Total Complaints
17 filings
LEXUS IS · model year
17 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002LEXUSIS carries 17 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 IS is structure with 4 filings, followed by tires (1) and air bags (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2002 IS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
17 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | 4 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
PROBLEM STARTED WHEN CAR WAS IN FOR REPAIR OF WHEEL ALIGNMENT WHEELS GOT STOLEN FROM DEALER COLLISION CENTER LEXUS NOT CAR GOES OUT OF ALIGNMENT WHILE DRIVING ON A ROUGH ROAD WEARING OUT TIRES COMPLIANTLY ABOUT 3 SET OF TIRES REPLACED
Mileage: 116,000
CAR RUNS GREAT UNTIL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FOLLOWED BY VSC AND THEN BRAKE LIGHT. WHEN THOSE LIGHTS COME ON IT RUNS ROUGH AND BRAKES MAKE GEAR NOISE UNDER DRIVER'S SIDE HOOD AREA. BRAKE IS VERY SLUGGISH AND ALMOST NON EXISTENT WHEN IT FAILS. LET IT SET, CLEAR FAULT AND RUNS FINE UNTIL WARM AGAIN. HAVE HAD ALL BRAKES CHECKED AND IN GOOD CONDITION BY MECHANIC TODAY AND PROBLEM PERSISTS. APPEARS TO BE AN ECU OR OTHER ELECTRICAL AND NOT MECHANICAL PROBLEM. IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY MANUFACTURER.
Mileage: 203,000
CAR RUNS GREAT UNTIL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FOLLOWED BY VSC AND THEN BRAKE LIGHT. WHEN THOSE LIGHTS COME ON IT RUNS ROUGH AND BRAKES MAKE GEAR NOISE UNDER DRIVER'S SIDE HOOD AREA. BRAKE IS VERY SLUGGISH AND ALMOST NON EXISTENT WHEN IT FAILS. LET IT SET, CLEAR FAULT AND RUNS FINE UNTIL WARM AGAIN. HAVE HAD ALL BRAKES CHECKED AND IN GOOD CONDITION BY MECHANIC TODAY AND PROBLEM PERSISTS. APPEARS TO BE AN ECU OR OTHER ELECTRICAL AND NOT MECHANICAL PROBLEM. IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY MANUFACTURER.
Mileage: 203,000
DASHBOARD IS MELTING. *TR
Mileage: 120,000
OVER THE YEARS MY DASHBOARD HAS DETERIORATED, THE RUBBER HAS BECOME STICKY AND NASTY JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER LEXUS VEHICLES IN COMPLAINTS. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A RECALL REGARDING THIS MATTER BUT NOT MY YEAR. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WOULDN'T APPLY TO ALL THE 2002 MODELS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE! PLEASE, COULD SOMEONE ENLIGHTEN ME? ME VEHICLE HAS 120,000 MILES ON IT AND IS IN IMMACULATE CONDITION OTHER THAN THE DASHBOARD AND SIDES OF CONSOLE. HELP, I LOVE MY CAR AND I DESERVE TO BE A PART OF THIS RECALL ALSO!! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP. *TR
SOMETHING ON WINDSHIELD THAT MAKES IT HARD TO SEE, IT IMPAIRS MY VISION. DASHBOARD IS LITERALLY MELTING! IT'S STICKY! NOW I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY LEXUS DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND SEND OUT A RECALL. FIX THEIR MISTAKES AND DO IT RIGHT. I UNDERSTAND THEY TRIED TO PASS SOME CHEAPER PRODUCTS OFF ON THEIR VEHICLES BUT THAT ONLY BOUGHT THEM SOME TIME. WORD OF MOUTH IS THEIR WORST ENEMY RIGHT NOW. *TR
Mileage: 50,999
AS I'M DRIVING THE DASHBOARD STARTS TO MELT AND IT'S VERY STICKY,PAID GOOD MONEY FOR THIS CAR AND THERE'S NO RECALL OR WARRANTEE FOR THIS DEFECT. *TR
MY LEXUS DASHBOARD IS MELTING AWAY. THE DASH HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE BY THE DEALER BUT IT IS AGAIN MELTING AWAY. *TR
Mileage: 40,000
I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A PROBLEM WITH MY LEXUS IS300 MODELS 2002. THERE IS SOME TYPE OF DEFECT IN THE FRAME OR FRONT ARM BUSHINGS THAT CAUSE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE FRONT INNER TIRES. DESPITE THE CAR BEING REGULARLY ALIGNED, UNEVEN AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR CONTINUES TO OCCUR ON THE INNER PORTION OF THE TIRES. TIRES WILL SOMETIMES LAST LESS THAN 5,000 MILES AND HAVE WORN DOWN TO THE STEEL IN THE INNER SIDES OF THE FRONT TIRES! THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND COMPLAINT AMONG IS 300 OWNERS. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN NO FIX FROM LEXUS AND WILL LEAD TO POTENTIAL BLOWOUTS ON THE FREEWAY DUE TO TIRE FAILURES. THIS CONDITION IS UNACCEPTABLE. THEREFORE I AM REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE A FATALITY OCCURS DUE TO THE RESULTING TIRE FAILURE BECAUSE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION DEFECT. *JS
Mileage: 60,000
I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A PROBLEM WITH MY LEXUS IS300 MODELS 2002. THERE IS SOME TYPE OF DEFECT IN THE FRAME OR FRONT ARM BUSHINGS THAT CAUSE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE FRONT INNER TIRES. DESPITE THE CAR BEING REGULARLY ALIGNED, UNEVEN AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR CONTINUES TO OCCUR ON THE INNER PORTION OF THE TIRES. TIRES WILL SOMETIMES LAST LESS THAN 5,000 MILES AND HAVE WORN DOWN TO THE STEEL IN THE INNER SIDES OF THE FRONT TIRES! THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND COMPLAINT AMONG IS 300 OWNERS. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN NO FIX FROM LEXUS AND WILL LEAD TO POTENTIAL BLOWOUTS ON THE FREEWAY DUE TO TIRE FAILURES. THIS CONDITION IS UNACCEPTABLE. THEREFORE I AM REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE A FATALITY OCCURS DUE TO THE RESULTING TIRE FAILURE BECAUSE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION DEFECT. *JS
Mileage: 60,000
SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED MY NEW CAR (LEXUS IS300 2002), THE DASHBOARD, COVER TO AIR BAG (ON DASH) AND CONSOLE BEGAN TO MELT/SOFTEN AND BECOME STICKY. WHEN I FIRST REPORTED TO LEXUS, THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING. AFTER A WHILE, I CONTINUED TO COMPLAIN AND THEY REPLACED THE COVER PANEL ON DASH TO THE AIR BAG BUT NOT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD/CONSOLE. IN ALL THE YEARS OF SERVICE AT LEXUS OF PALM BEACH, THEY NEVER OFFERED TO REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH THIS DID NOT SEEM RIGHT. AFTER HEARING RECENT STORY ON WPTV NEWS (CONSUMER WATCHDOG, [XXX] ), I HAVE NOW LEARNED THAT I AM NOT ALONE AND THERE ARE COUNTLESS STORIES SIMILAR TO MINE. HTTP://WWW.WPTV.COM/MONEY/CONSUMER/STICKY-SHINY-SAFETY-ISSUE-DRIVERS-COMPLAIN-OF-SUN-GLARE-FROM-MELTING-DASHBOARDS BECAUSE MY CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE, LEXUS IS STILL DISMISSIVE ---- BUT I DO HAVE RECORD OF THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS (INCLUDING WHEN THEY REPLACED THE AIR BAG DASH COVER, UNDER WARRANTY, SEVERAL YEARS AGO). I JUST RECEIVED EMAIL RESPONSE TODAY FROM
VEHICLE STALLS, BUCKS AND SWAYS ONTO OTHER DRIVERS NOT AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WHEN BRAKING THE VEHICLE SWAYS LEFT OR RIGHT. IT IS MISSING A SPARE TIRE AND JACK, I ASKED ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR THIS SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND WAS DENIED. ALSO, MISSING WEATHER STRIPS ON ALL 4 DOORS THE WIND ENTERS THE CAR AND ONE DAY IT IS GOING TO SWING IT DIRECTLY OFF THE ROAD . *TR
VEHICLE STALLS, BUCKS AND SWAYS ONTO OTHER DRIVERS NOT AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WHEN BRAKING THE VEHICLE SWAYS LEFT OR RIGHT. IT IS MISSING A SPARE TIRE AND JACK, I ASKED ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR THIS SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND WAS DENIED. ALSO, MISSING WEATHER STRIPS ON ALL 4 DOORS THE WIND ENTERS THE CAR AND ONE DAY IT IS GOING TO SWING IT DIRECTLY OFF THE ROAD . *TR
VEHICLE STALLS, BUCKS AND SWAYS ONTO OTHER DRIVERS NOT AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WHEN BRAKING THE VEHICLE SWAYS LEFT OR RIGHT. IT IS MISSING A SPARE TIRE AND JACK, I ASKED ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR THIS SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND WAS DENIED. ALSO, MISSING WEATHER STRIPS ON ALL 4 DOORS THE WIND ENTERS THE CAR AND ONE DAY IT IS GOING TO SWING IT DIRECTLY OFF THE ROAD . *TR
VEHICLE STALLS, BUCKS AND SWAYS ONTO OTHER DRIVERS NOT AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WHEN BRAKING THE VEHICLE SWAYS LEFT OR RIGHT. IT IS MISSING A SPARE TIRE AND JACK, I ASKED ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR THIS SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND WAS DENIED. ALSO, MISSING WEATHER STRIPS ON ALL 4 DOORS THE WIND ENTERS THE CAR AND ONE DAY IT IS GOING TO SWING IT DIRECTLY OFF THE ROAD . *TR
CAR WAS T-BONED-UNABLE TO OPEN DOORS-PASSENGER HIT HEAD ON WINDOW- SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT OPEN. *JB
I HAVE HAD THREE SETS OF COOPER ZEON 2XS 215/45ZR17. THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH ALL THREE SETS. I WAS TRAVELING LONG DISTANCE WHEN MY REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE CAME APART AND ROLLED AWAY WHILE I WAS ON THE ON RAMP FOR I24 WHICH IS A VERY BUSY MAJOR HIGHWAY. I WAS PROBABLY GOING ABOUT 35 MPH AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY $1250 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR NOT INCLUDING REPLACING MY TIRE WHICH I WILL NEVER BUY THESE TYPE OF TIRES EVER AGAIN. ALSO, THIS DELAYED MY TRIP TO VISIT MY GRANDMOTHER WHO WAS DYING IN THE HOSPITAL AT THE TIME. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL TIRE COMPANY WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THIS MOST RECENT SET OF COOPER ZEON 2XS TIRES AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT HELP ME DUE TO THE FACT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THEY REFERRED ME TO COOPER TIRES 800 # WHERE THE LADY STATED THE COMPANY THAT HANDLED CLAIMS FOR THEM WOULD BE CONTACTING ME TO OBTAIN MY TIRE AND INFORMATION REGARDING THE ACCIDENT. THIS COMPANY, CRAWFORD CLAIMS, CONTACTED ME ABOUT A WEEK OR SO LATE
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.