2015 Lexus IS 250 — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $15,000–$21,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.
Deciding between model years? Compare the 15 Lexus IS 250 years we've written up →
Kestrel Take
Slow, and that is genuinely the biggest complaint anyone has. The 2.5L V6 is underpowered for the chassis but the car is beautifully built and essentially low-maintenance. If you want a small luxury sedan you can ignore for a decade, this is the answer.
What we checked
Checked against public records, 2026-09-25
NHTSA holds 16 owner complaints for the 2015 Lexus IS 250, and no recall campaigns.
That is too small a record to read a pattern from, so we are not going to pretend otherwise — with numbers this low one owner moves the percentage by a lot. What has been filed is grouped under electrics and electronics (4), airbags (3), the body and structure (1). Treat those as things to look at, not as the vehicle's known weaknesses. A thin file usually means few of these were sold or few owners filed. It is not evidence the vehicle is trouble-free, and the issues below are our own research rather than a reading of this record.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2015 Lexus IS 250
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
The direct-injected V6 builds carbon, causing rough idle and misfires. Toyota's dual-injection later engines avoid this; the IS 250 does not.
Repair cost (estimate): $600-$1,200
Source: not yet checked against public records.
204 horsepower in a 3,600-pound car with a six-speed automatic. Not a defect but the reason resale is soft — and the reason it is good value.
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Weeping around 120k miles. Routine.
Repair cost (estimate): $500-$900
Source: not yet checked against public records.
No CarPlay, slow response, and a mouse-style controller in later trims.
Repair cost (estimate): $0-$700
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under electrics and electronics (4).
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Rough idle and misfire codes with no intake cleaning
- ✗Salt-belt underbody corrosion
- ✗Modified suspension or exhaust
- ✗Accident repair on a car bought for build quality
Good Signs
- ✓Intake valves cleaned with documentation
- ✓Full Lexus service history
- ✓IS 350 if you want the same car with adequate power
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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