KnownCarProblems2009 Lexus IS Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Lexus IS, most often about the speed control (25% of complaints, typically around 11,000 miles). It is 4th of 26 IS model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2009 Lexus IS problems
Speed control
10 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 11,000 miles.
Tl 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…
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…
Other or unspecified
10 complaints · 25%My dash board IS melting. It IS really sticky and produce a glare on windshield when driving in the direction of sun. It IS becoming very difficult to see. There IS a recall on other years and models. Recall should be reevaluated to include all cars effected by this defect.
Vehicle door panels and dashboard are melting and chunks come of when you graze the panels on a hot day even when putting windshield heat protectors material comes off
Visibility and wipers
7 complaints · 18%Parts named most often: sun/moon roof assembly.
The dashboard IS melting, it gets sticky and when driving in the sun there's a noticeable glare that makes it hard to drive. And the same thing IS happening to the driver side door.
The safety issue with my vehicle IS the "melting dashboard," it seems to be common with vehicles like mine. The stick-glue like substance IS not only a nuisance but also a safety hazard. It creates a glare on the windshield that makes it nearly impossible to look straight forward, especially during afternoon hours of…
Air bags
4 complaints · 10%The dashboard IS melting, it gets sticky and when driving in the sun there's a noticeable glare that makes it hard to drive. And the same thing IS happening to the driver side door.
Defective passenger occupancy sensor: my SRS / airbag warning light illuminated and would not turn off, indicating that the SRS system was deactivated. I had my car diagnosed by a Lexus dealership service department on 12/4/2020. Johnson Lexus advised me that the passenger side front seat pressure sensor failed and…
Body and structure
4 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: body.
The dashboard IS melting, it gets sticky and when driving in the sun there's a noticeable glare that makes it hard to drive. And the same thing IS happening to the driver side door.
The safety issue with my vehicle IS the "melting dashboard," it seems to be common with vehicles like mine. The stick-glue like substance IS not only a nuisance but also a safety hazard. It creates a glare on the windshield that makes it nearly impossible to look straight forward, especially during afternoon hours of…
Engine
3 complaints · 8%I had 2 times were the vehicle almost stalled at different red lights within a time frame of 2 days. Shortly after this I started noticing that my vehicle was driving like a 4 cylinder instead of a 6. I took it in to my dealership and they put the car on the computer and found 4 codes in the cars history. 1 stated…
The vehicle has lunged forward while slowing down or at very slow speeds, and the brakes do not operate effectively. The brake IS always pressed down as far as it goes without avail. There IS no precursor as to when it will happen. In total, the engine lunged forward about 6 times. The first time I nearly hit a…
Lights
3 complaints · 8%Condensation has formed on the inner surfaces of both headlight lenses. The condensation reduces the light intensity and distorts the focus of the headlight beams. This in turn causes a safety hazard by impairing the night-time visibility of the driver and possibly blinding oncoming drivers.
Electrical
3 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: instrument panel.
Odometer fraud. The contact intended to purchase a 2009 Lexus IS 250. The contact stated while test-driving the vehicle, the contact drove to an auto part store for diagnostic testing. It was then discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was not a sale. At the time the vehicle was test-driven, the…
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 recalls
Fuel system: delivery
Risk: Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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
Full defect summary
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.
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.
Questions about the 2009 Lexus IS
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Lexus IS?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: speed control (10 complaints, typically around 11,000 miles); other or unspecified (10 complaints); visibility and wipers (7 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2009 Lexus IS have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 26, 2011 (fuel system). 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?
- It is 4th of 26 IS model years by number of complaints, with 40 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.