10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
19,375 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2009 Lexus IS 350 engine problems

engine problem

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2009 Lexus IS 350 Owner Comments

problem #4

Jan 262020

IS 350

  • 40,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The vehicle has lunged forward while slowing down or at very slow speeds, and the brakes do not operate effectively. The brake Is always pressed down as far as it goes without avail. There Is no precursor as to when it will happen. In total, the engine lunged forward about 6 times. The first time I nearly hit a vehicle with my minor daughter in the car. The next few times were not as significant in terms of eminent damage. The next incident was worse. It happened in July of 2019 in a drug store parking lot. I was parking in a stall and the vehicle sped up, squealed the tires, jumped the cement parking block, hit some bushes, and I was able to stop it. On this occasion there was damage to my vehicle. There are dents and scratches from the bushes, a tire sensor or two Is not functional anymore, and the underbody was damaged. I was thoroughly scared and afraid was car would continue to do this and I could hurt someone. I was able to stop the vehicle only by putting it in park. The brake was rendered useless. It happened twice on the same day in January of 2020. I was driving slowly and it lunged. I was able to slow it down. I proceeded to park the vehicle. Once again it lunged forward at a concrete parking stop. The brakes did not work. I had to put it in park as the only way to stop the vehicle and prevent further damage. All incidents were in a city driving showily. The vehicle had approximately 40,000 miles on it wheni first noticed the safety concern. The vehicle now has approximately 60,000 miles.

- Cottonwood, AZ, USA

problem #3

Mar 072016

IS 350

  • miles
2009 Lexus Is 250 at only 63000 miles. Engine random misfires on cold start. Car shakes badly. Check engine light, traction control light comes on. Engine error codes P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0305, P0306. When engine RPM drops from high to low, -4000rpm to -500, it some times stalls. Car has to add engine oil about 3 quarts between 8500 miles change intervals. Problems stated at less than 50000 miles, getting worse and worse.

- Mission Viejo, CA, USA

problem #2

Oct 242014

IS 350

  • miles
The contact owns a 2009 Lexus Is 350. While driving at approximately 45 mph, the oil engine warning light illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was taken on a second occasion to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the carbon build up was causing excessive oil consumption and the direct fuel ejection technology needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Dallas, GA, USA

problem #1

Sep 262012

IS 350 6-cyl

  • 37,500 miles
I had 2 times were the vehicle almost stalled at different red lights within a time frame of 2 days. Shortly after this I started noticing that my vehicle was driving like a 4 cylinder instead of a 6. I took it in to my dealership and they put the car on the computer and found 4 codes in the cars history. 1 stated multiple engine misfires, 2 stated misfire on number 2, 3 stated misfire on number 4 and 3, stated misfire on number 6. in all these instances I never had a check engine light come on. The dealer contacted corporate and a tas was opened for my car and corporate told the dealer to watch the situation and if it should happen again further action would be taken. I brought the car back in Friday for a different issue (radio problems) and told them the car was acting up again. They found no misfires and the mechanics said it was running within specs. Saturday the 29th my check engine light came on and stayed on until Monday afternoon. Contacted dealership and they scheduled an engine overhaul for October 15th and said it would be completed in about 1 week. I them filed a claim myself with Lexus corporate to evaluate the numerous problems and the fact that a 2009 with 37,500 miles needed an engine overhaul. The car Is very unreliable. I am supposed to hear back from Lexus Thursday the 4th of October. No news as of 14:05 est.

- Melbourne, FL, USA

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