Most common 2012 Lexus IS 350C problems
Share of the 3 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus IS 350C complaints by model year
Best IS 350C years: 2013, 2015. Compare all years →
2012 Lexus IS 350C recalls (5)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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,…
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Lexus GS350 and GS450h, 2006-2013 Lexus IS350 and 2010-2014 Lexus IS350C vehicles, equipped with 3.5L V6 2GR-FSE gasoline engines. The diaphragms in the fuel pulsation dampers may harden over time and develop cracks, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery pipe with a new pipe that has improved pulsation dampers, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2018.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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,…
Remedy: 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…
Visibility/wiper
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 Lexus IS 350C:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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.
What 2012 Lexus IS 350C owners say
Air bags
Takata recall. The recall was initiated in January. I got a letter in February. As of today (March 28) the Toyota website estimates a fix May be available in September! But no commitment. In the meantime, I can't have a front passenger, per Toyota, rendering the car useless for my family. Nine months (or more) IS too long to be without the use of my car!
Earlier this year, I received the Takata airbag recall notice and in the notice it indicates there IS no remedy. Just recently, I called Toyota north American, was transferred to Lexus corp. Spoke with a person that obviously did not care. She went on to say that I was in zone c, she did have any knowledge of when the parts would be at a nearby dealership and that since the climate was cooler that cars in this area of the country were going to be the last to be fixed. Please know that this recall notice went out in January and that my car has been essentially sitting off and on since this time frame! I received an email indicating that Lexus would pay for a rental - $35/per day. Really????! I paid a bunch of money for a car that I really shouldn't be driving and it's now September 2017 and there IS still no remedy! Nine months IS too long for a car to be repaired!! …
2012 Lexus IS 350C engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Lexus IS 350C a good car?
Based on 3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 IS 350C rates few complaints: about as many complaints as a typical year of the IS 350C at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Lexus IS 350C?
The air bags — 3 complaints, 100% of all complaints for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2012 Lexus IS 350C have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2012 Lexus IS 350C, the most recent from October 17, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus IS 350C?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013 and 2015. See the full Lexus IS 350C years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Lexus IS 350C problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 42,000 miles; 100% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.