This page covers 5 recalls, 30 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2011 Lexus Is 250.
22 mpg combined
10.7 L/100km
Subcompact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
Airbag complaints dominate what owners of the 2011 Lexus IS 250 report, making up the clear majority of the complaint volume for this model year. Most of these reports center on the passenger-side airbag inflator, with owners describing situations where the airbag failed to deploy in a collision or where they were notified of a safety campaign but could not get the repair completed because parts were on backorder. The parts availability issue appears repeatedly, with multiple owners reporting extended waits after being told the necessary components weren't in stock. Outside the airbag system, a small number of owners mention a melting or sticky dashboard surface that creates glare and visibility issues in direct sunlight. One isolated report describes an unintended acceleration event in stop-and-go traffic. Tire and steering complaints each appear once and don't form any pattern worth noting.
30
Total Complaints
5
Crash-Related
3
With Injuries
By System
The 2011 Lexus IS 250 has 5 recalls, all centered on the same critical defect: the front passenger airbag inflator can rupture or explode and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, with the potential to cause serious injury or death.
All five recalls address the same underlying Takata airbag inflator issue on the passenger side. The inflator contains a propellant that can degrade over time, particularly in high-humidity environments, causing it to burst with far more force than intended. Instead of cleanly deploying the airbag, the canister can shatter and scatter metal shards toward anyone seated in the front passenger seat. Some of these recall filings are scoped to vehicles originally sold or registered in high-humidity states and territories, including Florida, Hawaii, Texas, Louisiana, and several U.S. territories, where moisture accelerates the propellant breakdown. Prior repair attempts under earlier campaigns did not fully resolve the issue for all affected vehicles, which is why multiple filings exist covering overlapping model years. If the passenger airbag in this vehicle has not been replaced, the seat presents a genuine hazard any time the vehicle is in use, regardless of whether a crash occurs, since the inflator can potentially rupture during a deployment event.
At a glance
What can fail
Driver or passenger front airbag inflators previously replaced under an earlier recall may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to humidity, high temperature, and temperature changes.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the affected front airbag inflator, assembly, or sub-assembly depending on vehicle model.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature cycling.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator or air bag assembly depending on your vehicle model.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator can rupture during deployment due to degradation from humidity and temperature exposure over time.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator or air bag assembly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator or air bag assembly at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant breakdown after long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator or entire air bag assembly at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
