🚗 AutoDefect IQ

2008 Lexus Is 250 problems, complaints & recalls

Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (31) · Structure (14) · Vehicle Speed Control (11)

🧭 Reliability snapshot

61 /100
⚠ Buy with caution

Compared against other Lexus Is 250 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →

🛣️ Complaints by mileage

<25k miles: 18 complaints <25k 25–50k miles: 8 complaints 25–50k 50–75k miles: 22 complaints 22 50–75k 75–100k miles: 17 complaints 75–100k 100–125k miles: 8 complaints 100–125k 125–150k miles: 0 complaints 125–150k 150k+ miles: 4 complaints 150k+

77 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.

125
Complaints
5
Recalls
197
Service bulletins
6
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Deaths

Safety recalls (5)

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2019-10-17 · campaign 19V741000 · 928,220 vehicles

Defect: 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

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

Fix: 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.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2017-01-09 · campaign 17V006000 · 577,875 vehicles

Defect: 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 inclu

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

Fix: 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), G

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2016-05-23 · campaign 16V340000 · 1,754,517 vehicles

Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C, Lexus IS350C and Lexus GX460, 2011 Sienna, 2007-2011 Lexus ES350, and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto R

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

Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota 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 December 6, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for interim notification for this campaign are G1P (Toyota Zone A), G1R (Toyota Zone B), G2G (Lexus Zone A), and G2H (Lexus Zone B). Toyota's numbers for f

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings 2014-10-15 · campaign 14V647000 · 422,509 vehicles

Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Lexus LS vehicles manufactured May 9, 2006, to July 20, 2010, 2006-2011 Lexus GS vehicles manufactured January 6, 2005, to September 10, 2010, and 2006-2011 Lexus IS vehicles manufactured August 30, 2005, to September 10, 2010. Due to anti-corrosion plating remnants, fuel may leak from where the fuel pressure sensor is attached to the fuel delivery pipe.

Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will clean and reseal the fuel pressure sensor mounting area, free of charge. The recall began March 3, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Visibility/Wiper 2013-01-30 · campaign 13V030000 · 267,718 vehicles

Defect: 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

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

Fix: 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.

Service bulletins (197)

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.

Air Bags 2022-07-28 · Takata CSP Cover · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

csp: takata csp coverage job aid - published 7.28.2022

Air Bags 2022-07-28 · 22LE02 - Takata · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

csp: on july 30, 2018, a settlement of claims for economic loss related to takata airbag inflators was approved for full implementation. the settlement includes lexus?s agreement to provide a customer support program (?csp?) for 2002-2019 model year (my) vehicles originally equipped with certain tak

Equipment 2022-04-13 · Safety Recall 22 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

lexus safety recall and service campaign - technician certification requirements 4.13.2022

Equipment 2022-03-09 · L-SB-0006-22 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

tsb: this service bulletin includes procedures to replace damaged or loose front carpet floor retainer(s) without replacing the carpet assembly. follow the repair procedure in this bulletin to replace the loose or damaged carpet floor retainer(s).

Air Bags 2022-02-24 · L-SB-0004-22 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

tsb: some 2005 ? 2022 model year lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. the purpose of this service bulletin is to provide general guideline

Wheels 2022-01-12 · Lexus PRO19-02 - · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

pol: this consolidated tire warranty guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by lexus. this information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. customers can find this information o

Showing the 6 most recent of 197 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.

What owners report

2020-11-23 · Vehicle Speed Control · 40,000 mi

“tl* the contact owns a 2008 lexus is250. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated prior to responding. the contact stated that the failure was most evident after stopping at a traffic light and then attempting to drive from being stationary. the vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed…”

2019-06-10 · Engine · 70,000 mi

“engine consumes about a quart of oil every thousand miles. tail pipes full of carbon. sometimes runs rough…”

2019-04-16 · Unknown Or Other

“door panels are melting. lexus corporate will not fix the issue of all door panels melting inside the car. lexus did however fix the dashboard but does not want to fix the door panels. door panels feel like play dough sticky and its shape is being destroyed gradually as being used daily.…”

2019-03-21 · Electrical System

“takata recall. my car had the airbag recall but it seems like during the recall they didn't replace the airbag wiring harness, causing the airbag dash light.…”

2019-03-17 · Unknown Or Other · 75 mi

“i have bought this car 3 weeks ago and it was 75k mile and originally had 151k miles according to the report off the lexus website.…”

2019-02-27 · Unknown Or Other · 90,000 mi

“strong gas smell inside car.driving idiling at a stand stilland while car is then turned off after running also another problem related or not but showing up at the same time was a bad odor not the smell of gas but the smell of rotten eggs is present after the car excellerates the smell is strong and pungent inside vehicle also…”

2019-01-25 · Air Bags · 99,000 mi

“as inspected by lexus dealership in woodland hills ca, my car has airbag light on/off intermittently. error code b1861 was found that is tied to knee airbag on the driver side. there is a problem with the squib circuit in the instrument cluster i believe. car has around 99k miles but this safety concern is serious. this airbag is something that nev…”

2018-12-29 · Air Bags

“dash airbag light randomly turned on. car was parked. as soon as car was turned on the light lit up. light was not on day before. took to local lexus dealership and had code scanned. dealership informed me that my car needs a new dash harness and repair would cost +$3,000 plus tax for part and labor which is half of what the car costs. also told me…”

2018-11-19 · Structure:body · 93,800 mi

“tl* the contact owns a 2008 lexus is 250. the contact stated that the door panel and dashboard started to melt, crack, and become sticky. the dealer (lexus of tampa bay, 5852 n dale mabry hwy., tampa, fl 33614) stated that the vehicle was included in an unknown recall; however, they stopped doing repairs in november of 2017. the manufacturer was al…”

2018-10-09 · Air Bags

“2008 lexus is 250. consumer writes in regard to airbag recall and airbag light remaining on. *as *js…”

Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.

Other Lexus Is 250 years