The 2002 Lexus IS has 1 safety recall and 12 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is structure (5 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints12filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Exterior lighting
NHTSA recall 09E012000 · Apr 7, 2009 · 16,270 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Structure Body › Door
5
0
0
0
—
Tires Temporary/emergency spare tire
2
0
0
0
—
Air bags
1
1
0
1
—
Engine and engine cooling
1
0
0
0
—
Exterior lighting Headlights
1
0
0
0
—
Unknown or other
1
0
0
0
—
Wheels
1
0
0
0
—
Steering
1
0
0
0
—
Visibility/wiper
1
0
0
0
—
Service brakes
1
0
0
0
—
Electronic stability control (esc)
1
0
0
0
—
Suspension
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Aug 18, 2008 · 116,000 milesSuspension PROBLEM STARTED WHEN CAR WAS IN FOR REPAIR OF WHEEL ALIGNMENT WHEELS GOT STOLEN FROM DEALER COLLISION CENTER LEXUS NOT CAR GOES OUT OF ALIGNMENT WHILE DRIVING ON A ROUGH ROAD WEARING OUT TIRES COMPLIANTLY ABOUT 3 SET OF TIRES REPLACED
Feb 2, 2018 · 203,000 milesService brakes CAR RUNS GREAT UNTIL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FOLLOWED BY VSC AND THEN BRAKE LIGHT. WHEN THOSE LIGHTS COME ON IT RUNS ROUGH AND BRAKES MAKE GEAR NOISE UNDER DRIVER'S SIDE HOOD AREA. BRAKE IS VERY SLUGGISH AND ALMOST NON EXISTENT WHEN IT FAILS. LET IT SET, CLEAR FAULT AND RUNS FINE UNTIL WARM AGAIN. HAVE HAD ALL BRAKES CHECKED AND IN GOOD CONDITION BY MECHANIC TODAY AND PROBLEM PERSISTS. APPEARS TO BE AN ECU OR OTHER ELECTRICAL AND NOT MECHANICAL PROBLEM. IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY MANUFACTURER.
May 1, 2014 · 120,000 milesStructure DASHBOARD IS MELTING. *TR
Jan 1, 2010Structure OVER THE YEARS MY DASHBOARD HAS DETERIORATED, THE RUBBER HAS BECOME STICKY AND NASTY JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER LEXUS VEHICLES IN COMPLAINTS. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A RECALL REGARDING THIS MATTER BUT NOT MY YEAR. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WOULDN'T APPLY TO ALL THE 2002 MODELS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE! PLEASE, COULD SOMEONE ENLIGHTEN ME? ME VEHICLE HAS 120,000 MILES ON IT AND IS IN IMMACULATE CONDITION OTHER THAN THE DASHBOARD AND SIDES OF CONSOLE. HELP, I LOVE MY CAR AND I DESERVE TO BE A PART OF THIS RECALL ALSO!! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP. *TR
Nov 3, 2014 · 50,999 milesVisibility/wiper SOMETHING ON WINDSHIELD THAT MAKES IT HARD TO SEE, IT IMPAIRS MY VISION. DASHBOARD IS LITERALLY MELTING! IT'S STICKY! NOW I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY LEXUS DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND SEND OUT A RECALL. FIX THEIR MISTAKES AND DO IT RIGHT. I UNDERSTAND THEY TRIED TO PASS SOME CHEAPER PRODUCTS OFF ON THEIR VEHICLES BUT THAT ONLY BOUGHT THEM SOME TIME. WORD OF MOUTH IS THEIR WORST ENEMY RIGHT NOW. *TR
Oct 2, 2012Structure AS I'M DRIVING THE DASHBOARD STARTS TO MELT AND IT'S VERY STICKY,PAID GOOD MONEY FOR THIS CAR AND THERE'S NO RECALL OR WARRANTEE FOR THIS DEFECT. *TR
Jan 1, 2005 · 40,000 milesStructure MY LEXUS DASHBOARD IS MELTING AWAY. THE DASH HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE BY THE DEALER BUT IT IS AGAIN MELTING AWAY. *TR
Apr 4, 2006 · 60,000 milesWheels I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A PROBLEM WITH MY LEXUS IS300 MODELS 2002. THERE IS SOME TYPE OF DEFECT IN THE FRAME OR FRONT ARM BUSHINGS THAT CAUSE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE FRONT INNER TIRES. DESPITE THE CAR BEING REGULARLY ALIGNED, UNEVEN AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR CONTINUES TO OCCUR ON THE INNER PORTION OF THE TIRES. TIRES WILL SOMETIMES LAST LESS THAN 5,000 MILES AND HAVE WORN DOWN TO THE STEEL IN THE INNER SIDES OF THE FRONT TIRES! THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND COMPLAINT AMONG IS 300 OWNERS. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN NO FIX FROM LEXUS AND WILL LEAD TO POTENTIAL BLOWOUTS ON THE FREEWAY DUE TO TIRE FAILURES. THIS CONDITION IS UNACCEPTABLE. THEREFORE I AM REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.