LEXUS IS · model year

2010 LEXUS IS

47 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2010LEXUSIS carries 47 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 12 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, 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 2010 IS is air bags with 16 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (5) and unknown or other (4). 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 2010 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.

47
Complaints
12
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

47 filings

Crashes Reported

12 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS16
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
ENGINE4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
SERVICE BRAKES2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
VISIBILITY/WIPER2
STEERING2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
POWER TRAIN2
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1
SUSPENSION1
TIRES1

Recalls (1)

09V38800005/10/2009

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.

Recent Complaints

20251216FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Developed a fuel leak at the tank that has previously been exactly described as a recall on the exact year make and model of this vehicle however, when entering my VIN it does not show my VIN number as being affected. I feel there has been a mistake on the Vin number range. However, Lexus refuses to handle the issue under the recall since the VIN number does not trigger as such.

20251024VISIBILITY/WIPER

I have a stick dashboard and it’s impairing my vision to see out of front windshield. Lexus did have a recall, but it expired. However, I’m still in danger while driving because of glare.

20251024STEERING

I have a stick dashboard and it’s impairing my vision to see out of front windshield. Lexus did have a recall, but it expired. However, I’m still in danger while driving because of glare.

20251001CrashAIR BAGS

I had a head on collision with a light pole and the airbags did not deploy. The vehicle was inspected by aProgressive insurance claims adjuster and they claimed the vehicle a total loss. They kept the vehicle. There were no warning lights or anything. The vehicle had been taken into a North Park Lexus dealership after a defective airbag recall to be serviced in 2018.

20250818UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Exterior driver's door mirror failure. The mirror is insecure, loose, unstable, not secured to the door, and rotates freely on its own. This condition makes it impossible and dangerous for the vehicle's driver to observe any vehicle approaching from the rear, left of the driver's side. The mirror is not secured to the vehicle's driver's door and spins freely. The driver cannot observe any approaching vehicles when pulling out from a parallel parking spot. This condition is this vehicle's "2nd" such incident. Previously, this identical situation happened to the mirror mounted on the passenger side door about 2 years earlier. The maintenance record is on file at the dealership. I paid the Chatham Lexus Dealership approximately $1000.00 to correct this.

20250814CrashSERVICE BRAKES

My car experienced sudden unintended acceleration. I was at a stop light preparing to turn right when my car accelerated of its own accord crashing into the vehicle in front of me. My foot was firmly on the brake, but I had lost control over the vehicle. Whatever electrical defect I experienced, it was sufficient to rev the engine by itself and override the braking system enough that the vehicle advanced forward in an out-of-control manner. It was unintended, unexpected and beyond my ability to control. Failing to recognize the braking system, my vehicle collided into the vehicle a second time. Because my foot was on the brake and my vehicle still advanced forward, I initially thought I had been hit from behind. However, the erratic RPM behavior and the vehicle's continued acceleration while braking confirmed I was no longer in control of the vehicle. Acting promptly, I immediately took the gear shifter out of drive and put into neutral. It was then and only then that I regained

20250814CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My car experienced sudden unintended acceleration. I was at a stop light preparing to turn right when my car accelerated of its own accord crashing into the vehicle in front of me. My foot was firmly on the brake, but I had lost control over the vehicle. Whatever electrical defect I experienced, it was sufficient to rev the engine by itself and override the braking system enough that the vehicle advanced forward in an out-of-control manner. It was unintended, unexpected and beyond my ability to control. Failing to recognize the braking system, my vehicle collided into the vehicle a second time. Because my foot was on the brake and my vehicle still advanced forward, I initially thought I had been hit from behind. However, the erratic RPM behavior and the vehicle's continued acceleration while braking confirmed I was no longer in control of the vehicle. Acting promptly, I immediately took the gear shifter out of drive and put into neutral. It was then and only then that I regained

20250814CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

My car experienced sudden unintended acceleration. I was at a stop light preparing to turn right when my car accelerated of its own accord crashing into the vehicle in front of me. My foot was firmly on the brake, but I had lost control over the vehicle. Whatever electrical defect I experienced, it was sufficient to rev the engine by itself and override the braking system enough that the vehicle advanced forward in an out-of-control manner. It was unintended, unexpected and beyond my ability to control. Failing to recognize the braking system, my vehicle collided into the vehicle a second time. Because my foot was on the brake and my vehicle still advanced forward, I initially thought I had been hit from behind. However, the erratic RPM behavior and the vehicle's continued acceleration while braking confirmed I was no longer in control of the vehicle. Acting promptly, I immediately took the gear shifter out of drive and put into neutral. It was then and only then that I regained

20250120POWER TRAIN

FROM TIME TO TIME AS IM DRIVING TO EITHER SPEED UP OR SLOW DOWN, MY CAR HAS NO POWER AND THEN WITHIN 2-3 SECONDS IT HITS HARD BACK INTO GEAR. I RESEARCHED IT ON LINE ABOUT OTHER LEXUS AND IT STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE COMPUTER AND IT HAS A GLITCHES IN THE SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RESET/CLEARED , THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT HITS SO HARD THAT IT FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED AND HURTS YOUR BACK AND NECK . THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY LEXUS AT LEXUS EXPENSE, THANK YOU

20250120ENGINE

FROM TIME TO TIME AS IM DRIVING TO EITHER SPEED UP OR SLOW DOWN, MY CAR HAS NO POWER AND THEN WITHIN 2-3 SECONDS IT HITS HARD BACK INTO GEAR. I RESEARCHED IT ON LINE ABOUT OTHER LEXUS AND IT STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE COMPUTER AND IT HAS A GLITCHES IN THE SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RESET/CLEARED , THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT HITS SO HARD THAT IT FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED AND HURTS YOUR BACK AND NECK . THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY LEXUS AT LEXUS EXPENSE, THANK YOU

20250120VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

FROM TIME TO TIME AS IM DRIVING TO EITHER SPEED UP OR SLOW DOWN, MY CAR HAS NO POWER AND THEN WITHIN 2-3 SECONDS IT HITS HARD BACK INTO GEAR. I RESEARCHED IT ON LINE ABOUT OTHER LEXUS AND IT STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE COMPUTER AND IT HAS A GLITCHES IN THE SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RESET/CLEARED , THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT HITS SO HARD THAT IT FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED AND HURTS YOUR BACK AND NECK . THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY LEXUS AT LEXUS EXPENSE, THANK YOU

20240923TIRES

test

20220908ENGINE

While driving home in the freeway, I felt my car shake then a sudden loss of power. Then my CEL started blinking and my VSC lit. Got a code for engine misfire(P0302). Is250 has a lot of cases on engine misfires because of excessive carbon build up because of how the engine is designed. My car only has 108,000miles. Lexus released a Customer Support Program for this problem but it already expired. They only gave 9 years from date of purchase for it to be eligible for the free fix. It means they are aware of the problem but my 2010 car just missed that window but I am having the same problem many IS250 owners have. It is really unsafe when you’re driving in the freeway then it suddenly loses power. Hopefully this problem gets resolved by Lexus soon.

20220305SUSPENSION

Front suspension does not have adjustable Camber. The wheels have a negative Camber that is outside of Lexus specification. This causes a very large uneven wear inside of tire, which is not noticeable from the exterior of car. Owners will be unaware, when checking the tires, that the inside of tire is worn to a point that can cause the tire to burst. Car was sent to the dealer, and they confirm that the negative camber is present and there is no fix because camber can't be adjusted. There is no warning lights or symptoms prior to failure. Vehicle suspension is not modified with non-Toyota approved equipment.

20210117POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CRUISE CONTROL SET AND NOT SET, SLIGHT ACCELERATION VEHICLE SEEMS TO COMPLETELY LOOSE GEAR AND CONNECTION WITH DRIVE TRAIN, THE RPMS SPONTANEOUSLY JUMP TO 6500 TO 7000, MOVE THE SHIFTER AT THIS POINT TO NEUTRAL. RMPS DROP TO 1200 AND THEN PLACE THE SHIFTER TO DRIVE AND EVERYTHING REENGAGES. THIS CONDITION IS INTERMITTENT. IT HAS HAPPENED UPON ACCELERATING TO REACH HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

Mileage: 80,000

20210104AIR BAGS

DEALER, ATLANTIC CITY LEXUS, ADVISES THAT IT IS VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AS IT INVOLVES MILES OF WIRES. THEREFORE, I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR.

20200616FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL OF THE FUEL DELIVERY PIPE ON MY VEHICLE WHICH IS A 2010. I AM CURRENTLY IN FOR SERVICE AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THE FUEL PUMP ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS IT IS LEAKING AS WELL. THEY ARE TELLING ME IT IS NOT UNDER RECALL AND IS ALMOST $2,4000. PER CONSUMER REPORT: TOYOTA AND LEXUS ARE RECALLING ABOUT 1.8 MILLION VEHICLES FROM THE 2013 THROUGH 2019 MODEL YEARS BECAUSE THEIR FUEL PUMP COULD STOP WORKING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A SUDDEN STALL OR HESITATION WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES ARE BEING ADDED TO AN EXISTING RECALL THAT WAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED IN JANUARY. I WOULD LIKE THIS LOOKED INTO FURTHER AS THERE IS A CORRELATION IN 2013-2019 MODELS. *TR

20200606CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE CAR WAS STOPPED ABOUT TO BE PUT INTO PARK AND THEN IT REVVED UP ON IT'S OWN AND THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED BUT THE CAR SPED UP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

20200407ENGINE

KNOWN BY LEXUS AS A COMMON FAILURE IN THE 2UR ENGINE IS THE VALLEY PLATE COOLANT LEAK. THIS IS A FAILURE THAT THE MAJORITY OF OWNERS IN THE FORUMS HAVE REPORTED AS WELL AS MY PERSONAL VEHICLE EXPERIENCING. CAN HAPPEN AS FEW AS 50K MILES. COMMON COST FOR REPAIR TO THE OWNER IS BETWEEN $2000 AND $3000. MINE HAS HAPPENED EVEN AFTER METICULOUS MAINTENANCE. *TR

Mileage: 67,000

20200407ENGINE

ISFS YEAR MODELS 2008-2014 ARE AFFECTED THE 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 DISINTEGRATE. 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. *TR

Mileage: 67,000

Compare 2010LEXUSIS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2010 LEXUS IS have?
The 2010 LEXUS IS has 47 NHTSA complaints, 12 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2010 LEXUS IS?
Yes, the 2010 LEXUS IS has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 LEXUS IS?
The most-complained component for the 2010 LEXUS IS is AIR BAGS with 16 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2010 LEXUS IS safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.