Lexus IS 350 Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Lexus IS 350 model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2017 drew the fewest (1) and the 2006 the most (93).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Traction control system | 5★ | 21–22 |
| 2019 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 2 | Unknown or other | 5★ | 21–23 |
| 2020 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Unknown or other | 5★ | 21–23 |
| 2012 | 2 | 5 | Air bags | — | 21 |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | Forward collision avoidance | 5★ | 21–22 |
| 2009 | 3 | 8 | Electrical system | — | 20 |
| 2015 | 4 | 1 | Electrical system | 5★ | 21–22 |
| 2011 | 5 | 7 | Air bags | — | 20 |
| 2010 | 8 | 8 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2014 | 14 | 1 | Fuel/propulsion system | 5★ | 21–22 |
| 2008 Among the most complaints |
30 | 8 | Air bags | — | 20 |
| 2007 Among the most complaints |
53 | 8 | Structure | — | 21 |
| 2006 Among the most complaints |
93 | 8 | Structure | — | 21 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Lexus IS 350 years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2006 Lexus IS 350: 93 complaints
Most-reported: Structure 30 (32%); Air bags 17 (18%); Visibility/wiper 13 (14%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 3 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 80,000 miles. 8 recall campaigns listed.
2007 Lexus IS 350: 53 complaints
Most-reported: Structure 14 (26%); Air bags 13 (25%); Vehicle speed control 7 (13%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 2 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 70,000 miles. 8 recall campaigns listed.
2008 Lexus IS 350: 30 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 10 (33%); Structure 7 (23%); Vehicle speed control 5 (17%).
Reports mention 6 crashes, 2 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 50,000 miles. 8 recall campaigns listed.
The Lexus IS 350 years with the fewest complaints
2017 Lexus IS 350: 1 complaints
Most-reported: Traction control system 1 (100%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
2019 Lexus IS 350: 1 complaints
Reports mention 1 injury. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2020 Lexus IS 350: 1 complaints
0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Lexus IS 350 owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 30 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50,000 |
| 2007 | 53 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 70,000 |
| 2006 | 93 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 80,000 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Lexus IS 350 recalls
- Fuel Pump May Fail (2014–2019 model years; 1,830,752 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2020; 20V012000)
- Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture (2006–2011 model years; 1,754,517 vehicles across all models; filed May 2016; 16V340000)
- Fuel Pump May Fail (2019 model year; 1,525,742 vehicles across all models; filed Nov 2020; 20V682000)
- Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode (2010–2013 model years; 1,299,448 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2019; 19V005000)
- Frontal Air Bag Inflators May Explode (2006–2012 model years; 928,220 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2019; 19V741000)
All 12 Lexus IS 350 recall campaigns · Lexus IS 350 problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Lexus IS 350 years FAQ
Which Lexus IS 350 year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2017 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Lexus IS 350 years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2006, 2007 and 2008 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the structure. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Lexus IS 350 problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the structure (52 of 217 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Lexus IS 350 have?
NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns covering the Lexus IS 350. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Lexus IS 350 recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.