routine | |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | — | — | Fuel/Propulsion System | Routine | |
| 2015 | 9 | 0 | — | — | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2014 | 12 | 0 | — | 1 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2013 | 9 | 0 | — | 2 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2012 | 18 | 0 | — | 3 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2011 | 15 | 0 | — | — | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2010 | 40 | 1 | — | 7 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2009 | 40 | 2 | — | 4 | Vehicle Speed Control | Routine | |
| 2008 | 102 | 3 | — | 4 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2007 | 122 | 3 | — | 6 | Structure | Fatalities reported | |
| 2006 | 143 | 7 | 5 | 3 | Structure | Routine | |
| 2005 | 12 | 1 | — | 2 | Structure | Routine | |
| 2004 | 10 | 1 | — | 1 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2003 | 12 | 1 | — | 5 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2002 | 12 | 1 | — | 1 | Structure | Routine | |
| 2001 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly | Routine | |
| 2000 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 1999 | 1 | 1 | — | — | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 1998 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | Routine |
Which Lexus IS years should you avoid?
On raw complaint volume the 2006 is the weakest year on record, with 143 complaints concentrated in the structure. It carries 7 recalls.
Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.