2011 Lexus IS F Problems & Complaints

Few complaints1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the IS F at the same age

Owners have filed 2 complaints about the 2011 Lexus IS F with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is a low number of complaints for a car on sale this long. The most reported problem area is the air bags (2 complaints, typically around 45,000 miles). 3 recalls cover this model year.

2complaints
3recalls
0crashes
0fires
0injuries
0deaths

Most common 2011 Lexus IS F problems

  • Air bags~45,000 miles
    2100%

Share of the 2 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Lexus IS F complaints by model year

2008200920102011201220132014131221
Owner complaints per model year, Lexus IS F. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best IS F years: 2012, 2013. Compare all years →

2011 Lexus IS F recalls (3)

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-005 · Jan 9, 2019 · 1,299,448 vehicles

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.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 16V-340 · May 23, 2016 · 1,754,517 vehicles

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…

Remedy: 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…

Visibility/wiper

NHTSA recall 13V-030 · Jan 30, 2013 · 267,718 vehicles

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 2011 Lexus IS F:

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

NHTSA investigation EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · open

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.

2011 Lexus IS F engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
5.0L 8-cyl8-speed automaticRWD16 / 23 / 18

EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Lexus IS F a good car?

Based on 2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 IS F rates few complaints: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the IS F 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 2011 Lexus IS F?

The air bags — 2 complaints, 100% of all complaints for this model year.

How many recalls does the 2011 Lexus IS F have?

There are 3 recalls for the 2011 Lexus IS F, the most recent from January 9, 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 F?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012 and 2013. See the full Lexus IS F years comparison.

At what mileage do 2011 Lexus IS F problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 45,000 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.