Problems · NHTSA complaints

2013 Lexus IS250 problems

Owners filed 13 complaints about the 2013 Lexus IS250 with NHTSA between Sep 2013 and Sep 2024. The most-cited component is visibility/wiper (3).

Complaints
13
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Visibility/wiper3
  2. Engine3
  3. Air bags3
  4. Wheels2
  5. Visibility1
  6. Fuel/propulsion system1
  7. Vehicle speed control1
  8. Steering1
  9. Suspension1
  10. Structure1
  11. Seats1
  12. Other / unknown1

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 Oct 30, 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
20131
20140
20150
20161
20170
20182
20192
20203
20210
20220
20231
20243

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

Visibility/wiper

3 reports1 crash
“This model was affected by the originally cosmetic, but well documented "sticky dash" recall. I am an automotive enthusiast who has worked within the industry for over 12 years, including notifying customers of NHTSA recalls and assisting with scheduling recalls to be performed. The dashboard can be severely melted to the point of becoming a mirror finish, I was driving at night in the headlights from an opposing truck reflected off the shiny surface of the dashboard having been melted by sunlight. I have great vision and was wearing prescription lenses, the incident nearly caused an oncoming collision. I slid into a ditch briefly and did not sustain damage to my vehicle.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 22, 2024Visibility/wiperCrash reportedODI 11610108

Engine

3 reports
“VALLEY PLATE LEAK DUE TO THE FACT THAT TOYOTA/LEXUS UTILIZED THE IMPROPER SEALANT AND USED THE IMPROPER AMOUNT, LEADING TO THE HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKING COOLANT ONCE THE ORIGINAL, INADEQUATE SEALANT BEGINS TO DISENTEGRATE. THIS COULD CAUSE A CONDITION WHERE THE ENGINE COULD FAIL AND SOMEONE COULD GET HURT. FURTHERMORE, ALL ISFS WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A CRACKED RH MANIFOLD ON THE #8 RUNNER. THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD IN ADDITION TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 22, 2020EngineODI 11321929

Air bags

3 reports2 crashes
“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 WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 9, 2019Air bags, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11287952

Wheels

2 reports
“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 complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 18, 2019Steering, WheelsODI 11220934

Visibility

1 report
“See attached document for complaint.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 3, 2024VisibilityODI 11612237

Fuel/propulsion system

1 report
“THE FUEL PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING THE MOTOR TO STALL AND DIE. WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE MOTOR AND WAS TOWED FROM THE HIGHWAY TO A DEALER WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 17, 2020Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11318502
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

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