← New search

2011 Lexus Is

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Is years →

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

Limited mileage data: 3 of 15 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

15 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2026
Visibility/wiper

The dash has started melting after being in hot weather. Despite ceramic window tint which reduces heat (and likely slowed the melting) the dah continues to melt. This results in significant shining and reduction in visibility. While there was an enhanced warranty program from Lexus in which they would repair the dash, the me…

Read full complaint

The dash has started melting after being in hot weather. Despite ceramic window tint which reduces heat (and likely slowed the melting) the dah continues to melt. This results in significant shining and reduction in visibility. While there was an enhanced warranty program from Lexus in which they would repair the dash, the melting occurred shortly after that expired. They will not take responsibility and fix it as they should, given this is a KNOWN issue with serious safety concerns.

NHTSA ODI #11745346

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2026
StructureUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

The dashboard of our 2011 Lexus IS has begun to "melt," for lack of better words. We have owned the car since 2011 and it has approximately 162000 miles now. The problem has arisen over the last two years or so and is a known issue for cars of that period. Lexus claims they had an enhanced warranty program for this issue, but…

Read full complaint

The dashboard of our 2011 Lexus IS has begun to "melt," for lack of better words. We have owned the car since 2011 and it has approximately 162000 miles now. The problem has arisen over the last two years or so and is a known issue for cars of that period. Lexus claims they had an enhanced warranty program for this issue, but we were never contacted and the issue was not an issue then, but clearly this is a known defect in their materials. Replacing the dash on our own would be very costly. The glare resulting from this is terrible. I have reached out to Lexus and they will not take responsibility for the faulty material and I am concerned this is a serious safety issue as visibililty is affected. Rather than a warranty enhancement, I urge a recall to prevent accidents.

NHTSA ODI #11725593

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2026
StructureUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

The dashboard on our vehicle has started to "melt." While there was a warranty enhancement program in the past (we did not receive notice), the problem has developed after the window for repair closed. This is a true safety issue now as visibility from the front windshield is hindered due to reflection. The dealer has asked u…

Read full complaint

The dashboard on our vehicle has started to "melt." While there was a warranty enhancement program in the past (we did not receive notice), the problem has developed after the window for repair closed. This is a true safety issue now as visibility from the front windshield is hindered due to reflection. The dealer has asked us to contact Lexus and Lexus will not help us anymore, stating this is an out of pocket repair. Given that this is a known defect and a potentially serious safety issue, I urge you to initiate a true recall.

NHTSA ODI #11719069

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2022
Visibility/wiper

The dashboard is defective in that it melts when exposed to heat and becomes sticky. Although initially it started off as a cosmetic issue, the melting of the dashboard causes it to be very glossy to the point where it reflects onto the front windshield and creates a blind spot on the front windshield when driving. This poses an…

Read full complaint

The dashboard is defective in that it melts when exposed to heat and becomes sticky. Although initially it started off as a cosmetic issue, the melting of the dashboard causes it to be very glossy to the point where it reflects onto the front windshield and creates a blind spot on the front windshield when driving. This poses an immediate safety hazard when driving as it's sometimes difficult to see objects that are right in front of the car while driving. The defective dashboard has been confirmed by the dealer and manufacturer. Although the manufacturer issued a customer support program to replace the dashboard, it was not a mandatory recall and the support program has since expired. Additionally, the support program initially described the malfunction as only a cosmetic issue. However, over time, this cosmetic issue has started to impact drivability in certain conditions while putting the driver and others at risk.

NHTSA ODI #11487329

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2022
Engine

Valley Plate Leak. The Valley Plate Leaks are notorious on this vehicle. There have been several forums about it.

NHTSA ODI #11448300

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2021
Air Bags

TAKATA AIRBAG HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS MODEL. ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO CONTACT VIA INSTRUCTIONS ON RECALL LETTER FROM MANUFACTURER. WAS INFORMED SOMEONE WOULD BE OUT TO REPAIR IT AND NO ONE SHOWED UP.

NHTSA ODI #11416716

77,000 miles · Sep 21, 2020
Steering

FIRST STARTED WITH STEERING GETTING STUCK A BIT WHILE CHANGING LANES NOW THE ELECTRIC RACK AND PINION MAKES NOISE STEERING LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE PARKING IN AND OUT ALSO WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11360278

115,000 miles · Feb 5, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

FUEL IS NOT DELIVERED TO FIRING CHAMBER DUE TO FAILURE OF FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR. THIS WILL CAUSE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF WHEN ON THE ROAD. NO OBD-II CODE IS PRESENT SINCE THE FAILURE OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR WILL PUT THE CAR IN PROTECTED MODE, NO CODE CAN BE READ. WHEN ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, IT WILL HAVE NO POWER TO STEERING OR BRA…

Read full complaint

FUEL IS NOT DELIVERED TO FIRING CHAMBER DUE TO FAILURE OF FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR. THIS WILL CAUSE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF WHEN ON THE ROAD. NO OBD-II CODE IS PRESENT SINCE THE FAILURE OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR WILL PUT THE CAR IN PROTECTED MODE, NO CODE CAN BE READ. WHEN ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, IT WILL HAVE NO POWER TO STEERING OR BRAKE SYSTEM, PUT DRIVER IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND OUT AFTER ARRIVING HOME. THE PROBLEM APPEARED THE NEXT MORNING.

NHTSA ODI #11307324

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2019
SeatsStructure

THE DOOR PANELS AND DASH BOARD GETS STICKY AND MELT OVER THE YEARS AND THE SEATS STARTS TO TEAR AND BECOME LOOSE

NHTSA ODI #11279094

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL - MY CAR IS SUPPOSEDLY AFFECTED BY THE RECALL, BUT THE RECALL WILL NOT ACTUALLY SHOW UP IN THE SYSTEM- IT SOUNDS LIKE IT ONLY HAPPENS IN 2019 - WHICH IS GREATER THAN 6 YEARS AFTER THE CAR WAS PUT IN SERVICE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS AND LOSS OF VALUE TO THE CAR. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR IS CURR…

Read full complaint

TAKATA RECALL - MY CAR IS SUPPOSEDLY AFFECTED BY THE RECALL, BUT THE RECALL WILL NOT ACTUALLY SHOW UP IN THE SYSTEM- IT SOUNDS LIKE IT ONLY HAPPENS IN 2019 - WHICH IS GREATER THAN 6 YEARS AFTER THE CAR WAS PUT IN SERVICE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS AND LOSS OF VALUE TO THE CAR. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN PA BUT WILL BE MOVING TO WARMER WEATHER CLIMATE AND THIS WILL CAUSE THE DEGRADATION TO HAPPEN MORE RAPIDLY. LEXUS REPORTS THERE ARE NO ISSUES, WHICH IS NOT TRUE ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN WEBSITE.

NHTSA ODI #11057740

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.