Model-year record

2013 Lexus IS
See the complaints, recalls, crash rating, and fuel economy in the public record. Then check the mileage and history of the car you found.
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Complaints filed
13
Reports to NHTSA, 2013
Safety recalls
0
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Not rated
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
22
EPA estimate
Known issues
Air Bags issues lead owner complaints (23% of 13 reports), followed by engine (23%).
Share of all 13 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11287952, ODI 10545321, ODI 11073068.
Individual complaint reports(13)
Showing the 13 most recent reportsVisibilitySep 2024 · ODI 11612237Details +Close −
See attached document for complaint.
- Reported
- Sep 2024
- Incident date
- Mar 2024
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Visibility/WiperAug 2024 · ODI 11610108 · crashDetails +Close −
This model was affected by the originally cosmetic, but well documented "sticky dash" recall. I am an automotive enthusiast who has worked within the industry for over 12 years, including notifying customers of NHTSA recalls and assisting with scheduling recalls to be performed. The dashboard can be severely melted to the point of becoming a mirror finish, I was driving at night in the headlights from an opposing truck reflected off the shiny surface of the dashboard having been melted by sunlight. I have great vision and was wearing prescription lenses, the incident nearly caused an oncoming collision. I slid into a ditch briefly and did not sustain damage to my vehicle.
- Reported
- Aug 2024
- Incident date
- Aug 2024
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- Crash
Visibility/WiperMar 2024 · ODI 11578247Details +Close −
The dashboard is melting - it is sticky and shiny. The glare it causes on the windshield is horrific. I have a very difficult time seeing when the sun is out. An independent service center has inspected and confirmed it is caused by the melting dashboard. I first noticed it a few months ago. I travel to Nashville often, which is a 3.5 hour drive, and the sight obstruction at interstate driving speeds and traffic is challenging to say the least. I am afraid to drive my car with my granddaughter in with me because it is truly dangerous.
- Reported
- Mar 2024
- Incident date
- Dec 2023
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Unknown Or OtherAug 2023 · ODI 11541681Details +Close −
I am writing to bring to your attention the grave matter of odometer rollback fraud, consumer law violations, and a series of fraudulent activities that have occurred in connection with my recent vehicle purchase. I am seeking a settlement of $60,000 to rectify the significant damages and hardships I have endured as a result of these unethical practices. The issues at hand stem from the fraudulent rollback of the odometer by 100,000 miles on the vehicle I purchased from a moving rides dealership. This deception has not only violated various consumer protection laws and Department of Motor Vehicle regulations but has also endangered my safety and well-being by knowingly selling me a vehicle that was not roadworthy and unsafe to operate . In light of these unfortunate events, I would like to detail a few aspects for which I am seeking compensation: 1. Reimbursement for Travel Expenses: I incurred considerable expenses, both monetary and time-wise, traveling a total of 1,025 miles for trips related to the purchase and subsequent issues with the vehicle. The 22 hours spent on the road and the three days of missed work have imposed severe financial strain. 2. Insurance Payment Refund: I was coerced into obtaining insurance coverage before taking possession of the vehicle, due to misrepresentation of the condition of the vehicle I didn’t get to take the car home till three weeks after the purchase. 3. Down Payment Refund: The undue distress caused by this fraudulent transaction warrants the return of my initial down payment. 4. Legal Fees and Filing Costs: Pursuing justice has come at a significant cost, both in terms of legal representation and filing fees, which I believe should be compensated. 5. Vehicle Rental Reimbursement: The unsafe condition of the purchased vehicle, compounded by expired tags, made it essential for me to secure alternative transportation for both work and personal use. 6. Restitution for Pain and Suffering
- Reported
- Aug 2023
- Incident date
- Apr 2023
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
EngineApr 2020 · ODI 11321929Details +Close −
VALLEY PLATE LEAK DUE TO THE FACT THAT TOYOTA/LEXUS UTILIZED THE IMPROPER SEALANT AND USED THE IMPROPER AMOUNT, LEADING TO THE HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKING COOLANT ONCE THE ORIGINAL, INADEQUATE SEALANT BEGINS TO DISENTEGRATE. THIS COULD CAUSE A CONDITION WHERE THE ENGINE COULD FAIL AND SOMEONE COULD GET HURT. FURTHERMORE, ALL ISFS WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A CRACKED RH MANIFOLD ON THE #8 RUNNER. THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD IN ADDITION TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.
- Reported
- Apr 2020
- Incident date
- Mar 2020
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
EngineApr 2020 · ODI 11320477Details +Close −
EXHAUST HEADER LEAK, AUDIBLE TICKING SOUND ONCE WARMED UP IN DRIVE
- Reported
- Apr 2020
- Incident date
- Mar 2020
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Fuel/Propulsion SystemMar 2020 · ODI 11318502Details +Close −
THE FUEL PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING THE MOTOR TO STALL AND DIE. WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE MOTOR AND WAS TOWED FROM THE HIGHWAY TO A DEALER WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED.
- Reported
- Mar 2020
- Incident date
- Jan 2020
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Air BagsDec 2019 · ODI 11287952 · crash · 1 injuriesDetails +Close −
TL* THE CONTACT'S MOTHER OWNS A 2013 LEXUS IS 250. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS PLACED IN PARK WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY, DROVE OVER A CURB, STRUCK A TREE, AND STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE REPAIR WAS STILL PENDING. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Reported
- Dec 2019
- Incident date
- Nov 2019
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- Crash 1 injuries
SteeringJun 2019 · ODI 11220934Details +Close −
WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. A METAL SCRAPING NOISE OCCURS. THIS HAS BEEN FIXED SEVERAL TIMES BUT KEEPS OCCURING MORE OFTEN. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION. AND I BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE SHIELD. AS IF SOMETHING IS PRESSING ON IT.
- Reported
- Jun 2019
- Incident date
- Apr 2019
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
EngineJul 2018 · ODI 11114087Details +Close −
THE ENGINE COULD STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING BECAUSE OF MISFIRE. MY LEXUS 250 ONLY 40K MILEAGE AND ALWAYS DO PROPER MAINTENANCE TO THE ENGINE EVERY 3000 MILE. I DO RESEARCH THAT LEXUS IS 250 CAUSE CARBON BUILD UP BECAUSE OF THE WRONG DESIGN OF THE DIRECT INJECTION. HERE'S THE YOUTUBE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=YTQUQFLAWR8. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO LEXUS DEALER, THEY WON'T ADMITTED, INSTEAD THEY BLAME ME USING A WRONG FUEL. BEFORE I USED 91OCTANE SHELL, THEN I SWITCH TO 91OCTANE CHEVRON. STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD RECALL FOR THIS MATTER, BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT SAFETY AND THE ENGINE COULD SUDDENLY STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING.
- Reported
- Jul 2018
- Incident date
- Jul 2018
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Air BagsFeb 2018 · ODI 11073068Details +Close −
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS IS 250C. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V024000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (LEXUS OF RIVERSIDE, 3150 ADAMS ST, RIVERSIDE, CA 92504) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REMEDY WAS ON BACKORDER FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
- Reported
- Feb 2018
- Incident date
- Jan 2018
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
SuspensionMay 2016 · ODI 10862390Details +Close −
THE PROBLEM THAT MANY IS250 LEXUS OWNERS ARE HAVING WITH THE FRONT TIRES WEARING OUT OR TEARING FROM THE INSIDE. I HAVE FOUND THAT THE ISSUE IS THE SUSPENSION WHERE THE FRONT TIRE AND A COTTER PIN MEET EVERY TIME YOU HIT A BUMP OR POT HOLE. THIS HAS CAUSED GREAT DAMAGE TO BOTH FRONT TIRES TO THE EXTENT WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE STEEL BELT. LEXUS HAS GONE AS FAR AS TO BLAME THE TIRE MANUFACTURE AND HAS NOT TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. I ASK THAT THIS ISSUE BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST DUE TO NEGLIGENCE.
- Reported
- May 2016
- Incident date
- Apr 2016
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Air BagsSep 2013 · ODI 10545321 · crash · 3 injuriesDetails +Close −
WHILE PARK AT A STOP LIGHT, THE AUTO, THIRD IN LINE WAS IMPACTED BY A TRUCK TRAVELING 40-50 MPH, NO BRAKING, AND HIT AND RUN. MY WIFE WAS ALONE IN THE CAR, WHICH WAS DRIVEN INTO A PICKUP AND SUBSEQUENTLY INTO A BUICK. OF THE 12 AIRBAGS AVAILABLE, NOT ONE ACTUATED, CAUSING SERIOUS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL BRUISING WITH THE SEAT BELT AND STEERING WHEEL IMPACT. THE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE LOOSE FROM ITS MOUNTING, DAMAGE MORE THAN $50,000. IN ADDITION, A BROKEN WRIST RESULTED. COMPLAINTS TO THE LOCAL DEALER CONCERNING LACK OF SAFETY FROM AIR BAGS WENT UNANSWERED AND COMMENTS FROM NATIONAL OFFICE SAID THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO OPERATE. SINCE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OCCURRED, SHE IS AFRAID TO RIDE IN THE VEHICLE AS WE CONSIDER IT UNSAFE. I DID NOT KNOW WHO ELSE TO COMPLAIN TO AND AM ADDING THIS NOTE TO WHAT WILL PROBABLY BE A GROWING DATABASE. I COULD NOT PROVIDE THE VIN, AS THE CAR HAS STILL NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *JS
- Reported
- Sep 2013
- Incident date
- Aug 2013
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- Crash 3 injuries
Recalls
No recalls are listed for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change when NHTSA publishes new information.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
No NHTSA crash test is on record for this year. Some vehicles and model years were not tested or do not have a published NCAP result.
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IS 250/IS 250C | 2.5L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 21 | 29 | 24 |
| IS 250 AWD | 2.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 21 | 27 | 23 |
| IS 350/IS 350C | 3.5L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 19 | 27 | 22 |
| IS 350 AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 19 | 26 | 22 |
| IS F | 5.0L 8-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 16 | 23 | 18 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
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2013 Lexus IS: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2013 Lexus IS?
Owners filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the 2013 Lexus IS. This is raw owner-reported complaint volume with no production or exposure normalization, so it is not a reliability score or a best/worst-year ranking.
What are the most common problems on the 2013 Lexus IS?
The most-reported problem areas are Air Bags (23% of complaints) and engine (23%).
How many recalls does the 2013 Lexus IS have?
No safety recalls are on record for the 2013 Lexus IS as of Jul 2026.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Lexus IS get?
The EPA rates the 2013 Lexus IS between 18 and 24 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.