What years of the Lexus IS 250 should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, 2006, 2007, and 2008 are rated Avoid, with 2007 having the highest complaint index at 100 and 213 total complaints.

Which Lexus IS 250 model years are best?

2013 and 2015 are rated Best, with complaint indexes of 10 and 20 and only 5 and 16 complaints respectively.

What is the most common problem with the Lexus IS 250?

Across all years, Airbags is the top problem area, accounting for 226 complaints or 31% of the 719 total, followed by Structure & Body issues at 23%.

Are there recalls on the Lexus IS 250?

Yes, NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns across the model years covered, concentrated in the 2006-2010 range and mostly related to airbag inflators.

Is the 2007 Lexus IS 250 reliable?

The 2007 model year has the worst complaint index (100) of any IS 250 year, with 213 complaints covering Structure & Body, airbags, and engine issues, and is rated Avoid relative to other IS 250 years.

Lexus IS 250 Best and Worst Years (2006–2016)

The 2006, 2007, and 2008 Lexus IS 250 are the years to avoid, led by 2007 with a complaint index of 100 and 213 complaints tied to dashboard melting, sudden acceleration reports, and airbag failures. 2013 and 2015 are the Best years, each with an index of 10 or 20 and very few complaints.

Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.

Avoid 2006 Avoid 2007 Avoid 2008 Best 2013 Best 2015

Model years: 11; 2006–2016
NHTSA complaints: 719
Recall campaigns: 8
Crashes reported: 56
Fires reported: 5
Top problem area: Airbags

IS 250 Complaint Index by year

Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Lexus IS 250 problems and recalls by year

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Recalls	Top issue	MPG	NCAP
2006	Avoid	90	189	10	3	6	Structure & Body	22	—
2007	Avoid	100	213	12	0	5	Structure & Body	22	—
2008	Avoid	80	125	6	1	5	Airbags	22	—
2009	Caution	60	48	3	0	6	Airbags	22	—
2010	Caution	70	40	8	0	6	Airbags	22	—
2011	Good	40	30	5	0	4	Airbags	22	—
2012	Good	30	17	4	0	4	Airbags	22	—
2013	Best	10	5	1	0	2	Airbags	23	4★
2014	Caution	50	35	6	1	0	Electrical System	24	5★
2015	Best	20	16	1	0	0	Electrical System	24	5★
2016	No verdict	0	1	0	0	0	Airbags	—	—

IS 250 years to avoid: what went wrong

2007 Lexus IS 250 Index 100 · 213 complaints · 5 recalls

The 2007 IS 250 ranks worst overall with a complaint index of 100 and 213 complaints, the highest total in the lineup. Structure & Body problems account for 28% of complaints at a median 75,000 miles, alongside airbag complaints (24%) at a median 92,000 miles where owners reported airbags not deploying during crashes. Engine complaints describe sudden acceleration events, some resulting in crashes at low mileage. Five recall campaigns apply to this year, largely addressing airbag inflators.

2007 structure & body problems →2007 airbags problems →2007 engine problems →

2006 Lexus IS 250 Index 90 · 189 complaints · 6 recalls

The 2006 IS 250 carries a complaint index of 90 and 189 complaints, ranking second-worst of all years. Structure & Body issues lead at 30% of complaints, with owners describing dashboards that melted and cracked in hot weather at a median 78,000 miles. Airbag and engine complaints follow, including reports of unintended acceleration and airbags failing to deploy in crashes, with engine-related failures reported around 70,000 miles. The year carries six recall campaigns, mostly tied to airbag inflators shared with other Toyota and Lexus models.

2006 structure & body problems →2006 airbags problems →2006 engine problems →

2008 Lexus IS 250 Index 80 · 125 complaints · 5 recalls

The 2008 IS 250 has a complaint index of 80 and 125 complaints, ranking third-worst. Airbags are the top problem area at 30% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 94,000, including reports of airbags not deploying in low-speed impacts. Structure & Body complaints (23%) describe dashboard melting and glare issues affecting visibility, and engine complaints (20%) include reports of vehicles surging forward unexpectedly at low speed. Five recall campaigns cover this year, again centered on airbag components.

2008 airbags problems →2008 structure & body problems →2008 engine problems →

Most common Lexus IS 250 problems (all years)

Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.

Airbags226 (31%)
Structure & Body165 (23%)
Engine135 (19%)
Other90 (13%)
Electrical System62 (9%)
Visibility & Wipers62 (9%)
Brakes43 (6%)
Fuel System40 (6%)
Steering30 (4%)
Suspension, Wheels & Tires29 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Lexus IS 250 should I avoid?: Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, 2006, 2007, and 2008 are rated Avoid, with 2007 having the highest complaint index at 100 and 213 total complaints.
Which Lexus IS 250 model years are best?: 2013 and 2015 are rated Best, with complaint indexes of 10 and 20 and only 5 and 16 complaints respectively.
What is the most common problem with the Lexus IS 250?: Across all years, Airbags is the top problem area, accounting for 226 complaints or 31% of the 719 total, followed by Structure & Body issues at 23%.
Are there recalls on the Lexus IS 250?: Yes, NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns across the model years covered, concentrated in the 2006-2010 range and mostly related to airbag inflators.
Is the 2007 Lexus IS 250 reliable?: The 2007 model year has the worst complaint index (100) of any IS 250 year, with 213 complaints covering Structure & Body, airbags, and engine issues, and is rated Avoid relative to other IS 250 years.