2012 Lexus IS 250 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2012 Lexus IS 250, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags1037.0%
- Electrical414.8%
- Brakes311.1%
- Driver assistance311.1%
- Body & structure311.1%
- Engine27.4%
- Powertrain (other)13.7%
- Seat belts13.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TAKATABRANTAKATA RECALL MY VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT 34 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME IMPACTED ME SO HARD THAT IT PUSHED ME INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND IN TURN SHE HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THERE WAS DAMAGED TO THE FRONT AND SIDE PANELS OF MY CAR AS WELL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I SUSTAINED AND SUFFERED INJURIES. THIS OCCURRED ON A BUSY CITY STREET WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURE EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED LEXUS SAN DIEGO AT (858) 268-8000 AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2012 Lexus IS250. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake inadvertently activated without the brake pedal being depressed. The vehicle also experienced unintended acceleration without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that the failure occurred after the cell phone was hacked and was concern the vehicle security was also compromised and hacked. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 137,000.
DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. BOTH FRONT DOOR ACTUATORS NEED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WE WERE TOLD IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THIS HAS BEEN UNSAFE FOR OUR TEENAGE DRIVER HAVING TO CRAWL THROUGH BACK DOORS TO UNLOCK HER VEHICLE ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2012 Lexus IS250. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake inadvertently activated without the brake pedal being depressed. The vehicle also experienced unintended acceleration without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that the failure occurred after the cell phone was hacked and was concern the vehicle security was also compromised and hacked. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 137,000.
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE INCHING INTO PARKING SPACE AT VERY SLOW RATE OF SPEED. ENGINE RACED UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAR JUMPED CURB WITH ALL 4 TIRES, ACROSS A SMALL MEDIAN, AND DOWN ANOTHER CURB WITH 3 TIRES, STRIKING A PARKED CAR, WHICH STOPPED FORWARD MOTION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2012 Lexus IS250. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake inadvertently activated without the brake pedal being depressed. The vehicle also experienced unintended acceleration without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that the failure occurred after the cell phone was hacked and was concern the vehicle security was also compromised and hacked. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 137,000.
I WANT TO REPORT THAT I EXPERIENCED UN-INTENDED ACCELERATION ON MY LEXUS IS 250C, 2012 MODEL PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2011 AS A RESULT OF WHICH MY VEHICLE CRASHED AND WENT TURTLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
TAKATABRANTAKATA RECALL MY VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT 34 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME IMPACTED ME SO HARD THAT IT PUSHED ME INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND IN TURN SHE HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THERE WAS DAMAGED TO THE FRONT AND SIDE PANELS OF MY CAR AS WELL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I SUSTAINED AND SUFFERED INJURIES. THIS OCCURRED ON A BUSY CITY STREET WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT.
DASHBOARD COMING APART CLUE SEEPING THEY DASHBOARD STICKY
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TAKATABRANTAKATA RECALL MY VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT 34 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME IMPACTED ME SO HARD THAT IT PUSHED ME INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND IN TURN SHE HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THERE WAS DAMAGED TO THE FRONT AND SIDE PANELS OF MY CAR AS WELL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I SUSTAINED AND SUFFERED INJURIES. THIS OCCURRED ON A BUSY CITY STREET WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT.
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE INCHING INTO PARKING SPACE AT VERY SLOW RATE OF SPEED. ENGINE RACED UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAR JUMPED CURB WITH ALL 4 TIRES, ACROSS A SMALL MEDIAN, AND DOWN ANOTHER CURB WITH 3 TIRES, STRIKING A PARKED CAR, WHICH STOPPED FORWARD MOTION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO START THE VEHICLE AND PUT THE GEAR IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED BACKWARDS AS SHE LIFTED HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE. SHE THREW THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY KEPT IT OVERNIGHT AND RAN PERFORMANCE CHECKS. THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND SAID IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE WEATHER MAT THAT WAS ON TOP OF THE LEXUS CARPET MAT. THE CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, BUT DID NOT STATE WHAT THEY WERE. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE SECOND TIME, SHE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. UPDATED 09/17/15*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WANT TO REPORT THAT I EXPERIENCED UN-INTENDED ACCELERATION ON MY LEXUS IS 250C, 2012 MODEL PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2011 AS A RESULT OF WHICH MY VEHICLE CRASHED AND WENT TURTLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .