2013 Lexus IS 350C with approximately 56,000 miles experienced engine smoking on startup. The vehicle has been regularly maintained according to the manufacturer's recommended service schedule. The Lexus dealership diagnosed oil entering the combustion chamber and documented that the cylinder walls are scratched, allowing oil to pass the oil-control piston rings. Based on the internal engine damage, the Lexus dealer has recommended complete engine replacement. I am concerned that this type of significant internal engine damage at only approximately 56,000 miles could result in progressive oil consumption, loss of engine performance and potentially engine failure while the vehicle is being operated. The vehicle has not been abused or subjected to unusually high mileage and has received regular maintenance. Lexus corporate was contacted regarding the premature engine failure and a request for goodwill assistance was denied. I am submitting this complaint because I believe an engine requiring complete replacement due to scratched cylinder walls at approximately 56,000 miles warrants review to determine whether similar failures involving the piston rings, cylinder walls or oil entering the combustion chambers have occurred in other Lexus vehicles equipped with this engine.
2013 Lexus IS
Owners filed 9 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. No safety recall has been issued.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Visibility › Windshield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Air Bags | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
What owners reported
Newest filingsSee attached document for complaint.
This model was affected by the originally cosmetic, but well documented "sticky dash" recall. I am an automotive enthusiast who has worked within the industry for over 12 years, including notifying customers of NHTSA recalls and assisting with scheduling recalls to be performed. The dashboard can be severely melted to the point of becoming a mirror finish, I was driving at night in the headlights from an opposing truck reflected off the shiny surface of the dashboard having been melted by sunlight. I have great vision and was wearing prescription lenses, the incident nearly caused an oncoming collision. I slid into a ditch briefly and did not sustain damage to my vehicle.
The dashboard is melting - it is sticky and shiny. The glare it causes on the windshield is horrific. I have a very difficult time seeing when the sun is out. An independent service center has inspected and confirmed it is caused by the melting dashboard. I first noticed it a few months ago. I travel to Nashville often, which is a 3.5 hour drive, and the sight obstruction at interstate driving speeds and traffic is challenging to say the least. I am afraid to drive my car with my granddaughter in with me because it is truly dangerous.
I am writing to bring to your attention the grave matter of odometer rollback fraud, consumer law violations, and a series of fraudulent activities that have occurred in connection with my recent vehicle purchase. I am seeking a settlement of $60,000 to rectify the significant damages and hardships I have endured as a result of these unethical practices. The issues at hand stem from the fraudulent rollback of the odometer by 100,000 miles on the vehicle I purchased from a moving rides dealership. This deception has not only violated various consumer protection laws and Department of Motor Vehicle regulations but has also endangered my safety and well-being by knowingly selling me a vehicle that was not roadworthy and unsafe to operate . In light of these unfortunate events, I would like to detail a few aspects for which I am seeking compensation: 1. Reimbursement for Travel Expenses: I incurred considerable expenses, both monetary and time-wise, traveling a total of 1,025 miles for trips related to the purchase and subsequent issues with the vehicle. The 22 hours spent on the road and the three days of missed work have imposed severe financial strain. 2. Insurance Payment Refund: I was coerced into obtaining insurance coverage before taking possession of the vehicle, due to misrepresentation of the condition of the vehicle I didn’t get to take the car home till three weeks after the purchase. 3. Down Payment Refund: The undue distress caused by this fraudulent transaction war
VALLEY PLATE LEAK DUE TO THE FACT THAT TOYOTA/LEXUS UTILIZED THE IMPROPER SEALANT AND USED THE IMPROPER AMOUNT, LEADING TO THE HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKING COOLANT ONCE THE ORIGINAL, INADEQUATE SEALANT BEGINS TO DISENTEGRATE. THIS COULD CAUSE A CONDITION WHERE THE ENGINE COULD FAIL AND SOMEONE COULD GET HURT. FURTHERMORE, ALL ISFS WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A CRACKED RH MANIFOLD ON THE #8 RUNNER. THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD IN ADDITION TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.
EXHAUST HEADER LEAK, AUDIBLE TICKING SOUND ONCE WARMED UP IN DRIVE
THE FUEL PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING THE MOTOR TO STALL AND DIE. WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE MOTOR AND WAS TOWED FROM THE HIGHWAY TO A DEALER WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED.
WHILE PARK AT A STOP LIGHT, THE AUTO, THIRD IN LINE WAS IMPACTED BY A TRUCK TRAVELING 40-50 MPH, NO BRAKING, AND HIT AND RUN. MY WIFE WAS ALONE IN THE CAR, WHICH WAS DRIVEN INTO A PICKUP AND SUBSEQUENTLY INTO A BUICK. OF THE 12 AIRBAGS AVAILABLE, NOT ONE ACTUATED, CAUSING SERIOUS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL BRUISING WITH THE SEAT BELT AND STEERING WHEEL IMPACT. THE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE LOOSE FROM ITS MOUNTING, DAMAGE MORE THAN $50,000. IN ADDITION, A BROKEN WRIST RESULTED. COMPLAINTS TO THE LOCAL DEALER CONCERNING LACK OF SAFETY FROM AIR BAGS WENT UNANSWERED AND COMMENTS FROM NATIONAL OFFICE SAID THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO OPERATE. SINCE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OCCURRED, SHE IS AFRAID TO RIDE IN THE VEHICLE AS WE CONSIDER IT UNSAFE. I DID NOT KNOW WHO ELSE TO COMPLAIN TO AND AM ADDING THIS NOTE TO WHAT WILL PROBABLY BE A GROWING DATABASE. I COULD NOT PROVIDE THE VIN, AS THE CAR HAS STILL NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *JS
9 of 9 complaints, reproduced as filed.
Across model years
Worst on record: 2006| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Deaths | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2022 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2017 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2015 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2014 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2013 — this page | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2012 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2011 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2010 | 40 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2009 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2008 | 102 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2007 | 122 | 3 | 0 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 2006 | 143 | 7 | 5 | 0 | Routine |
| 2005 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2004 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2003 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2002 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2001 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2000 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1999 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1998 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
Reading this record
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.