2008 Lexus IS 250 Airbag Problems

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  00%
• 25k–50k
  17%
• 50k–75k
  427%
• 75k–100k
  533%
• 100k–150k
  427%
• 150k+
  17%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Lexus IS 250 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

As inspected by Lexus dealership in woodland hills ca, my car has airbag light on/off intermittently. Error code b1861 was found that IS tied to knee airbag on the driver side. There IS a problem with the squib circuit in the instrument cluster I believe. Car has around 99K miles but this safety concern IS serious. This airbag IS something that never gets used unless you're in an accident. I've never been in one. It IS just bad workmanship on Lexus to install such a wiring harness and squib circuit that'll go bad before 100,000 miles. As a customer this IS not something that IS visible to me nor something I would attempt to touch. It IS hidden behind the instrument cluster and dashboard. Dealership quoted $3000+ to fix something that wasn't caused due to customer negligence. It IS just bad workmanship from Lexus. …

My complaint IS in regard to the service bulletin no.: lsb-0167-08 component(s): air bags , electrical system. This service bulletin IS a solid proof that a certain models of Lexus vehicles have a defected airbag system components. Yet, for the unlucky owners of these models who experienced this problem only after the expiration of the dealer's warranty, they face $3500 repair bill the fix a manufacturing default. By googling this issue, I came to find out that many many Lexus owners had experienced the same problem. Some were able to have fixed under the warranty; while others found the repair too high and unfair to pay for. Since Lexus recognizes the problem and admits to the default, they must take full responsibility and repair it free of charge, with or without recall. I and many consumers like me are counting and waiting on NHTSA to make things right, as they always do at the end. …

Takata airbag. Passenger airbag trouble light comes on dash intermittently when stationary and while in motion on street/highway. When I recently had the Takata airbag recall done, the dealership quoted me $2,100 to replace the wiring harness. I researched on-line and found this to be universally occurring problem with Lexus is250 models and others 2006 and later. The defective part IS the connector from the wiring harness coming loose at the plug into the airbag. Since this a universal safety issue and related to a defective part (rather than a mechanical part subject to wear/tear) shouldn't this be a recall? See following link for more details, but it IS pretty common lore in Lexus circles that IS happening at low miles as well as high miles. Not sure why consumers are paying for this flaw when out of warranty. …

My car IS a 2008 with only 61K miles on it. The airbag light came on and I took it into the dealer. They said there was an issue with a wiring "squib" and my entire airbag system was shut down. If I had gotten into an accident, not one airbag would have deployed. The dealer said to fix it will mean replacing the entire wiring harness at a cost of $2500. Per the dealer, this IS nothing that happened over time or through wear and tear. Also, the dealer said by replacing the entire wiring harness, I was replacing items that were not malfunctioning as this was the direction per Lexus. I contacted Lexus and they said they will not cover anything. It was very alarming to hear that while the airbag light was on, I was driving around without airbags. …

After taking the car in for service and inspection the airbag light came on and stays on. I took to park place Lexus grapevine for the Takata recall replacement. I told the service person about the light and they told me $100 dollars to diagnose. They called me and told me it IS the wire harness which causes the airbag not to function and they tell me it will cost $3300 dollars for a wire harness. I see this IS a known issue with a technical service bulletin issued so I do not understand. I have taken very good care of my car which has 88K miles and I a m very upset they want to charge me thousands for a manufacturing issue they have known about.

After having the car I started getting the feel as if the car wanted to cut off each time I came to a stop. There was vibration with in the motor as it seemed. I contacted the dealership and they advise there was a issue with my model with the motor system with the vibration. They fixed the issue so I thought but as of today there IS still vibrations at time when I come to a complete stop. Later on I received a recall on the dashboard and door panels. I later received another recall for my airbags, now my airbag light keeps coming on and I'm having to take the car back and forth to the dealership. These items has happen on number of occasions

Air bag SRS light came on. On taking to dealership, they said this: "DTC b1861 - driver's side knee side squib. Recommend replace instrument panel wire harness.". This IS a known issue with 2006-2008 IS 250/350 models where wiring on the harness can go short and needs to be replaced. This IS a known issue from Lexus corporate with the following service bulletin: l-sb-0167-08. The service bulletin identifies the factory installed harness as the issue and recommends replacing it. This IS a safety issue and consumers should not have not have to pay Lexus for their design flaw in harness.

Takata recall-passenger airbag. When will the parts be available? I have been waiting more than 6 months. I called local Lexus dealership twice and the parent company once to question when the passenger airbag May be replaced. I was told it IS not in their control. The last time I called the dealership where I purchased the car, the person I spoke with was not helpful. All 3 calls were fruitless. I travel a lot and passengers have to sit in the back. I need the car fixed so I can sell it and purchase another vehicle-not a Lexus! Nor one with Takata airbags.

Takata recall. My recall notice IS dated May 23, 2016. I still have not received an official recall notice in the mail. The recall status IS still listed as "recall incomplete. Remedy not yet available." I have called the westside Lexus service department in houston, texas numerous times since I learned of the recall. Each time, I was advised that the remedy IS not available and that the dealership would contact me when they have a remedy available. I first learned of the recall notice on June 29, 2016.

During maintenance at dealer was informed that air bag warning light on dash will require replacement wire harness. Dealer informed me that it cannot be serviced and only option was to replace this expensive component. With current mileage on vehicle of 95K this was only covered up to 7year or 70K miles. No service bulletin was received from vehicle manufacturer that this component May fail and keep safety system on vehicle from working properly....updated 12/03/15

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other IS 250 years