Melting or sticky dashboard and door panels
Material deteriorates in heat, creating windshield glare and chemical odors
Check engine light: Off
Dashboard and door-panel material becomes sticky, peels, and deteriorates in heat — creating dangerous windshield glare that obstructs driver vision, often accompanied by chemical odors. Owners report Lexus denying repairs by citing expired warranty/goodwill programs (ZLD, ZLE, ZLZ) that were never clearly communicated to them. This directly matches the same ZLZ program confirmed on the Lexus ES.
$1,950 – $2,500
↑ Back to the problem table
Power steering lockup while driving
Steering suddenly locks up at various speeds
Check engine light: On
The power steering system reportedly locks up unexpectedly while driving, at various speeds. Repeated steering rack failures have also been documented on at least one vehicle (initial failure at 59,000 miles, recurring roughly 10,000 miles later).
$2,700 – $3,20059,000 mi
↑ Back to the problem table
HID headlight lens/ballast failure
Complete headlight lens or ballast replacement needed
Check engine light: Off
An HID headlight lens assembly replacement has been documented at 40,300 miles. The same HID headlight ballast failure is reported on the Lexus GS 350.
$1,000 – $1,400 per lens40,300 mi
↑ Back to the problem table
Engine carbon buildup
Escalating from a routine cleaning to a stated need for engine replacement
Check engine light: On
Carbon buildup requiring a $600 temporary cleaning in typical cases, escalating in at least one documented case to a stated $15,000 engine replacement.
$600 – $15,000+
↑ Back to the problem table
Transmission slipping or failing to reverse properly
Jerking, slipping, or hesitation shifting into reverse
Check engine light: On
Transmission slipping, jerking, or failure to reverse properly reported across multiple complaints; a separate shift lag (3rd to 4th gear) repair has also been documented.
$3,000166,000 mi
↑ Back to the problem table
In Certain IS250 Models: The Inside Rear View Mirror May Become Discolored
In certain IS250 models, the inside rearview mirror may become discolored
Check engine light: Off
In certain IS250 models, the inside rearview mirror may become discolored. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 181 owner reports on file.
↑ Back to the problem table
In Certain IS250 Models: Clicking-Type Noise From the Rear Suspension
In certain IS250 models, a clicking-type noise develops from the rear suspension
Check engine light: Off
In certain IS250 models, a clicking-type noise develops from the rear suspension. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 68 owner reports on file.
↑ Back to the problem table
IMPORTANT — THIS GENERATION IS TIED TO A DOCUMENTED FATALITY. A 2007 IS250 at 135,000 miles was involved in a passenger-side collision in which the airbags failed to deploy, and a death was reported. Separately, the most common problem for this generation is dashboard and door-panel material becoming sticky, peeling, and deteriorating in heat — creating dangerous windshield glare — with owners reporting Lexus denying repairs by citing expired warranty/goodwill coverage (Programs ZLD, ZLE, ZLZ) that owners say was never clearly communicated to them.