YearToAvoid

Lexus Best and Worst Years by Model

23 Lexus models, 7,732 NHTSA owner complaints and 150 recall campaigns for model years 2005–2025. Pick a model to see which years to avoid and which are the safest bets.

Lexus models ranked by owner complaints

Sorted by popularity. Years to avoid / best years come from each model’s own Complaint Index.

Verdicts are based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, compared within each model. This is not a reliability rating. How the Complaint Index works.

ModelYearsComplaintsRecallsYears to avoidBest yearsTop issue
Lexus RX2005–202580192010, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 20252012, 2015, 2016Engine
Lexus NX2015–202524382022, 2024, 20252016, 2017, 2018Fuel System
Lexus IS 2502006–201671982006, 2007, 20082013, 2015Airbags
Lexus RX3502005–2023838132007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 20132020Engine
Lexus GX2005–202514552011, 2014, 2023, 2024, 2025—Structure & Body
Lexus ES2005–202558042005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 20192018, 2022Airbags
Lexus GS 3502006–201916192007, 2008, 2013, 2014—Engine
Lexus IS 3502006–2020217122006, 2007, 2008, 2010—Structure & Body
Lexus GX4702005–20099912005, 2008—Structure & Body
Lexus GX4602010–2022105102010, 2017, 2018—Airbags
Lexus ES3502007–20231,451112007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 20112018, 2019Airbags
Lexus IS2005–202555882006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012—Structure & Body
Lexus LS2005–202518272006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016—Brakes
Lexus LS4602007–201721242007, 2008, 2010—Brakes
Lexus GS2005–202013572006, 2007, 2010, 2013—Engine
Lexus RX Hybrid2005–2025341132006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013—Brakes
Lexus TX2024–2025775——Airbags
Lexus ES3302005–20102062——Engine
Lexus GS3002005–201912842006—Electrical System
Lexus RX3302005–201123932005, 2006—Engine
Lexus CT2011–2016146020132011, 2014Brakes
Lexus Hs 250 Hybrid2010–2011794——Suspension, Wheels & Tires
Lexus HS2010703——Brakes

Lexus model years with the most complaints

Raw complaint counts (not adjusted for age or sales). Click through for the breakdown.

  1. 2007 Lexus ES350 · 539 complaints · 4 recalls Avoid
  2. 2008 Lexus ES350 · 255 complaints · 4 recalls Avoid
  3. 2007 Lexus IS 250 · 213 complaints · 5 recalls Avoid
  4. 2006 Lexus IS 250 · 189 complaints · 6 recalls Avoid
  5. 2007 Lexus RX350 · 167 complaints · 1 recalls Avoid
  6. 2005 Lexus RX330 · 165 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  7. 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid · 154 complaints · 5 recalls Avoid
  8. 2011 Lexus ES350 · 153 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  9. 2009 Lexus ES350 · 145 complaints · 5 recalls Avoid
  10. 2006 Lexus IS · 143 complaints · 7 recalls Avoid

How we rank Lexus years

For each model we compare its own model years using the Complaint Index: complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and “Do Not Drive” recalls reported to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. The top quarter of a model’s years is marked Avoid, the bottom quarter Best. Because NHTSA publishes no sales data, models are not ranked against each other. Full details in the methodology.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.