YearToAvoid

2017 Lexus IS Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

53/100

#8 most-complained of 16 IS years

The 2017 Lexus IS has a Complaint Index of 53, ranking 8th worst out of 16 model years, earning a "Caution" label. NHTSA lists 10 complaints, no recalls, no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths, with Fuel System issues making up 60% of complaints.

Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21.5
19 city / 27 hwy

Top 2017 Lexus IS problems

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

  1. Fuel System6 (60%)
  2. Electrical System2 (20%)
  3. Engine2 (20%)
  4. Other2 (20%)
  5. Steering2 (20%)
  6. Airbags1 (10%)
  7. Structure & Body1 (10%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the steering feeling sticky or locking up during extended highway driving, requiring a forceful "break free" motion that causes a sharp, unintended lane change.
  • Owners describe water leaking into the dashboard while the car was parked in rain, leading to headlight failure at 96,000 miles median mileage.
  • Owners report sudden engine shaking accompanied by check engine, yield, and traction control warning lights appearing without prior warning.
  • Owners describe hard starts, rough idle, and the engine dying, symptoms they link to a fuel pump issue similar to a known recall that their VIN was not covered under.
  • Owners report the car shutting off completely while driving around 50 mph, causing it to stall and require being pushed off the road.
  • Owners describe a rear curtain airbag deploying unexpectedly while the vehicle was parked, with no crash or fire involved.
2017 Lexus IS complaints: complaints filed per month3Nov 2023Jun 2024Mar 2025Mar 2026Sep 2026
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2023 to Sep 2026; peak Apr 2024 (3).

2017 Lexus IS recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2017 Lexus IS fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
21.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,725
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.

2017 compared with other IS years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Good479022
2016No verdict02021.5
2017Caution5310021.5
2018No verdict133022.5
2019No verdict72022

All Lexus IS years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Lexus IS reliable?
NHTSA data shows the 2017 Lexus IS has a Complaint Index of 53, ranking it 8th worst of 16 model years and giving it a "Caution" verdict relative to other IS years. It has no recalls and no reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Lexus IS?
Fuel System complaints make up 60% of the 10 complaints NHTSA lists for this year, more than any other problem area.
Does the 2017 Lexus IS have any recalls?
NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2017 Lexus IS.
How does the 2017 Lexus IS compare to other years?
The 2017 model's Complaint Index of 53 is better than the worst years like 2010 (100) and 2012 (93), but worse than better years like 2015 (47) and 2020 (40).
What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Lexus IS?
The 2017 Lexus IS gets an EPA-rated 21.5 mpg combined (19 city / 27 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,725.

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.