Model-year record
2018 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.
Records only
Not enough public evidence for a buyer decision.
The current record contains zero owner complaints, zero recalls, zero investigations, and no NHTSA crash rating. An empty record is not proof that this model year is reliable or problem-free.
Complaints filed
9
Reports to NHTSA, 2018
Safety recalls
0
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Not rated
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
22.5
EPA estimate
Known issues
Structure issues lead owner complaints (22% of 9 reports), followed by engine (11%).
Share of all 9 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11460066, ODI 11154859.
Individual complaint reports(9)
Showing the 9 most recent reportsEngineNov 2024 · ODI 11627635Details +Close −
New engine
- Reported
- Nov 2024
- Incident date
- Nov 2024
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Latches/Locks/LinkagesMar 2024 · ODI 11575014Details +Close −
All four (4) door actuators stopped working or work intermittently. This is a known issue with both front and rear driver and passenger doors. Automobile doors will not open.
- Reported
- Mar 2024
- Incident date
- Mar 2024
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Unknown Or OtherJan 2024 · ODI 11565584Details +Close −
Sunroof suddenly exploded while driving on highway, no debris or accident happened. Spontaneous sunroof glass shatter
- Reported
- Jan 2024
- Incident date
- Jan 2024
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Fuel SystemNov 2022 · ODI 11492601Details +Close −
The contact owns a 2018 Lexus IS300. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle felt sluggish. The contact then heard an abnormal cranking noise underneath the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that she recorded the noise then took the vehicle back to the dealer; however, the dealer informed her that the fuel injectors might need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The contact stated that additional pressure on the accelerator pedal was needed for the vehicle to perform as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was notified of a possible buy back. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000
- Reported
- Nov 2022
- Incident date
- Jun 2021
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
StructureApr 2022 · ODI 11460066Details +Close −
I was driving down the highway at 70 mph and it was windy at the same time. Out of no where my sunroof window exploded shattering the glass. Luckily I usually keep the cover close. It sounded a gun shot that went off. There was nothing around me that would come down and break the window of the sunroof. It just happened out of no where.
- Reported
- Apr 2022
- Incident date
- Apr 2022
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Power TrainJul 2020 · ODI 11340152 · crash · 1 injuriesDetails +Close −
2018 LEXUS IS 300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STALLING WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A U-TURN. *LD *JS
- Reported
- Jul 2020
- Incident date
- Nov 2019
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- Crash 1 injuries
Fuel/Propulsion SystemMar 2020 · ODI 11318475Details +Close −
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LEXUS IS 300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V012000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO LEXUS OF NORTH MIAMI LOCATED AT (14100 BISCAYNE BLVD, NORTH MIAMI, FL 33181) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Reported
- Mar 2020
- Incident date
- Jan 2020
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
StructureNov 2018 · ODI 11154859 · 1 injuriesDetails +Close −
DRIVING ON 285 EAST IN ATLANTA GA 11/29/2018 WHEN MY LEXUS IS 300 SUNROOF EXPLODED. ALL WINDOWS WERE CLOSED TEMPERATURE WAS 37 DEGREES. IT SOUND LIKE A GUN WENT OFF. GLASS FELL FROM THE ROOF AND PIECE OF THE GLASS WENT IN MY LEFT EYE. I MADE APPOINTMENT FOR THE EYE DOCTOR FOR 11/30/2018
- Reported
- Nov 2018
- Incident date
- Nov 2018
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- 1 injuries
Vehicle Speed ControlNov 2018 · ODI 11149541Details +Close −
WHEN I ACCELERATE FROM A STOP OR WHILE MOVING ON A ROADWAY, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO STALL. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE NORMAL TURBO SPOOLING STALL. IT LASTS FOR ABOUT 3 TO 5 FULL SECONDS. WHEN YOU NEED POWER TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT, YOU CAN'T AFFORD THAT TIME LAG, AS IT COULD CAUSE YOUR DEATH. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT LEXUS SAYS IT'S NORMAL, THEY ALL DO IT. I DON'T FEEL ANY MANUFACTURER WOULD DELIBERATELY BUILD AND SELL A VEHICLE THAT WOULD PUT THE OCCUPANTS IN DANGER OF POSSIBLE DEATH. THE DEALER PICKED UP THE CAR AND AFTER FIVE DAYS CALLED ME TO SAY NOTHING IS WRONG AND THEY CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE LEXUS COMPANY SAYS IT'S NORMAL. AT THIS POINT I'M REFUSING TO DRIVE THE CAR, IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT ABOUT 188 MILES SINCE BUYING IT ALMOST 1 MONTH AGO. I CALLED THE DEALER ABOUT MY CONCERN AFTER HAVING THE CAR ONLY 20 DAYS.
- Reported
- Nov 2018
- Incident date
- Oct 2018
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
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 300 | 2.0L 4-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 22 | 32 | 26 |
| IS 350 | 3.5L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 20 | 28 | 23 |
| IS 350 AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 19 | 26 | 22 |
| IS 300 AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 19 | 26 | 22 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
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Compare the year-by-year record
Open another year for its own evidence-gated decision. TireKick does not crown a best year from raw complaint totals.
2018 Lexus IS: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2018 Lexus IS?
Owners filed 9 NHTSA complaints about the 2018 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 2018 Lexus IS?
The most-reported problem areas are Structure (22% of complaints) and engine (11%).
How many recalls does the 2018 Lexus IS have?
No safety recalls are on record for the 2018 Lexus IS as of Jul 2026.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Lexus IS get?
The EPA rates the 2018 Lexus IS between 22 and 26 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.