vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Lexus IS 250: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

17 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

40,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 17 complaints (58.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior211.8%
Transmission and shifting15.9%

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.

Air Bags
10
Electrical System
4
Service Brakes
3
Structure:Body
3
Engine
2
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Power Train
1
Seat Belts
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags10
Electrical System4
Service Brakes3
Structure:Body3
Engine2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Power Train1
Seat Belts1

Air Bags: 10; Electrical System: 4; Service Brakes: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Engine: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Power Train: 1; Seat Belts: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 8 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.

2015
2
2016
1
2017
8
2018
3
2019
2
2022
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20152
20161
20178
20183
20192
20221

2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 8; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10681130 · 2015-02-04 (February 4, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO START THE VEHICLE AND PUT THE GEAR IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED BACKWARDS AS SHE LIFTED HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10681130 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10760099 · 2015-08-28 (August 28, 2015)

I WANT TO REPORT THAT I EXPERIENCED UN-INTENDED ACCELERATION ON MY LEXUS IS 250C, 2012 MODEL PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2011 AS A RESULT OF WHICH MY VEHICLE CRASHED AND WENT TURTLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 22,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10760099 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10938525 · 2016-12-29 (December 29, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10938525 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10959664 · 2017-03-08 (March 8, 2017)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10959664 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10959943 · 2017-03-10 (March 10, 2017)

TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM LEXUS ON MARCH 7 FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL. NO FIX WAS PROVIDED AND WHEN I CALLED THEY DID NOT KNOW IF IT WOULD BE 1 MONTH OR 6 MONTHS UNTIL A FIX WAS AVAILABLE. THEIR SOLUTION WAS " DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT". THIS IS A STUPID AND UNACCEPTABLE RESPONSE. THIS TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL HAS BEEN OUT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND SOMEONE IN TOYOTA/LEXUS HAS KNOW ABOUT IT? SOMEONE HAS BEEN COVERING UP THE MESS AT LEXUS? THIS BORDERS ON FRAUD AND AS A MINIMUM SOMEONE HIGH IN THEIR OR…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10959943 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10965943 · 2017-03-14 (March 14, 2017)

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10965943 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10993533 · 2017-06-06 (June 6, 2017)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10993533 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11011984 · 2017-08-01 (August 1, 2017)

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FIVE MONTHS AGO ABOUT THIS RECALL.I CONTACTED THE DEALER SHIP ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART YET. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WONT HAVE THE PART FOR AT LEAST TWO MORE MONTHS. IN THE MEANTIME I AM CONCERNED IN USING MY CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. SINCERELY [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11011984 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

13V030000 · Visibility/Wiper

Reported: 2013-01-30 (January 30, 2013)

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 vehicles manufactured August 23, 2005, through October 5, 2011; 2010-2012 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles manufactured April 10, 2009, through October 6, 2011; and 2008-2011 Lexus IS-F vehicles manufactured December 14, 2007, through July 10, 2011. The nuts that fasten the wiper arms may be insufficiently torqued such that if the wiper arms are restricted by an external load, such as a buildup of heavy snow, one or both of the wipers may become inoperative.

Consequence: Inoperative wipers could reduce driver visibility and increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and Lexus dealers will install new wiper arm nuts, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on April 4, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V006000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2017-01-09 (January 9, 2017)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2009 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Yaris HB, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Lexus, ES350, IS250, IS350, and IS-F vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and IS350, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350, Toyota Yaris, Yaris HB, and 2008 Lexus IS-F and Scion xB vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 1, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), H0A (Toyota Zone C), GLG (Lexus Zone A), GLH (Lexus Zone B) and HLA (Lexus Zone C).

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V005000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2019-01-09 (January 9, 2019)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS250, IS350, 2011-2016 4Runner, 2011-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2011-2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, 2011-2017 Lexus GX460, and 2011-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Toyota is also recalling certain 2010-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS350, 2010-2016 4Runner, 2010-2013 Lexus IS250, 2010-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2010-2014 Lexus IS-F, and 2010-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V741000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2019-10-17 (October 17, 2019)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.

NHTSA campaign record ↗