2009 Lexus Is Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Lexus Is.

20082010
Complaints
55
per 10K Sold
14.4
US Sales
38,077
Crashes
6
Fires
0
Injuries
4
Fatalities
Recalls
1

Worst 2009 Lexus Is Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#110 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

Avg mileage:19,790 mi
Crash-related:3
#25 complaints

Wipers & Visibility

Avg mileage:47,333 mi
#34 complaints

Airbags

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Lexus Is.

Unintended Acceleration
10
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
19,790
Wipers & Visibility
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
47,333
Airbags
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Sunroof/Moonroof
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical:Infotainment
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Parking-Brake Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension:Rear
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Lexus Is. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2009 Lexus Is

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~244,779 vehicles.

11V029000Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
~244,779 affected

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 LEXUS IS AND MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 LEXUS GS VEHICLES. DUE TO INSUFFICIENT TIGHTENING OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR CONNECTED TO AN ENGINE FUEL DELIVERY PIPE WITH NICKEL PHOSPHORUS PLATING, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT, OVER TIME, THE PRESSURE SENSOR COULD LOOSEN. IF LOOSENING OCCURS, FUEL COULD LEAK PAST A GASKET USED IN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SENSOR AND THE PIPE AND THROUGH THE THREADED PORTION OF THE SENSOR.

Other Lexus Is Years

2009 Lexus Is — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2009 Lexus Is reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2009 Lexus Is has 55 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 10 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2009 Lexus Is?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (10 complaints, avg 19,790 mi); Wipers & Visibility (5 complaints, avg 47,333 mi); Airbags (4 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Lexus Is?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 28,971 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2009 Lexus Is?
NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Lexus Is include 6 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2009 Lexus Is have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 244,779 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2009 Lexus Is?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Lexus Is reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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