RoadVitals

2007 Lexus IS Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Jun 16, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 122 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 Lexus IS submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 16, 2026

The headlights continusely shot off while driving. The shift solenoid are stuck off causing the check engine light to continuously remain on. This all began 2023.

NHTSA ID
11744650
Incident
Jul 13, 2023
Body & structureOther / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Mar 10, 2023

The dashboard melted again, I had the TSB in 2017 to replace the dash. It is now again melted and obstructs your view by shining onto to the front windshield, obstructing the front view of the driver can cause impairment of vision and could lead to collision. The rear view mirror has black corrosion on it making it impossible to see clearly in the rearview and also obstructing your view which could cause an accident due to limited visibility when changing lanes. Sometimes when driving or parking the power steering locks the steering wheel in place intermittently, could not get it to happen at dealer but happened before and is a severe road hazard( Shows P/S in red on dash) dash lights VSC and traction control intermittently light up and go away. Obviously it is a hazard if the steering locks up when driving. Lexus oem alloy wheels chipping, not a hazard but cosmetic and disappointing.

NHTSA ID
11511235
Incident
Mar 2, 2022
Steering
Filed Mar 10, 2021

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING GARAGE IN TAMPA, FL. IT HAPPENED WITHOUT A SOUND AND WITHOUT WARNING, AND HASN'T WORKED EVER SINCE.

NHTSA ID
11400084
Incident
Feb 27, 2021
Mileage
175,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 3, 2020

STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN WHILE DRIVING/ PARKING AND SOMETIMES FREEZES ON THE HIGHWAY IN A RUN AS IF SOMETHING IS HOLDING ON TO IT LIKE A MAGNET, AND YOU HAVE TO PULL ON IT REAL HARD TO GET IT BACK UNDER CONTROL . I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS THE ONLY CAR DOING IT BUT WHEN I WENT ON LEXUSFOURMS I'VE SEEN THAT THERE WAS MANY CAR WITH THE SAME ISSUE STATING THAT LEXUS RACK AND PINION IS FAULTY AND WILL CAUSE YOU TO CRASH IF YOUR NOT USED TO IT

NHTSA ID
11343111
Incident
Jul 16, 2020
Mileage
130,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 23, 2019

THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT LEAVING DRIVING A SERIOUS HAZARD. I HAVE READ THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON IN THIS MODEL. ALSO, I WAS INFORMED THAT IT COULD LOCK UP COMPLETELY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE YET THERE IS NOT A RECALL. THE CAR IS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENS ON BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID
11257412
Incident
Sep 23, 2019
Mileage
243,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 31, 2017

THERE'S A LOUD RUBBING SOUND WHEN I TURN MY WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN DRIVING MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP THAT ONLY WORKS ON TOYOTA AND HONDA. THEY QUOTED ME $3000.00 TO FIX IT. I COULDN'T REEMEBER WHAT PART EXACTLY THEY WERE GOING TO FIX. I WAS MORE STUNNED THAN LISTENING AT THAT POINT. I CERTAINLY DID NOT WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY I DON'T HAVE TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF. BUT IT HAS BEEN PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ON A BUSY STREET, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I ALMOST SLAMMED INTO A CAR IN THE LANE NEXT TO ME. I HAD TO RESTART MY CAR AND APOLOGISE PROFUSELY TO THE DRIVER THAT I ALMOST WRECKED INTO. I CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL THEY KNEW OF WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. HE SAID THERE WASN'T. IT'S PRETTY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING THIS CAR. IT'S A SHAME TO ME THAT SUCH A LUXURIOUS BRAND NAME WOULD HAVE THIS HUGE PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING MAJOR LIKE STEERING, AND NOT HAVE ANY TYPE OF ANSWER AS TO WHY THIS ELECTRICAL STEERING IS HAVING THIS ISSUE. I DID GET COMFORT KNOWING THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY CUSTOMER UPSET AT LEXUS FOR THIS...

NHTSA ID
11011884
Incident
Mar 1, 2017
Mileage
115,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 16, 2017

WHILE DRIVING WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR THE POWER STEERING JUST STOPPED WORKING AT 45 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO MANHANDLE THE STEERING TO A SAFE PLACE. HOWEVER, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID
10985896
Incident
May 15, 2017
Mileage
190,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 16, 2016

POWER STERRING STOPED WORKING

NHTSA ID
10916299
Incident
Apr 12, 2016
Mileage
115,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 22, 2014

PUT CAR INTO DRIVE OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND STEERING WAS LOCKED. SHORTLY AFTER A FEW FEET THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED THEN EXPERIENCED NOTICEABLE GRADUAL INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO COMPLETE LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS ALONG WITH A RUBBING SOUND. NO WARNING OR SERVICE LIGHTS!? SSC-9-LC *TR

NHTSA ID
10560932
Incident
Jan 10, 2014
Mileage
62,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Nov 5, 2013

AS I JUST EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF MY WORK, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY FROZE. I WAS ABOUT TO PARK IN AN OPEN SPOT, SO THE SPEED OF THE CAR WAS VERY LOW. AS I WAS REVERSING INTO THE SPOT, THE STEERING WHEEL JAMMED AND WOULD NOT TURN. I TRIED SHUTTING DOWN AND RESTARTING MANY TIMES BUT THE WHEEL WAS STUCK, AND REQUIRED ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF POWER TO TURN EVER SO SLIGHTLY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LEXUS DEALER. THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO TURN, AND UPON THEIR REVIEW, THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN TIMING COVER, WHICH ACCUMULATED OVER TIME AND WENT INTO THE HARNESS OF THE ECU AND BURNED THE ECU, WHICH IN-TURN JAMMED YOUR STEERING. THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL LEAKS ON THE BOTTOM, AND THE DEALER ALSO CONFIRMED THAT BUT SAID IT WAS AN INTERNAL LEAK, YOU WOULD NOT SEE IT ON THE FLOOR. THE CAR IS STILL AT THE SHOP AND ONLY AFTER REPLACING THE ECU THEY WILL CHECK FOR STEERING ASSEMBLY. THE EXPLANATION PROVIDED BY THEM IS NOT VERY ADEQUATE AND IF IT IS TRUE THEN THERE SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS FLAW IN DESIGN THAT ANY UNSEEN LEAK FROM TIMING COVER COULD CAUSE YOUR STEERING TO FREEZE UNEXPECTEDLY, WHILE YOUR VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10550938
Incident
Oct 18, 2013
Mileage
85,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 10, 2013

VEHICLE OWNER OBSERVED NOISE THAT APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. AT LOW SPEEDS SUCH AS BACKING UP, WITH LARGE STEERING MOTION, NOISE IS MOST PRONOUNCED. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE TENDS TO "SKIP" AND "JUMP" TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, AS IF STEERING BECOMES LOOSE AND JERKS ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER. NOISE AND MOTION HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE SINCE THE INCIDENT DATE. ON OR ABOUT 2/18/13, OWNER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. THAT SHOP CONFIRMED THE NOISE, BUT STATED IT NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. OWNER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP ON 2/22/13. DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED, NEED TO REPLACE THE RACK AND STEERING SERVOMOTORS WHICH COMES AS ONE PART, BEING LE44200-53151 ELECTRIC LINK ASSEMBLY. THIS IS A PART THAT IS SEALED AND COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED BY EITHER THE OWNER OR ANY REPAIR SHOP. COST TO REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY IS $4472.17 INCLUDING LABOR, MATERIALS AND TAX. OWNER BELIEVES THIS IS AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT, AND REPRESENTS ABOUT 20 - 25% OF THE VEHICLE VALUE. THE FAILURE OF THIS PART IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, THE VEHICLE OWNER SHOULD BEAR NO RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE THIS PART. OWNER HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO THE OWNER TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. OTHER THAN POSSIBLY THE BRAKES, STEERING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF A VEHICLE, IT SHOULD REMAIN FUNCTIONAL FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. INTERNET SEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT OTHER LEXUS VEHICLES OF THIS VINTAGE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS, DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THAT A FAULTY PART HAS BEEN INSTALLED IN THIS VEHICLE, DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN TOTAL STEERING LOSS, WHICH IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10502237
Incident
Jan 15, 2013
Mileage
101,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .