YearToAvoid

2014 Lexus IS 250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

83/100

#2 most-complained of 7 IS 250 years

The 2014 Lexus IS 250 has a complaint index of 83, ranking 2nd worst of 7 model years, with an Avoid verdict. NHTSA logs 35 complaints, 6 crashes, 1 fire, and 0 recalls, led by Electrical System issues (26% of complaints).

Complaints
35
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
6 / 1
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
24
21 city / 30 hwy

Top 2014 Lexus IS 250 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System9 (26%)
  2. Airbags8 (23%)
  3. Other6 (17%)
  4. Engine5 (14%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (14%)
  6. Structure & Body4 (11%)
  7. Steering3 (9%)
  8. Brakes2 (6%)
  9. Fuel System2 (6%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the navigation/entertainment system freezing or shutting off while driving.
  • Drivers describe the driver-side door lock beeping and failing to open with the handle or remote.
  • Some owners report the engine stalling or losing acceleration without warning, in one case followed by smoke and an under-hood fire.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in multiple frontal and side-impact crashes, including one where the driver suffered a fractured rib, hip, ankle, and head injuries.
  • Owners describe the EPS steering warning light coming on with the steering wheel locking up and unable to move until the car is restarted.
  • One owner reported a fuel leak at two fuel injectors, calling it a potential fire hazard.
2014 Lexus IS 250 complaints: complaints filed per month4Feb 2014Oct 2014Oct 2015Oct 2016Jan 2018Mar 2019Aug 2020Jan 2022
45 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2014 to Jan 2022; peak Jun 2020 (4).

2014 Lexus IS 250 recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2014 Lexus IS 250 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
30 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,300
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.

2014 compared with other IS 250 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013201420152016
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2012Caution5017422
2013Best175223
2014Avoid8335024
2015Good3316024
2016No verdict010—

All Lexus IS 250 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Lexus IS 250 reliable?
Compared to other IS 250 years, the 2014 ranks 2nd worst of 7 model years with a complaint index of 83 and an Avoid verdict, based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Lexus IS 250?
NHTSA data shows Electrical System complaints lead at 26% of the total, followed by Airbags at 23% and Engine and Suspension issues each at 14%.
Does the 2014 Lexus IS 250 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2014 Lexus IS 250, though it still logs 35 owner complaints.
What year Lexus IS 250 should I avoid?
Among the years with data, 2010 has the highest complaint index at 100, followed by 2014 at 83, while 2013 scores lowest at 17 and is rated Best.
How many complaints involve airbags in the 2014 Lexus IS 250?
NHTSA lists 8 airbag-related complaints for the 2014 IS 250, including 3 crashes, with a median failure mileage of 31,500 miles.

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.