2002 Lexus Is problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Structure (4) · Wheels (1) · Visibility/Wiper (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Lexus Is model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (28)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2024-04-19 · L-SB-0024-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-04-19 · L-SB-0022-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Structure:body 2024-04-19 · L-SB-0021-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
lexus vehicles are currently protected with rapgardtm protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. this material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. follow the removal procedure in this bulletin to remove the rapgardtm protective film withi
Structure:body 2024-04-19 · L-SB-0020-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. this type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surfa
Structure:body 2024-04-19 · L-SB-0024-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-04-19 · L-SB-0022-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Showing the 6 most recent of 28 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2020-12-09 · Suspension · 116,000 mi“problem started when car was in for repair of wheel alignment wheels got stolen from dealer collision center lexus not car goes out of alignment while driving on a rough road wearing out tires compliantly about 3 set of tires replaced…”
2018-02-03 · Service Brakes · 203,000 mi“car runs great until check engine light comes on followed by vsc and then brake light. when those lights come on it runs rough and brakes make gear noise under driver's side hood area. brake is very sluggish and almost non existent when it fails. let it set, clear fault and runs fine until warm again. have had all brakes checked and in good con…”
2015-01-14 · Structure“over the years my dashboard has deteriorated, the rubber has become sticky and nasty just like all the other lexus vehicles in complaints. i understand there is a recall regarding this matter but not my year. i do not understand why this wouldn't apply to all the 2002 models that are experiencing the exact same issue! please, could someone enlig…”
2014-11-21 · Visibility/Wiper · 50,999 mi“something on windshield that makes it hard to see, it impairs my vision. dashboard is literally melting! it's sticky! now i don't understand why lexus doesn't take care of their customers and send out a recall. fix their mistakes and do it right. i understand they tried to pass some cheaper products off on their vehicles but that only bought them s…”
2014-08-18 · Structure“as i'm driving the dashboard starts to melt and it's very sticky,paid good money for this car and there's no recall or warrantee for this defect. *tr…”
2014-07-30 · Structure · 40,000 mi“my lexus dashboard is melting away. the dash has already been replaced once by the dealer but it is again melting away. *tr…”
2014-05-19 · Wheels · 60,000 mi“i would like to report a problem with my lexus is300 models 2002. there is some type of defect in the frame or front arm bushings that cause excessive wear on the front inner tires. despite the car being regularly aligned, uneven and excessive tire wear continues to occur on the inner portion of the tires. tires will sometimes last less than 5,000 …”
2014-05-01 · Unknown Or Other“shortly after i purchased my new car (lexus is300 2002), the dashboard, cover to air bag (on dash) and console began to melt/soften and become sticky. when i first reported to lexus, they did not do anything. after a while, i continued to complain and they replaced the cover panel on dash to the air bag but not the entire dashboard/console. in a…”
2007-04-29 · Tires:temporary/Emergency Spare Tire“vehicle stalls, bucks and sways onto other drivers not an alignment problem when braking the vehicle sways left or right. it is missing a spare tire and jack, i asked on 3 different occasions for this safety equipment and was denied. also, missing weather strips on all 4 doors the wind enters the car and one day it is going to swing it directly of…”
2007-03-08 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“car was t-boned-unable to open doors-passenger hit head on window- side airbags did not open. *jb…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.