RoadVitals

2010 Lexus IS

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
39
Latest May 8, 2026
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Oct 5, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
7
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 39 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2010 Lexus IS, most frequently naming the airbags, driver assistance and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 45 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags1634.8%
  • Driver assistance715.2%
  • Engine48.7%
  • Electrical36.5%
  • Transmission36.5%
  • Visibility24.3%
  • Brakes24.3%
  • Fuel system24.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

Oct 5, 2009
4,445,056 units potentially affected
The defect: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.
The risk: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy: TOYOTA FILED AN AMENDED DEFECT REPORT ON NOVEMBER 25, 2009, STATING THAT DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND, ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ALTER THE SHAPE OF THE FLOOR SURFACE UNDER THE PEDAL. THESE CHANGES ADDRESS THE RISK OF PEDAL ENTRAPMENT DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLOOR MAT. REDESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDALS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BEGINNING IN APRIL 2010 AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY MODIFIED PEDAL WITH THE NEW PEDAL IF DESIRED. ALSO, DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY GENUINE TOYOTA OR LEXUS ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS WITH REDESIGNED ALL-WEATHER MATS, OR REPURCHASE THE PREVIOUS MATS FROM OWNERS WHO DO NOT WANT THE NEW ONES. ADDITIONALLY, SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS WILL BE INSTALLED ON CAMRY, AVALON AND LEXUS ES 350, IS 350 AND IS 250 MODELS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE OVERRIDES THE ACCELERATOR IN THE EVENT BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE APPLIED. TOYOTA WILL BEGIN MAILING LETTERS TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331, LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.Manufacturer number 90L(TOYOTA)/90LG(LEXView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Filed May 8, 2026
1 injury reported

My vehicle's dashboard was melting. I thought it was some kind of condensation. When trying to wope it, sticky gook came off on my papertowel explosing the bottom level.of the dashboard. I went through all the levels all.the way to Corporate Lexus legal in TX as the fumes were making me sick. I am a senior citizens who was not planning on buying another vehicle as I drive very little. After 4 months with no help from Lexus having symptoms of anxiety, confusion, headache and extreme fatigue, I pushed myself to go drive to dealership which was s lot further than I was comfortable driving thr car in that condition. I told them I did not want another Toyota or Lexus so Itraded it in for a larger used vehicle than so I did not gave to drive the Lexus home. I was feeling even worse after the ride yhere and had developed a nagging little cough that does not go away. I also googled my symptoms which sound like Neuroinflammation that could be associated woth a melting dashboard. This has been a horrible experienced for me all around. I have plenty of documentation with Toyota/Lexus.

NHTSA ID
11736656
Incident
Dec 12, 2025
Driver assistanceElectricalInterior & seats
Filed May 8, 2026

The contact owns a 2010 Lexus IS. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle stalled, the vehicle independently accelerated while the accelerator pedal was not depressed, and all of the doors locked independently and were inoperative. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure occurred on several different occasions. The contact did research and was made aware of an unknown NHTSA Campaign Number however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to get a diagnosis however, the dealer stated that the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer to get a diagnosis however, the failure cause was unidentifiable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.

NHTSA ID
11736579
Incident
Jun 22, 2023
Mileage
102,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 16, 2025

Developed a fuel leak at the tank that has previously been exactly described as a recall on the exact year make and model of this vehicle however, when entering my VIN it does not show my VIN number as being affected. I feel there has been a mistake on the Vin number range. However, Lexus refuses to handle the issue under the recall since the VIN number does not trigger as such.

NHTSA ID
11705266
Incident
Dec 10, 2025
SteeringVisibility
Filed Oct 24, 2025

I have a stick dashboard and it’s impairing my vision to see out of front windshield. Lexus did have a recall, but it expired. However, I’m still in danger while driving because of glare.

NHTSA ID
11695432
Incident
Oct 24, 2025
Airbags
Filed Oct 1, 2025
Crash reported1 injury reported

I had a head on collision with a light pole and the airbags did not deploy. The vehicle was inspected by aProgressive insurance claims adjuster and they claimed the vehicle a total loss. They kept the vehicle. There were no warning lights or anything. The vehicle had been taken into a North Park Lexus dealership after a defective airbag recall to be serviced in 2018.

NHTSA ID
11690692
Incident
Aug 2, 2025
Filed Aug 18, 2025

Exterior driver's door mirror failure. The mirror is insecure, loose, unstable, not secured to the door, and rotates freely on its own. This condition makes it impossible and dangerous for the vehicle's driver to observe any vehicle approaching from the rear, left of the driver's side. The mirror is not secured to the vehicle's driver's door and spins freely. The driver cannot observe any approaching vehicles when pulling out from a parallel parking spot. This condition is this vehicle's "2nd" such incident. Previously, this identical situation happened to the mirror mounted on the passenger side door about 2 years earlier. The maintenance record is on file at the dealership. I paid the Chatham Lexus Dealership approximately $1000.00 to correct this.

NHTSA ID
11681254
Incident
Aug 15, 2025
BrakesElectrical
Filed Aug 14, 2025
Crash reported

My car experienced sudden unintended acceleration. I was at a stop light preparing to turn right when my car accelerated of its own accord crashing into the vehicle in front of me. My foot was firmly on the brake, but I had lost control over the vehicle. Whatever electrical defect I experienced, it was sufficient to rev the engine by itself and override the braking system enough that the vehicle advanced forward in an out-of-control manner. It was unintended, unexpected and beyond my ability to control. Failing to recognize the braking system, my vehicle collided into the vehicle a second time. Because my foot was on the brake and my vehicle still advanced forward, I initially thought I had been hit from behind. However, the erratic RPM behavior and the vehicle's continued acceleration while braking confirmed I was no longer in control of the vehicle. Acting promptly, I immediately took the gear shifter out of drive and put into neutral. It was then and only then that I regained control of the vehicle: it stopped accelerating, stopped revving of its own accord and began responding to the braking system. Please note: my foot was not on the gas pedal, for as soon as I took it out of drive, the RPM returned to normal (i.e. the erratic behavior indicated by the tachometer's RPM, stopped). Had my foot been on the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal, the revving would have continued to behave as before; but it did not. (I do not have an all-weather floor mat. It is neither here nor there, because in the event that I did have one, you would expect the RPM behavior to continue when put into neutral; but again, all behavior returned to normal when the vehicle was put in neutral.) Though I am sympathetic to those that panic in a moment of distress, I was of a present enough mind to know what was happening. An electrical engineer with intimate knowledge of the computer system for this vehicle would be the best to assess what went wrong from a technical perspective.

NHTSA ID
11680755
Incident
Jun 18, 2025
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 20, 2025

FROM TIME TO TIME AS IM DRIVING TO EITHER SPEED UP OR SLOW DOWN, MY CAR HAS NO POWER AND THEN WITHIN 2-3 SECONDS IT HITS HARD BACK INTO GEAR. I RESEARCHED IT ON LINE ABOUT OTHER LEXUS AND IT STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE COMPUTER AND IT HAS A GLITCHES IN THE SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RESET/CLEARED , THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT HITS SO HARD THAT IT FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED AND HURTS YOUR BACK AND NECK . THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY LEXUS AT LEXUS EXPENSE, THANK YOU

NHTSA ID
11637041
Incident
Jan 19, 2025

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

L-SB-0030-24 Rev2

STRUCTURE:BODY

Some 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines. This Service Bulletin is to provide a general overview and direction for the odor remediation process.

L-SB-0032-25

ENGINE

Some 2016 – 2020 model year GS F, 2008 – 2014 model year IS F, 2022 – 2025 model year IS 500, 2018 – 2025 model year LC 500, 2021 – 2025 model year LC 500c, and 2015 – 2025 model year RC F vehicles with 2UR-GSE engines may exhibit a MIL ON condition with one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): •P0505 – Idle Control System •P2111 – Throttle Actuator Control System – Stuck Open The throttle body assembly with motor and ventilation hoses no. 2 and no. 3 have been modified to address these conditions.

L-SB-0017-19 Rev1

STRUCTURE:BODY

Some 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard™. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard™. The wrinkles may trap water and cause the paint to stain from the trapped moisture, especially on horizontal surfaces such as the hood, roof, and trunk.

L-SB-0017-19 Rev1

STRUCTURE:BODY

Some 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard™. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard™. The wrinkles may trap water and cause the paint to stain from the trapped moisture, especially on horizontal surfaces such as the hood, roof, and trunk.

L-SB-0030-24 Rev1

STRUCTURE:BODY

Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines. This Service Bulletin is to provide a general overview and direction for the odor remediation process.

L-SB-0030-24 Rev1

STRUCTURE:BODY

Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines. This Service Bulletin is to provide a general overview and direction for the odor remediation process.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Lexus IS by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000
2025100
2024100
2023400
2022410
2021200
2020400
2019200
2018300
2017900
2016200
2015900
2014120049.1
2013900
2012180052.5
2011150042.6
2010Viewing391059.6
2009402052.6
20081023045.8
20071223050.5
20061437053.9
2005121042.2
2004101042.8
2003121049.9
2002121037.7
2001110
2000010
1999110
1998010

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.