KnownCarProblems2009 Lexus IS 250 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 48 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Lexus IS 250, most often about the air bags (42% of complaints). It is 4th of 11 IS 250 model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2009 Lexus IS 250 problems
Air bags
20 complaints · 42%Takata recall - this recall has be determined for many months and no solutions have been provided. I received a notice in may 2016 to not have a passenger sit in my car. It is now october. How can it possibly be allowed for them to sell cars that you cannot have a passenger ride in?
The contact owns a 2009 Lexus is250. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and was towed to north side Lexus (17925 north fwy., houston, tx 77090). The dealer stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 14v647000 (fuel system, gasoline), 16v340000 (air bags), and 13v030000…
Speed control
6 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 7,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
I was pulling into a parking space. There was a car parked to my left, I was driving slowly to be sure I didn't overlap into a handicap space on my right. Despite my care the car suddenly and independently accelerated forward and struck a building. My car is a 2009 Lexus is250 and was about 6 months old at the time.
The contact owns a 2009 Lexus is250. The contact stated that the vehicle lunged and then accelerated independently. The failure was experienced several times. On one occasion, the failure occurred immediately after start-up and the vehicle accelerated into a neighbor's driveway. The vehicle was taken to the dealer…
Visibility and wipers
6 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles. Parts named most often: sun/moon roof assembly.
The contact owns a 2009 Lexus IS 250. While driving 60 MPH, the sunroof glass shattered without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000.
Dashboard is melting and sticky. Causing a ridiculous glare from sunlight and headlights. Contacted Lexus dealership; they stated there is a recall for this but they couldn't help me I would need to call Lexus themselves. Called Lexus provided my VIN and other information. They told me my VIN was not part of the…
Body and structure
6 complaints · 13%Parts named most often: body, interior panels.
The dashboard on my Lexus is-250 2009 has been slowly melting for several years leaving a shiny and wet look and feel. This shiny area of the dashboard is directly over the drivers view and reflects on the underside of the windshield. In heavy or direct light (same at night) the reflected light obscures the view out…
Dash material is decomposing, creating a large spot of glare onto windshield. Lexus is well aware of this from thousands of complaints, and in 2011 updated warranty for some vehicles.however they have told me that vehicle is not covered and are being sued buy many for this same complaint. Just adding my car to list I…
Other or unspecified
6 complaints · 13%The dashboard is melting, its dangerous to drive this car in the daytime because the reflection of the sun causes it to shine on the melting dashboard, making it very difficult to see clearly. I called Lexus and they wont cover this defective part.
My dashboard of my 2009 Lexus IS 250 is melting and causing a significant glare on my windshield when I'm driving the vehicle. It is progressively getting worse. Concern for visibility through the windshield as the dashboard continues to melt. The glare is worse depending on the time of day and direction I'm heading.…
Fuel system
5 complaints · 10%A year or so ago my car started overheating. I stopped and the car shut off. The computer system froze and said checking system and showed a drawing of a car frame and what I guess is the heat source. I took my car to the mechanic and he replaced the water pump. It had cracked and boiled over and ever since I have had…
The contact owns a 2009 Lexus is250. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and was towed to north side Lexus (17925 north fwy., houston, tx 77090). The dealer stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 14v647000 (fuel system, gasoline), 16v340000 (air bags), and 13v030000…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2009 Lexus IS 250 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began november 20, 2019. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are j0a, j0b, and j0c. Lexus' numbers for this recall are jli, jlj, and jlk.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4runner, 2003-2006 tundra, 2003-2013 corolla, 2009-2010 corolla matrix, 2004-2005 rav4, 2002-2007 sequoia, 2011-2013 sienna, 2008-2012 scion xb, 2008-2009 lexus is-f, 2007-2012 yaris and lexus es350, 2010-2017 lexus gx460, 2002-2010 lexus sc430, 2006-2012 lexus is250 and is350 and 2010-2015 lexus is250c and is350c vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the toyota, scion and lexus owners. General motors will contact the pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began on january 29, 2018. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "zone a" toyota: g0p, lexus: glg; "zone b" toyota: g0r, lexus glh; "zone c" toyota: h0a, and lexus: hla.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2013 scion xb, toyota corolla, corolla matrix, sienna, 4runner, lexus is250, is350, is250c, is350c, is-f, and gx460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of al, ca, fl, ga, hi, la, ms, sc, tx, pr, as, gu, the mp (saipan), and the u.s. Vi or "zone a." toyota is also recalling certain 2010 scion xb, toyota corolla, corolla matrix, yaris, 4runner, lexus is250, is350, is250c, is350c, es350, is-f, gx460, and pontiac vibe vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of az, ar, de, dc, il, in, ks, ky, md, mo, ne, nv, nj, nm, nc, oh, ok, pa, tn, va, and wv or "zone b." toyota is also recalling certain 2009 scion xb, toyota corolla, corolla matrix, yaris, lexus is250, is350, es350, is-f, and pontiac vibe vehicles ever registered in the states of ak, co, ct, id, ia, me, ma, mi, mn, mt, nh, ny, nd, or, ri, sd, ut, vt, w
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the toyota, scion and lexus owners. General motors will contact the pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on february 1, 2017. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are g0p (toyota zone a), g0r (toyota zone b), h0a (toyota zone c), glg (lexus zone a), glh (lexus zone b) and hla (lexus zone c).
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2012 toyota 4runner, corolla, corolla matrix, sienna, yaris, scion xb, lexus es350, gx460, is-f, is250, is350, is250c, is350c, and lexus lfa vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, toyota is recalling certain 2009 toyota corolla, corolla matrix, yaris, yaris hb, scion xb, pontiac vibe, lexus, es350, is250, is350, and is-f vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsy
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the toyota and lexus owners. General motors will contact the pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on december 6, 2016. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for interim notification for this campaign are g1p (toyota zone a), g1r (toyota zone b), g2g (lexus zone a), and g2h (lexus zone b). Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are g0p (toyota zone a), g0r (toyota zone b), glg (lexus zone a), and glh (le
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 scion xb and lexus is f, 2009-2011 toyota corolla and corolla matrix, 2006-2011 toyota yaris, lexus is250 and lexus is350, 2010-2011 toyota 4runner, lexus is250c, lexus is350c and lexus gx460, 2011 sienna, 2007-2011 lexus es350, and 2009-2010 pontiac vibe vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 scion xb and lexus is f, 2007-2008 toyota yaris, 2006-2008 lexus is250 and lexus is350 and 2007-2008 lexus es350 vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, distric
Fuel system: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will clean and reseal the fuel pressure sensor mounting area, free of charge. The recall began march 3, 2015. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 lexus ls vehicles manufactured may 9, 2006, to july 20, 2010, 2006-2011 lexus gs vehicles manufactured january 6, 2005, to september 10, 2010, and 2006-2011 lexus is vehicles manufactured august 30, 2005, to september 10, 2010. Due to anti-corrosion plating remnants, fuel may leak from where the fuel pressure sensor is attached to the fuel delivery pipe.
Visibility and wipers: visibility/wiper
Risk: Inoperative wipers could reduce driver visibility and increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and lexus dealers will install new wiper arm nuts, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on april 4, 2013. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 lexus is250 and is350 vehicles manufactured august 23, 2005, through october 5, 2011; 2010-2012 lexus is250c and is350c vehicles manufactured april 10, 2009, through october 6, 2011; and 2008-2011 lexus is-f vehicles manufactured december 14, 2007, through july 10, 2011. The nuts that fasten the wiper arms may be insufficiently torqued such that if the wiper arms are restricted by an external load, such as a buildup of heavy snow, one or both of the wipers may become inoperative.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2009 Lexus IS 250
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Lexus IS 250?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (20 complaints); speed control (6 complaints, typically around 7,500 miles); visibility and wipers (6 complaints, typically around 59,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2009 Lexus IS 250 have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 17, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2009 a bad year for the Lexus IS 250?
- It is 4th of 11 IS 250 model years by number of complaints, with 48 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.