2017 Lexus IS 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 2017 Lexus IS, 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
- Fuel system646.2%
- Engine215.4%
- Steering215.4%
- Body & structure17.7%
- Electrical17.7%
- Interior & seats17.7%
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
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I am unable to shut the engine off to pump fuel into the vehicle. The purge valve has been replaced, that maf sensor has been cleaned the leak detector pump has been changed. The vehicle will shut off and go into low power mode while driving on Highway, the idling is rough. The check engine light will not go off. The code is reading Po171.
The vehicle is experiencing a failure of the dual-zone HVAC system where the passenger side consistently blows hot air while the driver side is set to cold. This indicates a failure of the HVAC blend door actuator (servo motor), which is a known issue for this model year. This failure poses a safety risk as it can prevent proper defrosting and defogging of the windshield during inclement weather, obstructing driver visibility. Also should note While driving, the vehicle becomes excessively loud and behaves as if it is stuck in the wrong gear, accompanied by a significant loss of engine power. An onboard diagnostic alert has indicated a malfunction in the electronic control of the engine throttle or automatic transmission. This 'limp mode' behavior creates a hazardous situation during highway driving or merging, as the vehicle cannot maintain speed or respond to throttle inputs, increasing the risk of a rear-end collision.
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
The vehicle is experiencing a failure of the dual-zone HVAC system where the passenger side consistently blows hot air while the driver side is set to cold. This indicates a failure of the HVAC blend door actuator (servo motor), which is a known issue for this model year. This failure poses a safety risk as it can prevent proper defrosting and defogging of the windshield during inclement weather, obstructing driver visibility. Also should note While driving, the vehicle becomes excessively loud and behaves as if it is stuck in the wrong gear, accompanied by a significant loss of engine power. An onboard diagnostic alert has indicated a malfunction in the electronic control of the engine throttle or automatic transmission. This 'limp mode' behavior creates a hazardous situation during highway driving or merging, as the vehicle cannot maintain speed or respond to throttle inputs, increasing the risk of a rear-end collision.
I own a 2017 Lexus IS 200t that is experiencing fuel pump failure. Although I checked my VIN and confirmed there are no open recalls listed, the symptoms match the known fuel pump issues affecting other Lexus vehicles from similar model years. The only reason my vehicle is not included is because my VIN falls outside of the specific batch covered by the recall, even though 2016 and 2017 models share the same problem. Because I am experiencing the identical safety concerns reported in the recall—such as potential engine stalling and loss of power—I believe my vehicle should be considered part of the affected group. It is not safe or fair that some 2017 models are excluded based solely on VIN range when the defect clearly exists in other units as well. My vehicle is showing the same failure and should be eligible for the same repair or recall coverage. If you’d like, I can also format this as an email, a letter to Lexus corporate, or a service request message.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
It was regular morning on memorial day and I had not used the car all weekend since I really dont drive unless it to and back from work. I started the engine like would any other day and the car began to shake out of nowhere. The check engine went off, the yield sign went off and the traction control went off. I thought maybe it was time to change my brakes because the dealership had recommended it. I changed my brakes and got new tires but the car still shook. I continued to drive like that to work because I had no choice it shaked mostly on idle and I drove like that for a few days on Friday as I was coming back from work on the freeway the car shook in the freeway as I exit out the freeway the car felt almost if I couldn't pick up an speed and I got extremely scared with the cars flying by. I decided not to drive and take it to a nearby mechanic I thought maybe the spark plugs or coils might be the issue but after 3 days in the shop and replacing spark plugs he confirmed it was the direct fuel pump and possibly the fuel injector....my car is only used to drive to and back from work and only has 58k miles. I believe this is a default manufacturer part and I need help recalling this particular part on my vehicle.
When driving on the highway for about 45 mins the steering will feel sticky or “lock up” and make changing lanes very hard. The steering wheel will be hard to move, and you have to “break free” which causes a very sharp lane change that you have to recorrect. This is not safe, others have reported the same issues on forums.
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
The contact owns a 2017 Lexus IS 200t. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the rain, water leaked into the dashboard causing the headlights to fail. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, and it was determined to be a manufacturing defect. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The vehicle is experiencing a failure of the dual-zone HVAC system where the passenger side consistently blows hot air while the driver side is set to cold. This indicates a failure of the HVAC blend door actuator (servo motor), which is a known issue for this model year. This failure poses a safety risk as it can prevent proper defrosting and defogging of the windshield during inclement weather, obstructing driver visibility. Also should note While driving, the vehicle becomes excessively loud and behaves as if it is stuck in the wrong gear, accompanied by a significant loss of engine power. An onboard diagnostic alert has indicated a malfunction in the electronic control of the engine throttle or automatic transmission. This 'limp mode' behavior creates a hazardous situation during highway driving or merging, as the vehicle cannot maintain speed or respond to throttle inputs, increasing the risk of a rear-end collision.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 Lexus IS 200t. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the rain, water leaked into the dashboard causing the headlights to fail. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, and it was determined to be a manufacturing defect. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
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 .