Lexus IS reliability by year
2 recalls and 42 owner complaints across 10 model years. Year-by-year sample sizes are too thin to call a best/worst yet — but the per-year breakdown still surfaces what to watch for.
Worst model years to avoid → — the single year to avoid for every model line we track, ranked side by side.
At-a-glance: every year color-coded
Each cell shows the last two digits of the model year and its 0–10 reliability score from NHTSA data. Click any year to see the full record. ★ best year · ✕ year to avoid.
Year-by-year reliability 10 model years · newest first
Common trouble spots across the IS aggregated across 10 model years
Common questions
What's the best year to buy a Lexus IS?
Sample sizes across years are too thin to make a confident best-year call for this model right now. Check the year-by-year list below — recalls and complaint counts per year are still useful even when the rollup verdict isn't.
Which Lexus IS year should I avoid?
Not enough year-by-year data to call out a worst year confidently. Review the year-by-year breakdown for recall counts and complaint volumes.
Which years of the Lexus IS should I avoid?
No Lexus IS model year currently rises to an "avoid" or "high-risk" verdict on the NHTSA data — either the record is clean or sample sizes are still too thin for a confident call. The year-by-year breakdown below shows what's on file regardless.
How many years of the Lexus IS are tracked?
10 model years (2009 through 2022) with NHTSA records on file. Total across the lineup: 2 recalls and 42 owner complaints.
What's the most-reported problem on the Lexus IS?
engine is the most-reported category — 3 complaints across 1 model year. Average shop repair runs about $3,100.