Lexus IS: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
597 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Lexus IS, model years 2001 to 2026. No model year stands out for the engine or transmission against the others. Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2009, 2010. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 ISFEW REPORTS | 1 | — | 1 | |
| 2002 ISFEW REPORTS | 12 | — | 1 | |
| 2003 ISFEW REPORTS | 12 | — | 1 | |
| 2004 ISFEW REPORTS | 10 | — | 1 | |
| 2005 ISFEW REPORTS | 12 | — | 1 | |
| 2006 ISFEW REPORTS | 143 | — | 7 | |
| 2007 ISFEW REPORTS | 121 | — | 3 | |
| 2008 ISFEW REPORTS | 102 | — | 3 | |
| 2009 ISFEW REPORTS | 40 | quiet: 1 of 5 | 2 | |
| 2010 ISFEW REPORTS | 41 | quiet: 2 of 5 | 1 | |
| 2011 ISFEW REPORTS | 15 | — | 0 | |
| 2012 ISFEW REPORTS | 18 | — | 0 | |
| 2013 ISFEW REPORTS | 9 | — | 0 | |
| 2014 ISFEW REPORTS | 12 | — | 0 | |
| 2015 ISFEW REPORTS | 9 | — | 0 | |
| 2016 ISFEW REPORTS | 2 | — | 0 | |
| 2017 ISFEW REPORTS | 11 | — | 0 | |
| 2018 ISFEW REPORTS | 3 | — | 0 | |
| 2019 ISFEW REPORTS | 2 | — | 0 | |
| 2020 ISFEW REPORTS | 7 | — | 0 | |
| 2021 ISFEW REPORTS | 2 | — | 0 | |
| 2022 ISFEW REPORTS | 4 | — | 1 | |
| 2023 ISFEW REPORTS | 5 | — | 0 | |
| 2024 ISFEW REPORTS | 1 | — | 0 | |
| 2025 ISFEW REPORTS | 1 | — | 0 | |
| 2026 ISFEW REPORTS | 2 | — | 0 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
Check your IS at your mileage
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Other Lexus models
Lexus ES · Lexus ES 300 · Lexus ES 330 · Lexus ES 350 · Lexus GS 300 · Lexus GS 350 · Lexus GX · Lexus GX 470 · Lexus IS 250 · Lexus IS 350 · Lexus LS · Lexus LS 430 · Lexus LS 460 · Lexus NX · Lexus RX · Lexus RX 300 · Lexus RX 330 · Lexus RX 350 · Lexus RX Hybrid. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: