Lexus IS — the 15 years we've written up
2010–2024, side by side: what goes wrong on each, what the fix costs, and what they typically ask. 6 of the 15 carry a high-severity issue.
What this page is
These are the 15 Lexus IS model years Kestrel has done the homework on — not every year Lexus built one. A year that isn't listed here isn't a year we're warning you off; it's one we haven't written up yet. Ranking a whole model run would mean telling you about years we've never looked at.
Lexus IS by year
How many owner complaints NHTSA holds. A big number usually means a lot were sold; the shape matters more than the total.
Year by year
Looking for a particular engine or trim?
One report of a driver's door window shattering at highway speed — $400–$900 for a door glass replaced and the door card refitted
Display, audio and camera view blacking out, with repeat dealer visits and no fix — $0–$300 for a software update; $1,100–$2,400 if the display unit is replaced
Sudden stall while driving, with no restart and a tow — Not yet priced — a safety matter first, a repair bill second
IS 300 RWD's 2.0L turbo: buy on the oil and coolant history, and prefer the V6 if the price is close — $300–$900 for coolant lines or a gasket; $1,500–$2,800 for a turbocharger
IS 300 RWD 2.0L turbo: intermittent misfires, flashing check-engine light, reduced power the dealer could not cure — $150–$400 for a coil or plug set; $600–$1,500 for an injector or an intake valve cleaning
Rear tires shred and one car lost a rear wheel at 2,000 miles — the crash, the fire and every injury on this record — $150–$250 for a four-wheel alignment; $600–$1,400 for a pair of rear tires
Three-to-five-second power lag from a stop, and a fuel pump notice with no part to fit — $150–$400 for diagnosis and a filter or sensor; $700–$1,300 for a fuel pump
Low-pressure fuel pump can fail and stall the engine while driving — two recalls that do not reach every VIN — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed; $700–$1,300 for a fuel pump on a VIN the campaigns skipped
Intermittent stumble, lean code and a stall while driving — fuel delivery on a thin record — $150–$400 for diagnosis and a filter or sensor; $700–$1,300 for a fuel pump
Carbon buildup on intake valves (4GR-FSE) — $600-$1,200
Direct-injection carbon buildup — $300-$600
Takata passenger airbag inflator — two campaigns, one of them naming this car (recall 18V024) — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed
Takata passenger inflator recall — 26 of 41 complaints are owners waiting on the part — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed
Takata passenger inflator — 69% of the record is owners waiting for this recall — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed
Takata passenger airbag inflator — 67 complaints, most of them about the fix (recall) — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed
9 of these 15 have no high-severity issue in our write-up. That means we didn't find an expensive recurring fault — not that one cannot exist on the specific vehicle you're looking at.
Looking at one in particular?
This page covers the Lexus IS in general. The Kestrel report covers the one you're looking at — the asking price against the market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
Get My Verdict — $7.99Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for that year.
Known issues 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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