2013 Lexus IS 250: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
39,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 5 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 40.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 20.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 20.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Air Bags: 2; Wheels: 2; Engine: 1; Steering: 1; Suspension: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
2016: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10862390 · 2016-05-01 (May 1, 2016)
THE PROBLEM THAT MANY IS250 LEXUS OWNERS ARE HAVING WITH THE FRONT TIRES WEARING OUT OR TEARING FROM THE INSIDE. I HAVE FOUND THAT THE ISSUE IS THE SUSPENSION WHERE THE FRONT TIRE AND A COTTER PIN MEET EVERY TIME YOU HIT A BUMP OR POT HOLE. THIS HAS CAUSED GREAT DAMAGE TO BOTH FRONT TIRES TO THE EXTENT WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE STEEL BELT. LEXUS HAS GONE AS FAR AS TO BLAME THE TIRE MANUFACTURE AND HAS NOT TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. I ASK THAT THIS ISSUE BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST DUE TO NEGLIGENCE.
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10862390 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11073068 · 2018-02-15 (February 15, 2018)
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS IS 250C. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V024000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (LEXUS OF RIVERSIDE, 3150 ADAMS ST, RIVERSIDE, CA 92504) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REMEDY WAS ON BACKORDER FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11073068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11114087 · 2018-07-27 (July 27, 2018)
THE ENGINE COULD STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING BECAUSE OF MISFIRE. MY LEXUS 250 ONLY 40K MILEAGE AND ALWAYS DO PROPER MAINTENANCE TO THE ENGINE EVERY 3000 MILE. I DO RESEARCH THAT LEXUS IS 250 CAUSE CARBON BUILD UP BECAUSE OF THE WRONG DESIGN OF THE DIRECT INJECTION. HERE'S THE YOUTUBE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=YTQUQFLAWR8. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO LEXUS DEALER, THEY WON'T ADMITTED, INSTEAD THEY BLAME ME USING A WRONG FUEL. BEFORE I USED 91OCTANE SHELL, THEN I SWITCH TO 91OCTANE CHEVRON. STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD RECALL FOR T…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11114087 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11220934 · 2019-06-18 (June 18, 2019)
WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. A METAL SCRAPING NOISE OCCURS. THIS HAS BEEN FIXED SEVERAL TIMES BUT KEEPS OCCURING MORE OFTEN. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION. AND I BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE SHIELD. AS IF SOMETHING IS PRESSING ON IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11220934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11287952 · 2019-12-09 (December 9, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT'S MOTHER OWNS A 2013 LEXUS IS 250. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS PLACED IN PARK WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY, DROVE OVER A CURB, STRUCK A TREE, AND STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE REPAIR WAS STILL PENDING. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11287952 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V024000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2018-01-09 (January 9, 2018)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, IS-F, and GX460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP (Saipan), and the U.S. VI or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2010 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, ES350, IS-F, GX460, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Toyota is also recalling certain 2009 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Lexus IS250, IS350, ES350, IS-F, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." 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 explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity 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 the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began on January 29, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. 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 ↗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 ↗