2009 Lexus IS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
40 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
36,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 40 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 14 | 35.0% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 10.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Structure | 2 |
Unknown Or Other: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 10; Visibility/Wiper: 5; Air Bags: 4; Engine: 3; Exterior Lighting: 3; Electrical System: 2; Structure: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 16 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2009: 4; 2010: 8; 2012: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 1; 2016: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 6; 2021: 4; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10284260 · 2009-09-17 (September 17, 2009)
THIS WAS A LOANER CAR. THE GAS PEDAL STUCK ON THE FLOOR. THE HEAVY RUBBER MAT CAUGHT THE EDGE OF THE GAS PEDAL AND HELD IT DOWN ON THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL (DON'T KNOW HOW THE ENGINE DIDN'T BLOW UP), BRAKE THE CAR TO A STOP, SHIFT TO PARK AND SHUT ENGINE OFF. I SAW THIS MORNING ON TV THAT THERE HAVE BEEN FATALITIES REPORTED ON TOYOTA VEHICLES RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10292715 · 2009-11-18 (November 18, 2009)
FOUR INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. ON FOUR OCCASIONS THE 2000 LEXUS IS250 I PURCHASED ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2009 HAD UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF UP TO 5000 RPM.. THREE TIMES THIS OCCURRED WHEN STARTING THE CAR IN PARK; THE FOURTH TIME WAS WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND IDLING. TWICE I HAD THE DEALER, THOUSAND OAKS, CA LEXUS, EXAMINE THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD NO DEFECT COULD BE FOUND. ON THE FOURTH OCCURRENCE I NOTICED MY FOOT WAS ON THE EDGE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR SIMULTANEOUSLY. I WEAR ONLY A SIZE 9 SHOE, HAVE BEE…
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10292715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10478615 · 2012-10-04 (October 4, 2012)
I HAD 2 TIMES WERE THE VEHICLE ALMOST STALLED AT DIFFERENT RED LIGHTS WITHIN A TIME FRAME OF 2 DAYS. SHORTLY AFTER THIS I STARTED NOTICING THAT MY VEHICLE WAS DRIVING LIKE A 4 CYLINDER INSTEAD OF A 6. I TOOK IT IN TO MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY PUT THE CAR ON THE COMPUTER AND FOUND 4 CODES IN THE CARS HISTORY. 1 STATED MULTIPLE ENGINE MISFIRES, 2 STATED MISFIRE ON NUMBER 2, 3 STATED MISFIRE ON NUMBER 4 AND 3, STATED MISFIRE ON NUMBER 6. IN ALL THESE INSTANCES I NEVER HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. THE DEALER CONTACTED CORPORATE AND A TAS WAS OPEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10840011 · 2016-03-05 (March 5, 2016)
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY MY CAR SUDDENLY STALLS, LOSES POWER, AND STOPS RUNNING!
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10840011 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10317047 · 2010-03-05 (March 5, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS IS250. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALSO FOR UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALER ROAD TESTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A FAULTY LEFT WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY THAT CAUSES EXCESSIVE NOISE AND VIBRATION WHICH THEY REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED HE INFORM THE DEALER THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING AND TO CHECK ON IT BUT WAS TOLD THEY ARE NOT GOING TO REPAIR IS250 ACCELERATOR PEDALS UNTIL THE NEXT THREE MONTHS. THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,658 miles reported. Look up ODI 10317047 at NHTSA ↗