2009 Lexus IS 250 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2009 Lexus IS 250 carries a Caution verdict with a complaint index of 60, ranking 5th worst out of 11 model years. It has 48 NHTSA complaints, 6 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls, with airbags the top problem area at 42% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 60/100
- #5 of 11 IS 250 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 48
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 20 city / 26 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2009 Lexus IS 250 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags20 (42%)
- Engine7 (15%)
- Structure & Body7 (15%)
- Other6 (13%)
- Visibility & Wipers6 (13%)
- Fuel System5 (10%)
- Brakes2 (4%)
- Electrical System2 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (4%)
- Seat Belts1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some drivers reported the vehicle suddenly lurching or accelerating forward unexpectedly while parking or leaving a parking space, in some cases resulting in a crash.
- One owner described the accelerator pedal sticking at highway speed, requiring both feet on the brake and shifting into park to stop the car.
- Owners reported the transmission jerking and shaking abnormally between 15 and 65 mph during gear shifts, an issue dealers sometimes could not duplicate.
- A gasoline odor was reported inside the cabin, entering through the air vents, especially when outside air circulation was selected.
- One owner reported the sunroof glass shattering without warning while driving at 60 mph.
- A driver reported a rear door locking with the key fob still inside the car after being shut.
2009 Lexus IS 250 recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V741000Oct 17, 2019Airbags928,220 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver 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 GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
- NHTSA 18V024000Jan 9, 2018Airbags628,018 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, IS-F, and GX460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP (Saipan), and the U.S. VI or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2010 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, ES350, IS-F, GX460, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Toyota is also recalling certain 2009 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Lexus IS250, IS350, ES350, IS-F, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began on January 29, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.
- NHTSA 17V006000Jan 9, 2017Airbags577,875 vehicles
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, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2009 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Yaris HB, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Lexus, ES350, IS250, IS350, and IS-F vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and IS350, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350, Toyota Yaris, Yaris HB, and 2008 Lexus IS-F and Scion xB vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 1, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), H0A (Toyota Zone C), GLG (Lexus Zone A), GLH (Lexus Zone B) and HLA (Lexus Zone C).
2009 Lexus IS 250 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 22 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,650
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2009 compared with other IS 250 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Lexus IS 250 reliable?
- NHTSA data gives it a Caution verdict, with a complaint index of 60, ranking 5th worst among 11 model years of the IS 250. It has 48 complaints and 6 recalls, mostly tied to airbags.
- What is the biggest problem area for the 2009 Lexus IS 250?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 42% of complaints (20 of 48), with a median failure mileage of 100,000 miles.
- Does the 2009 Lexus IS 250 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this year, covering airbags, the fuel system, and wiper arm nuts. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2009 model compare to other Lexus IS 250 years?
- The 2009 model's complaint index of 60 is better than 2006, 2007, and 2008 (all rated Avoid with indexes of 90, 100, and 80), but worse than years like 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015, which rate Good or Best.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Lexus IS 250?
- EPA rates it at 22 mpg combined (20 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,650.