Problems · NHTSA complaints

2012 Lexus IS250 problems

Owners filed 36 complaints about the 2012 Lexus IS250 with NHTSA between Feb 2015 and Jun 2024. The most-cited component is air bags (21).

Complaints
36
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags21
  2. Structure5
  3. Electrical system5
  4. Vehicle speed control5
  5. Service brakes5
  6. Engine3
  7. Visibility/wiper2
  8. Fuel/propulsion system2
  9. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  10. Exterior lighting1
  11. Seat belts1
  12. Power train1
  13. Other / unknown2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20155
20161
201714
20183
20194
20205
20210
20223
20230
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

21 reports4 crashes
“I own a Lexus 2012 IS250 and currently active duty member stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy. I was not notified that my vehicle is overdue on a safety recall until today when I am trying to ship the vehicle back to the US. What further actions can I do to get the recall done? Can I get the vehicle waivered to get the recall accomplished when it reaches the US?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 26, 2022Air bagsODI 11454221

Structure

5 reports2 crashes
“The dashboard is sticky/melting causing it to be extremely shiny. It is available for inspection upon request. Due to the shininess of the dashboard, it causes a glare on the windshield during the daytime. This glare causes difficulty with being able to safely see through the windshield.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 10, 2024Structure, Visibility/wiperODI 11593384

Electrical system

5 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2012 Lexus IS250. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake inadvertently activated without the brake pedal being depressed. The vehicle also experienced unintended acceleration without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that the failure occurred after the cell phone was hacked and was concern the vehicle security was also compromised and hacked. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 137,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2022Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11478126

Vehicle speed control

5 reports3 crashes
“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 complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 28, 2015Seat belts, Structure, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10760099

Service brakes

5 reports2 crashes
“UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE INCHING INTO PARKING SPACE AT VERY SLOW RATE OF SPEED. ENGINE RACED UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAR JUMPED CURB WITH ALL 4 TIRES, ACROSS A SMALL MEDIAN, AND DOWN ANOTHER CURB WITH 3 TIRES, STRIKING A PARKED CAR, WHICH STOPPED FORWARD MOTION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2018Electrical system, Service brakes, EngineCrash reportedODI 11122773

Engine

3 reports2 crashes
“While stopped at a stop light vehicle RPM went very high. It reached the red zone. Vehicle started moving forward (while still on Drive and the brake pedal fully pressed). I immediately put the vehicle in Park. RPM continued to remain high. I removed my foot off the brake when the vehicle was in park. I turned the engine off, waited couple of seconds and turned it back on. At that point everything worked normally. Outside temperature was about 38 deg F. Car was not fully warmed up at the time. Floor mat had nothing to do with this incident. After restarting the engine it is working fine without any adjustment to the floor mat. Incident could have resulted in major crash or injury. Luckily it happened when the vehicle was stopped at at red light. Putting the car in PARK and turning off the engine resolved the issue. This is a serious issue on 2012 IS250. Check engine light is not on. Vehicle will be taken to the Lexus dealer for checking. If the car was in drive, this kind of revving up of the engine would have caused serious accident. Also, if I had not put the car in Park, it would have overcome the braking power and pushed the car to the intersection at red…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2022EngineODI 11446748
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.