2007 Lexus IS Engine Problems

Hello: I own a 2007 Lexus IS250. My vehicle has had an ongoing engine misfire issue and has run extremely rough. In addition, my SRS light and there is an issue with the driver's side knee air bag inflator connector. Finally, my dashboard, front and rear door panels have been sticky and melted over time when it is hot and there is no reason why this is occurring. The dashboard and door panels become glossy, crack and have broken off into pieces and the shine/gloss from the dashboard causes blinding while driving due to the reflection of the sun on the dashboard. These issues have been going on for a period of over 10 years and I had multiple accidents due to these numerous issues. I have reported these to Lexus corporate on multiple occasions, including in 2016 and 2017. However, Lexus has refused to fix them stating that they are aware of these issues and had the ZLJ, ZLD and ZLA warranty programs but that they had expired in 2017. However, I later found out that none of those programs had expired at the time I called Lexus's corporate office. One of their programs, the ZLD warranty program, was apparently extended until 2021, however, Lexus failed to inform most vehicle owners of this. These issues are a safety issue. They have caused my car to malfunction for over 10 years and to have accidents. Many Lexus owners have also reported about these issues in Lexus owner forums on the internet and have stated that they have had accidents due to these issues, but Lexus failed to properly inform customers of the extended warranty and refused to fix these cars. With these issues continuing and becoming worse over the years, they are no longer a warranty issue, but a safety issue for drivers. I am requesting that the NHSTA investigate this issue and require, if possible, that Lexus issue safety recalls for these known defects and fix these issues immediately to prevent car accidents.

NHTSA ID

11736572

Incident

May 1, 2016

Engine is consuming too much oil regularly. I have to fill in a quart every 600 miles or so. Interior panels are melting

NHTSA ID

11693354

Incident

Oct 14, 2025

RATTLE NOISE ON START UP FROM ENGINE AS IF CAR HAS NO OIL

NHTSA ID

11244268

Incident

Jan 5, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. I BOUGHT MY CAR ONLY TWO YEARS AGO AFTER MY FIRST LEXUS LASTED ME UPWARDS OF 350,000 MILES. KEEPING THIS IN MIND I FOUND MY 2007 IS250. I WAS AWARE AFTER BUYING THE CAR (BUT 2 DAYS OUTSIDE OF MY DEALERSHIP WARRANTY *FISHY*) ABOUT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG RECALL. THE DASHBOARD SITUATION IS HARSH. THERE IS A VERY CHEMICAL SMELL COMING FROM MY DASHBOARD, IT FEELS AND PEELS OFF LIKE THE FOAM UNDER IT. IT GETS RIPPED AND TORN TO SHREDS FROM VERY LITTLE FRICTION. I HAVE READ THAT SOME PEOPLE BECAME VERY CONGESTED AND ILL FROM THIS SMELL. IT IS VERY PUNGENT. NOW FOR MY ENGINE, THIS IS A BIG ONE. AS I WAS DRIVING, MY CAR STARTS TO MAKE A LOUD BUT HALLOW CLUNKING NOISE. FOR A LONG TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS MY BRAKES, SO WHEN I GOT THEM CHANGED IT WENT AWAY, FOR A LITTLE. NOW TODAY AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR (WHICH IS AN AUTOMATIC) COMPLETELY STALLED IN HEAD ON TRAFFIC. LUCKY ME, IVE DRIVEN MANY MANUAL CARS SO I KNEW WHAT TO DO. WHEN I TURNED MY CAR BACK ON, IT HELD IDLE AT 4000 RPM. WHILE GOING 20 MPH IT HOLDS AT 5-6000 RPM. AS WELL AS MY MILES PER GALLON/TANK DROP DRAMATICALLY. WHILE THE CAR IS IN IDLE IN MY DRIVEWAY, IT SHAKES LIKE A FREEZING BABY THROWING A TEMPER TANTRUM.

NHTSA ID

11217382

Incident

Jun 2, 2019

Mileage

152,000 mi

I WORK FOR TOYOTA/LEXUS MANU PLANT IN KY. MY VEHICLE STARTED THROWING A MISFIRE CODE (P0304) AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED BY LEXUS DEALER AS HAVING CARBON BUILD UP IN ENGINE (TEMPORARY REPAIR WILL COST $600 TO CLEAN ENGINE. PERMANENT REPAIR THAT WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE TO HAPPEN $15,000). LEXUS DID OFFER A CSP ON THIS ISSUE AND EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS ISSUE BUT YOU COULD NOT GO TO THE DEALER AND HAVE IT DIAGNOSED UNTIL THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. AFTER MANY PHONE CALLS AND CONTINUOUS COMPLAINING LEXUS WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I FINALLY HAD TO FILE A COMPLAINT THRU THE WARRANTY DEPT AT THE MANU PLANT. LEXUS FINALLY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THEY WOULD PAY THE $600 TO CLEAN THE ENGINE, SHE DID TELL ME THAT THE ONLY REASON THEY WERE EVEN TALKING TO ME WAS BECAUSE I WORK AT THE PLANT. I HAD THE ENGINE CLEANED OCT 2017. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS CARBON BUILD UP WILL RETURN AND I WILL EVENTUALLY NEED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ID

11170814

Incident

Oct 26, 2017

Mileage

71,110 mi

I HAD ISSUES WHEN THE CAR STARTS-UP. IT MAKE A LOUD NOISE EVERY MORNING GOING TO WORK AND ALSO THE A/C MAKES NOISES WHEN ITS ON. TOOK IT TO LEXUS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE AND ALSO SAY THAT THEY FOUND SOME TYPE OF GARAGE IN THE AIR FILTER. THE NOISE IS STILL THERE, ITS A LOUD THUMP AS IF METAL TO METAL IMPACT. LIKE A STEEL HAMMER HITTING ANOTHER STEEL HAMMER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632472

Incident

Sep 21, 2009

Mileage

51,190 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL COUNTRY ROAD AT ABOUT 15-20 MPH (HAVING JUST COME OUT OF A SHARP TURN). WHEN I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AFTER THE TURN, IT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO "GUN", AT WHICH POINT I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND TO MY HORROR GOT NO RESPONSE. I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT THE ACCELERATOR CONTINUED TO REV OR GUN HORRIFYINGLY AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPEED UP. AT ANOTHER SHARP TURN I WENT OFF THE ROAD AND SIDESWIPED A TREE, DROVE THROUGH THE BEDROOM OF A HOUSE (IN ONE WALL AND OUT THE OTHER) AND FINALLY STOPPED IN ANOTHER TREE. AFTER AN HOUR OF POLICE, FIRE, AND OTHER EMERGENCY PERSONNEL ATTEMPTING TO EXTRICATE ME FROM THE CAR, THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE ROOF OF THE CAR TO GET ME OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS AIRLIFTED TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL WITH A TRAUMA CENTER, WHERE I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FRACTURED STERNUM, THREE BROKEN RIBS, TWO FRACTURED VERTEBRAE, AND A LACERATED LIVER. I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR THREE DAYS, AFTER WHICH I WAS RELEASED WITH A CUSTOM-FITTED BACK BRACE THAT I WAS REQUIRED TO WEAR FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT PERMANENTLY INJURED, BUT I SUFFER BACK PAIN REGULARLY AS A RESULT OF THE FRACTURED VERTEBRAE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449447

Incident

Apr 10, 2010

Mileage

9,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V020000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 14,000. UPDATED 03/12/09. *LJ THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE NEXT APPOINTMENT WAS WITHIN A MONTH. UPDATED 03/16/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10259070

Incident

Feb 17, 2009

Mileage

14,000 mi

VSC WARNING LIGHT CAME WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. PULLED IN A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD CAR WAS OK TO CONTINUE DRIVING BUT MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE. LEFT DEALERSHIP, WENT APPROX 0.5 MILES TO GET GAS. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR THERE WERE LOUD SCRAMBLING NOISES LIKE AN ANIMAL WAS LOOSE IN THE DASH. POPPED THE HOOD, COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING- LOOKED UNDER CAR AND ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS POURING OUT. HAD CAR TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP. STILL WAITING FOR VERDICT. CAR IS ONLY 7 MONTHS OLD AND THIS WILL BE MY 3RD TIME IN THE SHOP. AT 3 MONTHS HAD TO RECEIVE FULL WHEEL ALIGNMENT DUE TO SEVERE SHAKING AND PULLING TO THE LEFT. AT 6 MONTHS BROUGHT CAR IN COMPLAINING OF A LOUD CREAKING DURING TURNS- ARM BOLT WAS LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD MAKES A LOUD CRACK/POP NOISE EVERY MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK. THIS CAR HAD EXCELLENT REVIEWS, WHAT HAPPENED! *TR

NHTSA ID

10191273

Incident

May 19, 2007

Mileage

5,300 mi