Comparison

CHEVROLET CORVETTE vs LEXUS IS

Side-by-side comparison of the CHEVROLET CORVETTE and LEXUS IS drawn from the NHTSA consumer-complaint database, defect investigations, recall history, and NCAP crash-test ratings.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 2,054,142 consumer complaints have been filed against U.S. vehicles since 1995, as of June 2026. This is a head-to-head safety comparison between the CHEVROLET CORVETTE (1975–2025) and the LEXUS IS (1999–2025), drawn from that federal complaint and recall record; see our methodology for how the figures are compiled.

The CHEVROLET CORVETTE (1975–2025, 49 model years) carries 6,278 NHTSA consumer complaints and 62 safety recalls, while the LEXUS IS (1999–2025, 26 model years) carries 765 complaints and 21 recalls. Severity indicators for the pair split as follows: 236 vs 64 crashes, 50 vs 9 fires, and 6 vs 1 reported fatalities.

Raw complaint counts favor whichever nameplate has fewer vehicles on the road, so the cleaner lens is components: which specific part families concentrate each model's filings? For the CHEVROLET CORVETTE, the leading complaint category is fuel/propulsion system (904 filings), followed by wheels and steering. For the LEXUS IS, it is air bags (111), ahead of unknown or other and structure. When the two vehicles cluster around the same component, the problem is likely a shared supplier or a shared federal standard under stress; when they diverge, each nameplate has its own defect signature independent of the other.

Average NCAP crash-test scores are not uniformly available for both nameplates in this dataset, which typically means one or both pre-date the 2011 rating methodology refresh. Use the side-by-side table below as your scorecard, but do not treat it as a verdict. Recall counts tell you how many defects the manufacturer has already been compelled to remedy; complaint counts tell you what owners are still flagging today; and safety ratings tell you how the vehicle performs in standardized barrier tests, three different lenses on the same underlying question. The "also compare" links at the bottom of this page let you triangulate against neighboring nameplates in each model's competitive set.

CHEVROLET CORVETTE vs LEXUS IS - NHTSA complaint, recall, and safety rating comparison
CHEVROLET CORVETTE Metric LEXUS IS
0/5 Avg Safety Rating N/A
6,278 Total Complaints 765
62 Total Recalls 21
236 Crashes Reported 64
50 Fires Reported 9
134 Injuries Reported 49
6 Deaths Reported 1
49 years Years on Market 26 years

Top Complaint Categories

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
904
0
WHEELS
500
0
STEERING
472
0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
382
0
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
324
0
AIR BAGS
0
111
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
0
109
STRUCTURE
0
92
CHEVROLET CORVETTE LEXUS IS

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is safer, CHEVROLET CORVETTE or LEXUS IS?
CHEVROLET CORVETTE has 6,278 total NHTSA complaints with 236 crashes, while LEXUS IS has 765 complaints with 64 crashes. Review individual model years for specific safety ratings.
How many recalls does CHEVROLET CORVETTE have compared to LEXUS IS?
CHEVROLET CORVETTE has 62 recalls across 49 model years, while LEXUS IS has 21 recalls across 26 model years.
What are the most common problems with CHEVROLET CORVETTE?
The most commonly reported issues for CHEVROLET CORVETTE are: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (904 complaints), WHEELS (500 complaints), STEERING (472 complaints), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (382 complaints), STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE (324 complaints).
What are the most common problems with LEXUS IS?
The most commonly reported issues for LEXUS IS are: AIR BAGS (111 complaints), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (109 complaints), STRUCTURE (92 complaints), VISIBILITY/WIPER (73 complaints), ENGINE (66 complaints).

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls data National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls data