Short answer
Among Lexus IS model years through 2024, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 7 more years have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2006 has the most (16). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Lexus IS: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 26 (2001–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 21
- Fewest recalls
- 2001, 2002, 2003 and 7 more years (0)
- Most recalls
- 2006 (16)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (31)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2014, 2015, 2016 and 9 more years
Lexus IS Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2024 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2023 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2022 | 1 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2021 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2020 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2019 | 2 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2018 | 1 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2017 | 2 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2016 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2015 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2014 | 4 | 5 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2013 | 4 | 4 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2012 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Visibility/wiper |
| 2011 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Engine |
| 2010 | 9 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Engine |
| 2009 | 10 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Engine |
| 2008 | 11 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2007 | 11 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2006 | 16 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2005 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2004 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2003 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2002 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2001 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20260 recalls
- 20250 recalls
- 20240 recalls
- 20230 recalls
- 20221 recall
- 20210 recalls
- 20200 recalls
- 20192 recalls
- 20181 recall
- 20172 recalls
- 20160 recalls
- 20153 recalls
- 20144 recalls
- 20134 recalls
- 20125 recalls
- 20117 recalls
- 20109 recalls
- 200910 recalls
- 200811 recalls
- 200711 recalls
- 200616 recalls
- 20050 recalls
- 20040 recalls
- 20030 recalls
- 20020 recalls
- 20010 recalls
Lexus IS: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Lexus IS recalls are air bags (31), fuel system, gasoline (28), visibility/wiper (7), engine (6) and engine and engine cooling (6). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 13 of these 26 model years, and 2014, 2015, 2016 and 9 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Lexus IS Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Lexus IS?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 7 more years are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Lexus IS model years have the most recalls?
2006 has the most, with 16 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "IS", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy