LEXUS IS 250 · model year

2012 LEXUS IS 250

27 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2012LEXUSIS 250 carries 27 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 0 fires, 4 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 2012 IS 250 is air bags with 10 filings, followed by electrical system (4) and service brakes (3). 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 4 active recall campaigns, 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 2012 IS 250. 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.

27
Complaints
10
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

27 filings

Crashes Reported

10 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 BAGS10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
SERVICE BRAKES3
STRUCTURE:BODY3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
ENGINE2
POWER TRAIN1
SEAT BELTS1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1

Recalls (4)

13V03000030/01/2013

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 vehicles manufactured August 23, 2005, through October 5, 2011; 2010-2012 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles manufactured April 10, 2009, through October 6, 2011; and 2008-2011 Lexus IS-F vehicles manufactured December 14, 2007, th

19V74100017/10/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX4

19V00500009/01/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louis

17V00600009/01/2017

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia,

Recent Complaints

20220808ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2012 Lexus IS250. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake inadvertently activated without the brake pedal being depressed. The vehicle also experienced unintended acceleration without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that the failure occurred after the cell phone was hacked and was concern the vehicle security was also compromised and hacked. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 137,000.

Mileage: 137,000

20220808SERVICE BRAKES

The contact owns a 2012 Lexus IS250. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake inadvertently activated without the brake pedal being depressed. The vehicle also experienced unintended acceleration without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that the failure occurred after the cell phone was hacked and was concern the vehicle security was also compromised and hacked. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 137,000.

Mileage: 137,000

20220808VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

The contact owns a 2012 Lexus IS250. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake inadvertently activated without the brake pedal being depressed. The vehicle also experienced unintended acceleration without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that the failure occurred after the cell phone was hacked and was concern the vehicle security was also compromised and hacked. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 137,000.

Mileage: 137,000

20190723CrashAIR BAGS

TAKATABRANTAKATA RECALL MY VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT 34 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME IMPACTED ME SO HARD THAT IT PUSHED ME INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND IN TURN SHE HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THERE WAS DAMAGED TO THE FRONT AND SIDE PANELS OF MY CAR AS WELL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I SUSTAINED AND SUFFERED INJURIES. THIS OCCURRED ON A BUSY CITY STREET WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT.

Mileage: 1

20190723CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

TAKATABRANTAKATA RECALL MY VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT 34 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME IMPACTED ME SO HARD THAT IT PUSHED ME INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND IN TURN SHE HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THERE WAS DAMAGED TO THE FRONT AND SIDE PANELS OF MY CAR AS WELL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I SUSTAINED AND SUFFERED INJURIES. THIS OCCURRED ON A BUSY CITY STREET WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT.

Mileage: 1

20190723CrashENGINE

TAKATABRANTAKATA RECALL MY VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT 34 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME IMPACTED ME SO HARD THAT IT PUSHED ME INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND IN TURN SHE HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THERE WAS DAMAGED TO THE FRONT AND SIDE PANELS OF MY CAR AS WELL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I SUSTAINED AND SUFFERED INJURIES. THIS OCCURRED ON A BUSY CITY STREET WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT.

Mileage: 1

20190521ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. BOTH FRONT DOOR ACTUATORS NEED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WE WERE TOLD IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THIS HAS BEEN UNSAFE FOR OUR TEENAGE DRIVER HAVING TO CRAWL THROUGH BACK DOORS TO UNLOCK HER VEHICLE ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.

20181120STRUCTURE:BODY

DASHBOARD COMING APART CLUE SEEPING THEY DASHBOARD STICKY

Mileage: 80,000

20180827CrashSERVICE BRAKES

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE INCHING INTO PARKING SPACE AT VERY SLOW RATE OF SPEED. ENGINE RACED UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAR JUMPED CURB WITH ALL 4 TIRES, ACROSS A SMALL MEDIAN, AND DOWN ANOTHER CURB WITH 3 TIRES, STRIKING A PARKED CAR, WHICH STOPPED FORWARD MOTION.

Mileage: 70,000

20180827CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE INCHING INTO PARKING SPACE AT VERY SLOW RATE OF SPEED. ENGINE RACED UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAR JUMPED CURB WITH ALL 4 TIRES, ACROSS A SMALL MEDIAN, AND DOWN ANOTHER CURB WITH 3 TIRES, STRIKING A PARKED CAR, WHICH STOPPED FORWARD MOTION.

Mileage: 70,000

20180827CrashENGINE

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE INCHING INTO PARKING SPACE AT VERY SLOW RATE OF SPEED. ENGINE RACED UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAR JUMPED CURB WITH ALL 4 TIRES, ACROSS A SMALL MEDIAN, AND DOWN ANOTHER CURB WITH 3 TIRES, STRIKING A PARKED CAR, WHICH STOPPED FORWARD MOTION.

Mileage: 70,000

20180630ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THIS IS THE THIRD LEXUS I HAVE HAD THAT THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK. ALL 4 ACTUATORS ARE BAD AFTER I EVEN HAD ONE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN I ALL THREE LEXUS' THAT I HAVE OWNED. I HAVE TALKED TO LEXUS ABOUT THIS AND THE SERVICE PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY SEE MORE THAN THEY SHOULD GO. BAD BOY. LEXUS/TOYOTA DOES NOT THINK IT'S A PROBLEM. THIS BECOMES A SAFETY HAZARD LOCKING THE DOORS MANUALLY AND HAVING TO OPEN ONE DOOR WITH A KEY AND REACH AROUND AND OPEN THE OTHERS AS NEEDED. SPECIALLY WITH ALL THE CRIME AROUND US. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE EITHER TOYOTA OR LEXUS STEP UP AND ADMIT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND FIX THEM.

Mileage: 15,000

20171207AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURE EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED LEXUS SAN DIEGO AT (858) 268-8000 AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20170814AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL- RECEIVED A RECALL IN MARCH 2017 - STILL WAITING FOR A FIX (8/14/2017). UNABLE TO DRIVE FOR FEAR OF INJURIES.

Mileage: 40,000

20170811AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN LEXUS DEALER ON GRANT MILL RD IN BIRMINGHAM, AL WHO STATED THAT THE REMEDY PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20170801AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FIVE MONTHS AGO ABOUT THIS RECALL.I CONTACTED THE DEALER SHIP ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART YET. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WONT HAVE THE PART FOR AT LEAST TWO MORE MONTHS. IN THE MEANTIME I AM CONCERNED IN USING MY CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. SINCERELY [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

20170606AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20170314AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20170310AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM LEXUS ON MARCH 7 FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL. NO FIX WAS PROVIDED AND WHEN I CALLED THEY DID NOT KNOW IF IT WOULD BE 1 MONTH OR 6 MONTHS UNTIL A FIX WAS AVAILABLE. THEIR SOLUTION WAS " DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT". THIS IS A STUPID AND UNACCEPTABLE RESPONSE. THIS TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL HAS BEEN OUT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND SOMEONE IN TOYOTA/LEXUS HAS KNOW ABOUT IT? SOMEONE HAS BEEN COVERING UP THE MESS AT LEXUS? THIS BORDERS ON FRAUD AND AS A MINIMUM SOMEONE HIGH IN THEIR ORGANIZATION HAS LIED TO KEEP THIS UNDER COVER FOR THIS LONG. NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE IS NOT AN OPTION. I HAVE PURCHASE 3 LEXUS IN THE PAST BUT THIS WAS MY LAST.

20170308AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Compare 2012LEXUSIS 250 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2012 LEXUS IS 250 have?
The 2012 LEXUS IS 250 has 27 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2012 LEXUS IS 250?
Yes, the 2012 LEXUS IS 250 has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is VISIBILITY/WIPER. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 LEXUS IS 250?
The most-complained component for the 2012 LEXUS IS 250 is AIR BAGS with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 2012 LEXUS IS 250 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.