Most common 2010 Lexus IS problems
Share of the 40 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus IS complaints by model year
Best IS years: 2014, 2013, 2015. Years to avoid: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2007. Compare all years →
2010 Lexus IS recalls (1)
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
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.
Remedy: 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.
What 2010 Lexus IS owners say
Air bags
I had a head on collision with a light pole and the airbags did not deploy. The vehicle was inspected by aProgressive insurance claims adjuster and they claimed the vehicle a total loss. They kept the vehicle. There were no warning lights or anything. The vehicle had been taken into a North Park Lexus dealership after a defective airbag recall to be serviced in 2018.
Takata recall; I want this taken care of! I just found out about the recall because I went to trade my car in for a new one. I cannot afford the new one now, but I drive my grandchildren around every day. No one told me about this and I am livid. I have my oil changed every 5,000 miles at the local Lexus dealership so my information IS definitely on file. Does someone have to die for Lexus to take care of this??? The lawsuits you will be paying for will be far greater than if they just hire extra people to take care of all these cars.
Speed control & acceleration
The contact owns a 2010 Lexus IS. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle stalled, the vehicle independently accelerated while the accelerator pedal was not depressed, and all of the doors locked independently and were inoperative. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure occurred on several different occasions. The contact did research and was made aware of an unknown NHTSA Campaign Number however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to get a diagnosis however, the dealer stated that the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer to get a diagnosis however, the failure cause was unidentifiable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
Daily driver of the vehicle for two years was easing into a parking space and applying the brakes when vehicle surged forward over a curb eventually crashing into a tree. After the vehicle went over the curb it went through a chain link fence and down a steep embankment leading to a great deal of chaos and confusion as to whether the brakes continued to be applied, but the driver IS confident that the brakes were being applied when the initial surge occurred. The driver's spouse experienced a similar event about a month earlier when driving about 2 MPH down a long driveway. In this instance the engine revved to a higher speed when the brakes were applied but the brakes did stop the car before the engine speed returned to normal.
Transmission & drivetrain
This 2010 is250 was purchased new in October 2009 and has approximately 3,300 miles. On feb 19th, 2010 driver made a u-turn at low speed. After the completion of the turn the car started an uncommanded acceleration, causing it to spin to the right. The car then jumped a curb with the wheel still spinning and the bottom resting on the curb. Pushing and holding the start/stop button in the car finally cut the engine. Significant damage to the underside and left rear wheel of the car. This vehicle IS unsafe to drive as uncommanded acceleration could have LED to serious injuries or death. Vehicle IS currently located at south bay Lexus in torrance ca.
2008 Lexus is250 AWD had pulled into a parking space on a slight incline and stopped. When the operator tried to put the vehicle into park the engine revved and car moved violently forward climbing an eight inch curb to hit a concrete column on the front of an office building. The driver had their foot off the gas and applied the brake to no effect, when the driver moved the gear shift into neutral the car returned to normal and the driver was able to back off the column in reverse and park the vehicle. Have turned the car over to Lexus and a factory field representative IS scheduled to examine. Car IS at Toyota knoxville body shop.
2010 Lexus IS engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 20 / 26 / 22 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Lexus IS a good car?
Based on 40 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 IS rates use caution: 2.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the IS at the same age. It is one of the IS years we suggest avoiding. 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 2010 Lexus IS?
The air bags — 16 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the speed control & acceleration (6) and transmission & drivetrain (5).
How many recalls does the 2010 Lexus IS have?
There is 1 recall for the 2010 Lexus IS, the most recent from October 5, 2009 (accelerator pedal). 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?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2013 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2007. See the full Lexus IS years comparison.
At what mileage do 2010 Lexus IS problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 67,000 miles; 38% 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.