NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Lexus IS Recalls & Complaints

The 2005 Lexus IS has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 12 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Lexus dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2005 Lexus IS. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2005 Lexus IS owner complaints

Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Lexus IS, describing incidents dated October 2, 2004 to October 29, 2021.

Most-cited components

Structure 5 complaints
Power Train 2 complaints
Service Brakes 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Control 1 complaint

Of the 12 complaints on file, 2 report a crash; across all 12 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11438814 · Filed October 31, 2021
As I prepared to make a right turn onto a busy street, I suddenly could not brake normally. Instead, I was unable to press the brake down as a balloon like feeling pushed it back up, but it also did not return all the way up to its normal position. The result was I was moving with no way to slow…
ODI #10733137 · Filed June 15, 2015
THIS LEXUS HAS THE STICKY, MELTING DASHBOARD ISSUE COMMON IN MANY LEXUS VEHICLES LOCATED IN SOUTHERN STATES.
ODI #10617687 · Filed July 30, 2014
ONE DAY I JUST GOT INTO MY CAR AFTER CLEANING IT AND THE DASH WAS VERY STICKY, I THOUGHT SOMEONE SPLIT SOMETHING IN MY CAR SO I WIPED IT DOWN BUT IT DID NOTHING. *TR

Read all 12 complaints

FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS

NHTSA #09E012000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported April 7, 2009 · SABERSPORT

Potentially affected: 16,270 vehicles

Owners notified May 11, 2009

Defect description

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Safety consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER.IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF YOUR AFTERMARKET LAMP ASSEMBLY IS AFFECTED BY THIS NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE REVIEW THE LIST OF MODEL NUMBERS PROVIDED TO US BY SABERSPORT.THE LIST CAN BE FOUND UNDER "DOCUMENT SEARCH" LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2005 Lexus IS. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

12 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Lexus IS.

Service Brakes

ODI #11438814

Incident: October 29, 2021 · Filed: October 31, 2021

As I prepared to make a right turn onto a busy street, I suddenly could not brake normally. Instead, I was unable to press the brake down as a balloon like feeling pushed it back up, but it also did not return all the way up to its normal position. The result was I was moving with no way to slow down the car. Fortunately, I was not moving at a high speed and immediately shifted into park. I was fortunate this did not occur while I was at full speed. The brake lights did turn on at the time of the issue. An independent mechanic suspects a brake booster failure. Just a month before, another mechanic performed routine maintenance and found no signs of this issue. Just 6 months before, I purchased the vehicle used with no mention of this sort of past issue.

Structure

ODI #10733137

Incident: May 5, 2013 · Filed: June 15, 2015

THIS LEXUS HAS THE STICKY, MELTING DASHBOARD ISSUE COMMON IN MANY LEXUS VEHICLES LOCATED IN SOUTHERN STATES.

Structure

ODI #10617687

Incident: April 12, 2013 · Filed: July 30, 2014

ONE DAY I JUST GOT INTO MY CAR AFTER CLEANING IT AND THE DASH WAS VERY STICKY, I THOUGHT SOMEONE SPLIT SOMETHING IN MY CAR SO I WIPED IT DOWN BUT IT DID NOTHING. *TR

Structure

ODI #10617042

Incident: July 7, 2014 · Filed: July 28, 2014

MELTING DASHBOARD. *JS

Structure

ODI #10611380

Incident: July 2, 2012 · Filed: July 17, 2014

I HAVE A 2005 IS300 THAT IS HAVING A MELTING DASHBOARD AND PANEL ISSUE. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE IN THE LEXUS FORUMS ON THE INTERNET. THE MELTING DASHBOARD AND PANEL ISSUE IS CAUSED BY THE HOT SUN. LEXUS HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND ALSO REFUSING TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING/REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR

Visibility

ODI #10592087

Incident: May 16, 2014 · Filed: May 17, 2014

SEVERE RUSTING OF THE SUNROOF. *JS

Engine and Engine Cooling; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10453704

Incident: April 1, 2012 · Filed: April 1, 2012

COASTING INTO A PARKING SPOT , MY FOOT NOT ON THE GAS , THE CAR TOOK OFF. I HAD TO SLAM MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND WITH THE HELP OF THE PARKING SPOT STOPPER THE CAR STOPPED. THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO GO OVER THE STOPPER. *TR

Structure

ODI #10438408

Incident: November 1, 2011 · Filed: November 30, 2011

ON THE DASHBOARD, THE SQUARE OF MATERIAL WHERE THE SRS AIR BAG IS, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, KEEPS MELTING WHEN IT'S EXPOSED TO HEAT. THE AIRBAG DECOMPOSES OVER TIME DUE TO AN ERROR IN DESIGN/MANUFACTURING, AND THAT LEXUS IS AWARE OF THE SITUATION DUE TO OTHER CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE AIR BAG AS THIS CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE OVERTIME. THIS SITUATION MAY AFFECT THE QUALITY AND STRENGTH OF THE AIR BAG. . AFTER RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN LEXUS VEHICLES AS FAR BACK AS 2002.

Power Train

ODI #10247430

Crash 1 injury

Incident: October 10, 2008 · Filed: November 1, 2008

I OWN LEXUS IS300, YEAR 2005. MILEAGE APPROX 10,000 ONLY. FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR LEVER STICKS IN PARK AND REQUIRES THAT I PRESS THE SHIFT LOCK OVERRIDE BUTTON. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES. ON THE LAST OCCASION, WHEN I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE SELECTOR LEVER, THE ENGINE STARTED RACING, THE CAR SHOT FORWARD AND RESULTED IN A MOST SERIOUS SERIES OF COLLISIONS, FIRST INTO A PARKED CAR THEN AFTER MOUNTING THE SIDEWALK IT SMASHED INTO TWO HOUSES. I SUSTAINED A WRIST FRACTURE AND BRUISES. ALL THIS HAPPENED IN THE SPACE OF ABOUT 2 SECONDS. *TR

Suspension

ODI #10181520

Incident: January 5, 2007 · Filed: February 4, 2007

THE FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING OUT FASTER ON THE INSIDE (CAMBER) THAN THE REST OF THE TIRE. THE DEALER LEXUS (IS300) SAID THAT'S THE WAY THE MANUFACTURER MADE IT .I WAS NEVER TOLD THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. *NM

Other Lexus IS model years

Check your 2005 Lexus IS VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Lexus IS at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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