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2009 Lexus Is

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

24 reports with mileage · 16 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

40 reports
30,658 miles · Mar 5, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS IS250. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALSO FOR UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALER ROAD TESTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A FAULTY LEFT WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY THAT CAUSES EXCESSIVE NOISE AND VIBRATION W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS IS250. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALSO FOR UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALER ROAD TESTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A FAULTY LEFT WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY THAT CAUSES EXCESSIVE NOISE AND VIBRATION WHICH THEY REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED HE INFORM THE DEALER THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING AND TO CHECK ON IT BUT WAS TOLD THEY ARE NOT GOING TO REPAIR IS250 ACCELERATOR PEDALS UNTIL THE NEXT THREE MONTHS. THE CAR WAS GIVEN BACK ON MARCH 4 WITHOUT CHECKING THE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEEDS OF MORE THAN 106MPH, WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE CONTACT WAS TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, PULLING ON THE GAS PEDAL, HITTING THE PUSH BUTTON THAT STARTS THE VEHICLE AND THEN TRYING TO GET OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.MEANWHILE THE MOTOR IS REVVING AT A HIGH SPEED. THERE WAS A POLICE TROOPER WHO SAW THIS BUT GAVE HIM A TICKET BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE WAS SPEEDING. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HE GOT HOME SHE NOTICE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR WHILE THE VEHICLE MOTOR WAS RACING AT A HIGH SPEED. THE LEXUS DEALER WAS CALLED AND THEY WOULD HAVE THE VEHLCLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,658.

NHTSA ODI #10317047

500 miles · Feb 22, 2010
Steering

VERY POOR HANDLING AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF CAR ON TURNS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE IN GRADE ALONG THE TURN OR CURVE. DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL OF CAR WHEN PAVEMENT IS UNEVEN ON CURVES AS IN CONSTRUCTION AREAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312725

11,000 miles · Feb 19, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS IS 250 . HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH UP A HILL WHEN TURNING AND SLOWING DOWN BY PUTTING HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED OVER A MOUNTAIN. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES, BROKE HIS RIGHT SHOULDER, CHEST PAINS, AND HIS…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS IS 250 . HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH UP A HILL WHEN TURNING AND SLOWING DOWN BY PUTTING HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED OVER A MOUNTAIN. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES, BROKE HIS RIGHT SHOULDER, CHEST PAINS, AND HIS FACE WAS ALSO INJURED WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED HITTING HIM IN THE FACE. THE POLICE AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED BY BOTH OF THEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOWING FACILITY WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND WROTE A REPORT AS WELL. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE FLOOR MATS AND WAS WAITING FOR AN APPOINTMENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 11000.

NHTSA ODI #10312261

100 miles · Feb 9, 2010
Parking Brake

I PURCHASED A HIGH END LEXUS ISF IN WHICH THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO. I RAISED MY CONCERNS WITH CROWN LEXUS IN SO CA WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR THE 5,000 MILE CHECK. THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE ON ANY TYPE OF INCLINE NOR WOULD IT STOP THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.…

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I PURCHASED A HIGH END LEXUS ISF IN WHICH THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO. I RAISED MY CONCERNS WITH CROWN LEXUS IN SO CA WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR THE 5,000 MILE CHECK. THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE ON ANY TYPE OF INCLINE NOR WOULD IT STOP THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. I HAVE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES TO CROWN LEXUS WITH NO SATISFACTION TO DATE. THEY EVEN FLEW A TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE IN FROM JAPAN TO INVESTIGATE. THEY TOOK PICTURES AND VIDEOS OF THE VEHICLES BRAKE SYSTEM, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED AN ENGINEERING ISSUE BUT HAVE TAKEN NO ACTION TO CORRECT. THIS HAS NOW BEEN OVER 8 MONTHS THAT I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO THEM. I WOULD ASSUME WITH ALL THE ISSUES TOYOTA IS GOING THROUGH, I HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE BACK BURNER. CONSIDERING THE COST OF THE VEHICLE AND THE USUAL ATTENTION I GET FROM LEXUS, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THEY WOULD HAVE PAID SOME ATTENTION TO THIS. I DON'T FEEL THAT IS THE CASE. I KNOW OF NO WHERE ELSE TO TURN TO HAVE THEM PAY THE ATTENTION THEY SHOULD HAVE MONTHS AGO. I TRULY BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT AS A RESULT OF ALL THE PROBLEMS TOYOTA IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING, THEY HAVE SHOVED THIS ONE ASIDE. THE FAILURE OCCURS CONTINUALLY. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM HELP!*TR

NHTSA ODI #10308037

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

MAY OF 2009 - LEASED 09 LEXUS IS250; HAVING ONLY DRIVEN IT FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK WHEN ENTERING THE ONRAMP OF I-35 IN TEXAS, SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT CAR WAS ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL LOCKED IN BY ITSELF. RPM WAS OFF THE CHARTS. I COULD NOT EXIT AT "MY" EXIT AND CONTINUED SOUTH ON I-35. I TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT NOT…

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MAY OF 2009 - LEASED 09 LEXUS IS250; HAVING ONLY DRIVEN IT FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK WHEN ENTERING THE ONRAMP OF I-35 IN TEXAS, SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT CAR WAS ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL LOCKED IN BY ITSELF. RPM WAS OFF THE CHARTS. I COULD NOT EXIT AT "MY" EXIT AND CONTINUED SOUTH ON I-35. I TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND TOLD HIM MY CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I KEPT TRYING TO BRAKE...STILL NOTHING. SOMEHOW THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW, I GOT ON THE SHOULDER AND KEPT GOING FOR 1-2 MILES. I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL...RPM'S AGAIN WERE OUT OF CONTROL. I THINK THAT THEN I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE CAR INTO "PARK" AND PUSHED THE ENGINE START/STOP BUTTON AND WAITED FOR HELP. LUCKILY, I OR NO ONE ELSE WAS INJURED IN THIS INCIDENT. LEXUS ASSURED ME IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE FLOOR MATS, BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN FULLY CONVINCED. IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED THAT ONE TIME, BUT HONESTLY, THAT'S ENOUGH FOR ME. I TRIED TO TRADE THE CAR IN, BUT SALESMAN SAID IT WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA ($) SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10304001

4,800 miles · Feb 2, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

RAPID ACCELERATION, 2009, IS 250, LEXUS. PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE. CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED A CURB, OVER A 6 FOOT WIDE GRASS SEPARATION AND TOTALED A PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE. CAR WAS SERVICED THAT VERY DAY FOR IT'S 5,000 MILE CHECK. FIRST TIME WE DROVE THE CAR AFTER BEING SERVICED…

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RAPID ACCELERATION, 2009, IS 250, LEXUS. PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE. CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED A CURB, OVER A 6 FOOT WIDE GRASS SEPARATION AND TOTALED A PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE. CAR WAS SERVICED THAT VERY DAY FOR IT'S 5,000 MILE CHECK. FIRST TIME WE DROVE THE CAR AFTER BEING SERVICED. HAD OUR CAR REPAIRED FOR FRONT END DAMAGE. CONTACTED LEXUS ON THEIR HOT LINE, REPORTED THE INCIDENT, WAS INSTRUCTED TO WRITE THEM WITH ALL THE DETAILS. HAVE NOT HEARD ONE THING FROM LEXUS CORPORATE SINCE WE SENT THE LETTER ON 12/30/09 NO ONE HAS CHECKED THE CAR. CONTACTED THE DEALER IN PEORIA ILLINOIS. THEY WOULD NOT RETURN OUR CALLS. CONFRONTED THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM ON SATURDAY. THEY WOULD TAKE THE CAR BACK IN A TRADE. WOULD REQUIRE ME TO TAKE ANOTHER LEASE, ADDED A YEAR ONTO THE LEASE PLUS INCREASED MY MONTHLY PAYMENT BY $80. THIS WAS NEVER AN OFFER TO CHECK THE VEHICLE. CAR IS BASICALLY PARKED IN THE GARAGE BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. IT WAS NOT THE FLOOR MATS. THERE IS NO WAY THAT WAS A PROBLEM. *TR UPDATED 05/24/10

NHTSA ODI #10303814

900 miles · Nov 18, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control

FOUR INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. ON FOUR OCCASIONS THE 2000 LEXUS IS250 I PURCHASED ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2009 HAD UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF UP TO 5000 RPM.. THREE TIMES THIS OCCURRED WHEN STARTING THE CAR IN PARK; THE FOURTH TIME WAS WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND IDLING. TWICE I HAD THE DEALER, THOUSAND OAKS, CA LEXUS, E…

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FOUR INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. ON FOUR OCCASIONS THE 2000 LEXUS IS250 I PURCHASED ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2009 HAD UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF UP TO 5000 RPM.. THREE TIMES THIS OCCURRED WHEN STARTING THE CAR IN PARK; THE FOURTH TIME WAS WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND IDLING. TWICE I HAD THE DEALER, THOUSAND OAKS, CA LEXUS, EXAMINE THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD NO DEFECT COULD BE FOUND. ON THE FOURTH OCCURRENCE I NOTICED MY FOOT WAS ON THE EDGE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR SIMULTANEOUSLY. I WEAR ONLY A SIZE 9 SHOE, HAVE BEEN A LICENSED DRIVER FOR OVER 65 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY EXPERIENCES SUCH AS THESE. I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT EITHER THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER OR THEY HAVE BEEN POSITIONED TOO FAR TO THE LEFT, THAT IS, TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING ONE'S FOOT TO BE ON THE EDGE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. SINCE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HAS BEEN REVEALED AS A PROBLEM WITH THE LEXUS, I SHALL APPRECIATED YOUR RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM I HAVE DESCRIBED.*TR THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #10292715

8,095 miles · Nov 17, 2009
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

LEXUS IS 250 2009 , DRIVER SIDE MAT WAS NOT THERE ,STILL MY CAR COULD NOT STOP AT A RED LIGHT , WHY? I WAS TERRIFIED, NEARLY ESCAPED A CRASH , SO PLEASE RESEARCH WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE LEXUS CARS . TOYOTA NEVER SENT ME ANY RECALL NOTICE UNTIL AFTER THE FACT , BUT I KNEW ABOUT THE MAT RECALL THROUGH THE MEDIA , AND H…

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LEXUS IS 250 2009 , DRIVER SIDE MAT WAS NOT THERE ,STILL MY CAR COULD NOT STOP AT A RED LIGHT , WHY? I WAS TERRIFIED, NEARLY ESCAPED A CRASH , SO PLEASE RESEARCH WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE LEXUS CARS . TOYOTA NEVER SENT ME ANY RECALL NOTICE UNTIL AFTER THE FACT , BUT I KNEW ABOUT THE MAT RECALL THROUGH THE MEDIA , AND HAD REMOVED IT . NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292635

600 miles · Nov 13, 2009
Suspension

THE REAR AXLE VIBRATES ON MY LEXUS IS 250, CAUSING SERIOUS VISIBILITY ISSUES IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND A VERY UNSTABLE RIDE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.. THE LEXUS SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THAT THIS PROBLEM ALSO EXISTED IN 2008 AND 2007 LEXUS MODELS. SO THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292083

14,000 miles · Sep 17, 2009
Equipment Adaptive/mobilityVehicle Speed Control

THIS WAS A LOANER CAR. THE GAS PEDAL STUCK ON THE FLOOR. THE HEAVY RUBBER MAT CAUGHT THE EDGE OF THE GAS PEDAL AND HELD IT DOWN ON THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL (DON'T KNOW HOW THE ENGINE DIDN'T BLOW UP), BRAKE THE CAR TO A STOP, SHIFT TO PARK AND SHUT ENGINE OFF. I SAW THIS MORNING ON TV THAT THERE HAVE BEEN FATALIT…

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THIS WAS A LOANER CAR. THE GAS PEDAL STUCK ON THE FLOOR. THE HEAVY RUBBER MAT CAUGHT THE EDGE OF THE GAS PEDAL AND HELD IT DOWN ON THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL (DON'T KNOW HOW THE ENGINE DIDN'T BLOW UP), BRAKE THE CAR TO A STOP, SHIFT TO PARK AND SHUT ENGINE OFF. I SAW THIS MORNING ON TV THAT THERE HAVE BEEN FATALITIES REPORTED ON TOYOTA VEHICLES RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10284260

Official recalls

2

11V029000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

Jan 26, 2011

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 LEXUS IS AND MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 LEXUS GS VEHICLES. DUE TO INSUFFICIENT TIGHTENING OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR CONNECTED TO AN ENGINE FUEL DELIVERY PIPE WITH NICKEL PHOSPHORUS PLATING, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT, OVER TIME, THE PRESSURE SENSOR COULD LOOSEN. IF LOOSENING OCCURS, FUEL COULD LEAK PAST A GASKET USED IN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SENSOR AND THE PIPE AND THROUGH THE THREADED PORTION OF THE SENSOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE THREADED PORTION OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR AND IF A FUEL LEAK IS NOT CONFIRMED, DEALERS WILL FURTHER TIGHTEN THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR WITH THE PROPER TORQUE. IF A FUEL LEAK IS CONFIRMED, THE GASKET BETWEEN THE SENSOR AND THE FUEL DELIVER PIPE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE, AND THE SENSOR WILL BE TIGHTENED WITH THE PROPER TORQUE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 7, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

09V388000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Oct 5, 2009

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: TOYOTA FILED AN AMENDED DEFECT REPORT ON NOVEMBER 25, 2009, STATING THAT DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND, ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ALTER THE SHAPE OF THE FLOOR SURFACE UNDER THE PEDAL. THESE CHANGES ADDRESS THE RISK OF PEDAL ENTRAPMENT DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLOOR MAT. REDESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDALS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BEGINNING IN APRIL 2010 AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY MODIFIED PEDAL WITH THE NEW PEDAL IF DESIRED. ALSO, DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY GENUINE TOYOTA OR LEXUS ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS WITH REDESIGNED ALL-WEATHER MATS, OR REPURCHASE THE PREVIOUS MATS FROM OWNERS WHO DO NOT WANT THE NEW ONES. ADDITIONALLY, SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS WILL BE INSTALLED ON CAMRY, AVALON AND LEXUS ES 350, IS 350 AND IS 250 MODELS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE OVERRIDES THE ACCELERATOR IN THE EVENT BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE APPLIED. TOYOTA WILL BEGIN MAILING LETTERS TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331, LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.