If you are considering buying a used Lexus IS, there are several major reliability issues worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 3 known faults for this model, 2 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Generation 1 of 13 known faults · 14 owner reports · 12 good notes
Lexus IS 2nd Gen (2005 to 2013) problems
Engine/EmissionsMedium severity📝 Editorial
Direct injection design causing severe carbon buildup on intake valves
Rough guide
£400-800
Typical symptoms
rough idle when cold
engine hesitation or misfire
check engine light (VSC light)
Affected vehicles
Engines:
IS250 2.5 V6
Typical mileage:
60000-100000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
Design flaw leading to severe carbon buildup, excessive pressure, and head gasket failure
Rough guide
£2000-4000
Typical symptoms
coolant spraying into the engine bay
overheating
high oil consumption and white smoke
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.2 Diesel (220d)
Typical mileage:
60000-120000 miles
2 more owner reports back this up
January 2015A 2006 Lexus IS220D emitted white smoke from the exhaust, indicating a cylinder head or gasket issue.
January 2011The 220D engine received a seven-year warranty extension to cover cylinder head and head gasket failures.
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
SuspensionHigh severity💬 Owner reports
Front lower ball joints catastrophically fail, causing the front wheel to collapse into the wheel arch
Rough guide
£300-600
Typical symptoms
creaking or squeaking noise from the front suspension when turning
clunking over bumps
steering feels vague or wanders
Affected vehicles
Engines:
IS200 / GS300
Typical mileage:
80000-140000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
What owners report on the 2nd Gen
14 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Electrics · October 2018Moisture ingress affected the central locking and window control unit of a 2008 Lexus IS250, causing the windows to open.
General · October 2018A Lexus IS300h owner reported conflicting information from a dealer regarding differential and CVT fluid change intervals.
Electrics · July 2018A Lexus IS250C displayed a red airbag warning light, requiring a sensor part replacement sourced from Europe.
Electrics · July 2018A 2014 Lexus IS300h experienced hybrid battery system failure at 41,000 miles, causing the car to refuse to restart.
Brakes · September 2016A 2006 Lexus IS250 automatic required rear brake caliper work every two years from 90,000 miles.
Electrics · August 2016The touchscreen of a 2005 Lexus IS250SE failed at 120,000 miles, losing navigation, climate, audio, and phone controls.
Exhaust · August 2016The exhaust front pipes on a Lexus IS250 V6 engine corroded, requiring an expensive replacement of OEM parts.
Interior · October 2014The leather on the bolsters of a year-old Lexus IS300h Premier wore off after just 11,700 miles.
Brakes · April 2014The brake master cylinder failed on an eight-year-old Lexus IS220D, requiring the use of gears and parking brake to stop.
Electrics · August 2013A 2009 Lexus 220D entered limp mode due to a clogged DPF and experienced electrical problems with windows and boot.
Electrics · December 2012Keyfob remotes on older Lexus IS250 models began working intermittently, with no known solution.
Engine · January 2012Problems with DPF regeneration on 2.2 litre diesel engines led to overfuelling, damaging piston rings and bores.
Gearbox and clutch · November 2011A 2000-2003 Lexus automatic gearbox developed rough changes due to an ECU fault, leading to damage and eventual failure.
Suspension and steering · February 2011Soft front suspension bushes deteriorated, causing a Lexus to excessively toe out its front tyres and wear their inner edges.
What owners like about the 2nd Gen
12 notes
The Lexus IS achieved high rankings in multiple customer satisfaction and reliability surveys between 2001 and 2002.
Lexus was a top brand in reliability surveys from 2002 to 2003, with 99% of cars breakdown-free.
Lexus was the top marque for four consecutive years in JD Power surveys, with the IS200 a top model.
Lexus achieved a joint first place in the 2007 UK JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey with an 86.8% score.
Lexus was the top marque in the 2006 and 2007 UK JD Power Customer Satisfaction Studies, earning Gold Awards.
The Lexus IS was the top car for customer satisfaction in the Compact Executive Sector in the 2010 JD Power Survey.
Lexus achieved the highest ranking in the JD Power customer satisfaction study for eleven consecutive years.
The 2008 Lexus IS achieved the third highest first-time MoT pass rate among models with over 2,000 examples.
The Lexus IS model features appealing aesthetics both inside the cabin and on its exterior.
The Lexus IS offers commendable fuel economy and the positive environmental perception of its hybrid system.
The Lexus IS provides excellent customer service and a reputation for dependable reliability.
The Lexus IS300h received a 5-star NCAP rating, with high scores for adult, child, and pedestrian protection.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 7 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Lexus IS advert and we check it in seconds.
Modern Lexus engines (V6 petrols, 2.2 diesels, and hybrids) use timing chains which are designed to last the life of the engine.
Always confirm against the vehicle handbook. Intervals vary by engine, and several manufacturers revised theirs after failures in service.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: June 2026
Lexus IS buying questions
Is a used Lexus IS reliable?
The Lexus IS has 3 known faults in our database, 2 of them rated high severity. The most serious are engine (design flaw leading to severe carbon buildup, excessive pressure, and head gasket failure) and suspension (front lower ball joints catastrophically fail). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
What are the most common Lexus IS problems?
Three stand out. Engine: design flaw leading to severe carbon buildup, excessive pressure, and head gasket failure (typically 60000 to 120000 miles). Suspension: front lower ball joints catastrophically fail (typically 80000 to 140000 miles). Engine: direct injection design causing severe carbon buildup on intake valves (typically 60000 to 100000 miles). The full list above is grouped by generation, with typical mileage and a rough repair cost for each.
Which Lexus IS years should I avoid?
No Lexus IS year is a write-off, but the 2nd Gen (2005 to 2013) carries the most serious faults: engine and suspension. Year matters less than whether the specific car has had the known fixes, so check the history for them.
What should I check when viewing a used Lexus IS?
Ask the seller about the engine and suspension faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for coolant spraying into the engine bay, creaking or squeaking noise from the front suspension when turning and rough idle when cold. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against all 3 known faults before you travel. Check a Lexus IS advert →
What is the real MPG of a Lexus IS?
Owners report 40.5 mpg on average across the Lexus IS engines with data, about 94% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 913 owner submissions. Lexus IS Real MPG by engine →
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Lexus IS owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.