2008 Lexus IS 250 Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED PRIOR TO RESPONDING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS MOST EVIDENT AFTER STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE FROM BEING STATIONARY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID

11375912

Incident

Nov 30, 2019

Mileage

40,000 mi

ENGINE CONSUMES ABOUT A QUART OF OIL EVERY THOUSAND MILES. TAIL PIPES FULL OF CARBON. SOMETIMES RUNS ROUGH

NHTSA ID

11218921

Incident

Nov 1, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

DOOR PANELS ARE MELTING. LEXUS CORPORATE WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE OF ALL DOOR PANELS MELTING INSIDE THE CAR. LEXUS DID HOWEVER FIX THE DASHBOARD BUT DOES NOT WANT TO FIX THE DOOR PANELS. DOOR PANELS FEEL LIKE PLAY DOUGH STICKY AND ITS SHAPE IS BEING DESTROYED GRADUALLY AS BEING USED DAILY.

NHTSA ID

11196727

Incident

Jan 4, 2016

TAKATA RECALL. MY CAR HAD THE AIRBAG RECALL BUT IT SEEMS LIKE DURING THE RECALL THEY DIDN'T REPLACE THE AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS, CAUSING THE AIRBAG DASH LIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11190629

Incident

Mar 19, 2019

I HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR 3 WEEKS AGO AND IT WAS 75K MILE AND ORIGINALLY HAD 151K MILES ACCORDING TO THE REPORT OFF THE LEXUS WEBSITE.

NHTSA ID

11187370

Incident

Mar 17, 2019

Mileage

75 mi

STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE CAR.DRIVING IDILING AT A STAND STILLAND WHILE CAR IS THEN TURNED OFF AFTER RUNNING ALSO ANOTHER PROBLEM RELATED OR NOT BUT SHOWING UP AT THE SAME TIME WAS A BAD ODOR NOT THE SMELL OF GAS BUT THE SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS IS PRESENT AFTER THE CAR EXCELLERATES THE SMELL IS STRONG AND PUNGENT INSIDE VEHICLE ALSO

NHTSA ID

11182688

Incident

May 1, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

AS INSPECTED BY LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN WOODLAND HILLS CA, MY CAR HAS AIRBAG LIGHT ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY. ERROR CODE B1861 WAS FOUND THAT IS TIED TO KNEE AIRBAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SQUIB CIRCUIT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER I BELIEVE. CAR HAS AROUND 99K MILES BUT THIS SAFETY CONCERN IS SERIOUS. THIS AIRBAG IS SOMETHING THAT NEVER GETS USED UNLESS YOU'RE IN AN ACCIDENT. I'VE NEVER BEEN IN ONE. IT IS JUST BAD WORKMANSHIP ON LEXUS TO INSTALL SUCH A WIRING HARNESS AND SQUIB CIRCUIT THAT'LL GO BAD BEFORE 100,000 MILES. AS A CUSTOMER THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS VISIBLE TO ME NOR SOMETHING I WOULD ATTEMPT TO TOUCH. IT IS HIDDEN BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP QUOTED $3000+ TO FIX SOMETHING THAT WASN'T CAUSED DUE TO CUSTOMER NEGLIGENCE. IT IS JUST BAD WORKMANSHIP FROM LEXUS. THERE IS A GREAT RISK INVOLVED WITH DRIVING LEXUS IS250'S CONSIDERING THIS LIGHT COULD TURN ON ANYTIME AND IF ONE GETS INTO AN ACCIDENT, THEN AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CASUALTY OR SERIOUS INJURIES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL LEXUS AFFECTED BY THIS. CUSTOMER SHOULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE WORKMANSHIP PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

11172116

Incident

Jan 8, 2019

Mileage

99,000 mi

DASH AIRBAG LIGHT RANDOMLY TURNED ON. CAR WAS PARKED. AS SOON AS CAR WAS TURNED ON THE LIGHT LIT UP. LIGHT WAS NOT ON DAY BEFORE. TOOK TO LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND HAD CODE SCANNED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR NEEDS A NEW DASH HARNESS AND REPAIR WOULD COST +$3,000 PLUS TAX FOR PART AND LABOR WHICH IS HALF OF WHAT THE CAR COSTS. ALSO TOLD ME THAT WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON NONE OF MY AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION WHICH MAKES ME WORRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR, ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR. LOOKED UP THE ISSUE ONLINE AND SAW IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE CARS, BUT THERE IS NO TYPE OF RECALL FOR THE ISSUE WHICH IS UNUSUAL FOR SOMETHING THAT IS COMMON AND PUTS LIVES AT RISK.

NHTSA ID

11163957

Incident

Dec 20, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR PANEL AND DASHBOARD STARTED TO MELT, CRACK, AND BECOME STICKY. THE DEALER (LEXUS OF TAMPA BAY, 5852 N DALE MABRY HWY., TAMPA, FL 33614) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN RECALL; HOWEVER, THEY STOPPED DOING REPAIRS IN NOVEMBER OF 2017. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,800.

NHTSA ID

11152516

Incident

Aug 14, 2017

Mileage

93,800 mi

2008 LEXUS IS 250. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO AIRBAG RECALL AND AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINING ON. *AS *JS

NHTSA ID

11138731

Incident

Oct 9, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. WAS UNAWARE OF FUEL SYSTEM RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP NEVER INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS EVER AN ISSUE. STARTED SMELLING A WEIRD SMELL COMING FROM THE EXHAUST WHEN I ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ID

11122792

Incident

Jan 4, 2016

Mileage

105,000 mi

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, LEXUS KEEPS TELLING ME THAT MY ENGINE IS FINE AND THEY HAVE TESTED IT ETC, HOWEVER IT COMES TO A DEAD STOP AND WON'T GO I KEEP PRESSING THE GAS BUT IT HESITATES REALLY BAD CLOSE TO BE HIT BY ONCOMING CARS ON A DAILY BASIS.

NHTSA ID

11121961

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

Mileage

900,000 mi

TAKATA AIRBAG. PASSENGER AIRBAG TROUBLE LIGHT COMES ON DASH INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STATIONARY AND WHILE IN MOTION ON STREET/HIGHWAY. WHEN I RECENTLY HAD THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL DONE, THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME $2,100 TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS. I RESEARCHED ON-LINE AND FOUND THIS TO BE UNIVERSALLY OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH LEXUS IS250 MODELS AND OTHERS 2006 AND LATER. THE DEFECTIVE PART IS THE CONNECTOR FROM THE WIRING HARNESS COMING LOOSE AT THE PLUG INTO THE AIRBAG. SINCE THIS A UNIVERSAL SAFETY ISSUE AND RELATED TO A DEFECTIVE PART (RATHER THAN A MECHANICAL PART SUBJECT TO WEAR/TEAR) SHOULDN'T THIS BE A RECALL? SEE FOLLOWING LINK FOR MORE DETAILS, BUT IT IS PRETTY COMMON LORE IN LEXUS CIRCLES THAT IS HAPPENING AT LOW MILES AS WELL AS HIGH MILES. NOT SURE WHY CONSUMERS ARE PAYING FOR THIS FLAW WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY. HTTPS://WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUMS/IS-2ND-GEN-2006-2013/542134-AIRBAG-LIGHT-ON-WITH-RESOLUTION-TSB.HTML

NHTSA ID

11118963

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

185,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTING AND PRODUCED A GLARE THAT IMPAIRED VISION WHILE DRIVING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF NEW ORLEANS (8811 VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD, METAIRIE, LA 70003, (504) 207-3100) WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. **TR CONSUMER STATED RECALL ON DASHBOARD'S WARRANTY EXPIRED AFTER 10YEARS OF FIRST USE. UPDATED 11/7/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11115406

Incident

Jan 20, 2016

Mileage

95,000 mi

THE "VSC" WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND STAYING ON SINCE NOVEMBER 2017. I HAVE READ THAT MANY LEXUS IS 250 CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE CAR SEEMS TO BE DRIVING FINE FOR NOW BUT THERE HAS TO BE A REASON FOR THE WARNING LIGHT. IF SO MANY OTHER CARS HAVE THIS ISSUE, I'M WONDERING IF IT'S A MANUFACTURE ERROR?? THE WARNING LIGHTS COMES ON AS SOON AS THE ENGINE STARTS AND IT DOES NOT GO OUT.

NHTSA ID

11113499

Incident

Nov 27, 2017

Mileage

73,000 mi

I PURCHASED 4 BRAND NEW TIRES FROM FIRESTONE COMPLETE AUTO CARE ON 12/27/2015. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WITH THE TIRES INCLUDING FREQUENT BUBBLE FORMATION AND A TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. I BELIEVE THE FREQUENCY OF THESE INCIDENTS WARRANT INVESTIGATION AS TO POSSIBLE DEFECTS IN THIS BRAND AND LINE OF TIRE THAT COULD BE LIFE THREATENING. I HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT OF THE LEFT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON 3/30/17. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR IN CONTROL AND GET OFF OF THE NEXT EXIT. I HAD THE TIRE REPLACED LATER THAT MORNING. NEXT, I WAS AT THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER OF 11/2017 FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND A BUBBLE WAS FOUND IN THE SIDEWALL TIRE. THIS TIRE WAS REPLACED AT THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP. ON 4/15/18, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR FELT UNBALANCED AND THE CHECK TIRE LIGHT CAME ON. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT AIR IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET AIR IN. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO FIRESTONE AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW TIRE. ON 6/2/18, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MIDAS FOR AN EMISSIONS SYSTEM CHECK AND THE TECHNICIAN SHOWED ME A BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE LEFT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO FIRESTONE AND THIS WAS VERIFIED. I WAS CHARGED AND THE TIRE REPLACED. HAVING PURCHASED THESE 50,000 MILE TIRES IN DECEMBER OF 2015 WITH 93,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE THIS IS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ISSUES AT 126,000 MILES. I HAVE BOTH SAFETY AND FINANCIAL CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PRODUCT. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO SPEAK WITH FIRESTONE DIRECTLY AT THE STORE, THEY DENY ANY ISSUE WITH THE TIRES. I RECEIVED DISCOUNT PRICING FOR REPLACING 2 TIRES BUT NO OTHER ACCOUNTABILITY BY FIRESTONE. I BELIEVE THIS WOULD HAVE TO OCCUR AT A HIGHER LEVEL. THE TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE DRIVEGUARD BL WITH RUN FLAT 225/45R17 91W 50,000 MILE.

NHTSA ID

11100103

Incident

Jun 2, 2018

Mileage

110,178 mi

REAR BRAKE CALIPERS SEIZING WITHIN MONTHS KEEP HAVING TO REPLACE CALIPER SCREWS OR ENTIRE CALIPER

NHTSA ID

11088784

Incident

Apr 13, 2018

Mileage

162,000 mi

DASH CRACKING, STICKY TRUNK BUTTON, DOOR PAN ELS DISCOLORED . FIRST OWNER PURCHASED NEW. GARAGE KEEP ENTIRE PERIOD SINCE PURCHASE IN 08. I ALWAYS WANTED TO HAVE A LEXUS AND ON MY 50TH BITHDAY AND PURCHASED A NEW ONE. I WANTED A LEXUS BECAUSE IT MEANT QUALITY. I UNDERSTAND TOYOTA /LEXUS ISSUED A NOTICE TO DEALERS BUT NOT A RECALL NOTICE. I NEVER RECIEVED ANY NOTICE FROM MY LOCAL DEALER OR LEXUS REGARDING THIS DEFECT UNTIL THE REPLACEMENT PLAN HAD EXPIRED. CLASS ACTION SUIT WAS DROPPED WHEN TOYOTA/LEXUS AGREED TO REPLACE DASH AND DOOR PANELS BACK 10 YEARS AND NO MILAGE CAP ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, MINE INCLUDED. I WOULD LIKE THIS REPLACED IN A TIMELY FASHION AT NO CHARGE. I CAN'T EVEN TRADE OR SELL MY VEHICLE FOR REAL,VALUE OF A GARAGE KEPT VEHICLE WITH THESE ISSUES. WHY IS IT LEXUS CAN'T DO BETTER FOR ITS CUSTOMERS AND NOT LEAVE ME IN LIMBO? I WOULDN'T PURCHASE ANOTHER LEXUS OR TOYOTA IN THE FUTURE IF THE MANUFACTURE WON'T STAND IT'S PRODUCT. THIS COULD EFFECT UP 3.5 MILLION TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES. CAN THE DEPT OF,TRANSPORTATION CONTACT THE MANUFACTURE AND PUT A FIRE UNDER THEIR TAILS? I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP AND GUIDANCE ON THIS ISUUE. THANKYOU FOR YOUR HELP.

NHTSA ID

11083766

Incident

Mar 19, 2018

Mileage

157,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD AND SIDE PANELS ARE MELTING AND VERY STICKY. HAD TO BUY A COVER FOR DASHBOARD TO PREVENT THE SHINY PART FROM HITTING THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ID

11083182

Incident

Apr 2, 2018

A LATENT DEFECT IN THE DASHBOARD AND SIDE DOOR PANELS MELT OR DEGRADE UPON PROLONGED EXPOSURE RESULTING IN A STICKY, REFLECTIVE GOO THAT REDUCES VISIBILITY. THE INCREASED GLARE HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE. LEXUS HAS REFUSED MY CLAIM AND WILL NOT REPAIR MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11073168

Incident

May 1, 2017

WIRING HARNESS THAT IS TOO SHORT.

NHTSA ID

11035756

Incident

Oct 19, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT OBSERVED STICKY RESIDUE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DASHBOARD AND THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HANDLES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE DEALER (LEXUS OF PALM BEACH, 5700 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33417, (561) 291-6004) FAILED TO PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE OEM DASHBOARD. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAITED YEARS FOR THE HANDLES TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11033081

Incident

Mar 3, 2014

AFTER HAVING THE CAR I STARTED GETTING THE FEEL AS IF THE CAR WANTED TO CUT OFF EACH TIME I CAME TO A STOP. THERE WAS VIBRATION WITH IN THE MOTOR AS IT SEEMED. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISE THERE WAS A ISSUE WITH MY MODEL WITH THE MOTOR SYSTEM WITH THE VIBRATION. THEY FIXED THE ISSUE SO I THOUGHT BUT AS OF TODAY THERE IS STILL VIBRATIONS AT TIME WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. LATER ON I RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE DASHBOARD AND DOOR PANELS. I LATER RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL FOR MY AIRBAGS, NOW MY AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND I'M HAVING TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALERSHIP. THESE ITEMS HAS HAPPEN ON NUMBER OF OCCASIONS

NHTSA ID

11010818

Incident

Apr 10, 2017

Mileage

40,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY LEXUS IN NOV. 2012 FOR APPROX. $18000 CASH FROM A PRIVATE PERSON. BY EARLY 2013, THE SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYED TO COME ON, STAY ON FOR 1-2 DAYS, THEN GOES OFF. THEN, FEW MONTHS LATER, IT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. SO, I TOOK IT TO A LEXUS DEALER TO CHECK IT. THEY IMMEDIATELY INFORMED ME THAT THE CAUSE WAS A DEFECTIVE SRS WIRE HARNESS, AS PER THE FAULT CODE B1861, WHICH LEXUS WAS WELL AWARE OF AND HAD ISSUED TSP, AND THE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE SRS WIRE HARNESS WITH AN UPGRADED REPLACEMENT WHICH WOULD COST ME $3500-$4000. NOT BEING AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE I PURCHASED MY LEXUS, I DECIDED TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM TO LEARN MORE BEFORE CONTACTING LEXUS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CENTER, AS ADVISED BY THE DEALER. HOWEVER, LEXUS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CENTER, AS WELL AS LEXUS CORPORATE OFFICE, REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND CARRY THE ENTIRE COST, EVEN SO THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFECT. THEREFORE, I'M LEFT WITH A CAR WITH NONFUNCTIONAL AIRBAG SYSTEM; IT WOULD COST ME AS MUCH AS 50% OF THE MARKET VALUE OF THE CAR; IT COULD NOT BE RESOLD; AND, IT WOULD NOT PASS THE DMV INSPECTION. ACCORDING TO ALL LEXUS DEALERS WHO INSPECTED THE PROBLEM, THIS SRS WIRE HARNESS IS LOCATED UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND CAN NOT BE DAMAGED EXCEPT DUE TO AN ACCIDENT WHERE DAMAGE REACHES THE DASHBOARD AREA. THEREFORE, IT'S LEXUS RESPONSIBILITY TO CARRY THE COST OF UPGRADING THE DEFECTED WIRE HARNESS. MOREOVER, THEY HAVE INFORMED THAT IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION BECAUSE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AN ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF FIXING THIS PROBLEM, I AM, LIKE MANY OTHER LEXUS OWNERS, LEFT WITH NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE IT THE WAY IT IT AND PRAY I WON'T GET IN ANY ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11003519

Incident

Apr 9, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS 250. WITHIN LESS THAN TWO DAYS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE RADIATOR CAP AND CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATED HIGHLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 10V309000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 09V020000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE THAT THEY ISSUED TWO RECALLS, BUT THEY PROVIDED NO SOLUTION TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ID

10984688

Incident

May 1, 2017

Mileage

74,000 mi