How reliable is the Lexus Is?
Owner-reported reliability data: inspection results, typical mileage, and the most common failures.
The Lexus Is consistently passes first-time inspections at an above-average rate. The most commonly reported issues are a tyre cords visible or damaged, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, a tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative. Typical mileage by age and a year-by-year breakdown of reliability are shown below. All figures are owner-reported real-world data, not a marketing rating.
Above average reliability
Based on 7,559 inspection tests. First-time pass rate: 89.5%.
Lexus Is reliability by year
How the Lexus Is performs at first-time inspection, broken down by the year cohort. Empty cells mean we don't have enough owner-reported data for that year yet.
| Year cohort | Pass rate | Typical mileage @ 5 yrs |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 86.2% | – |
| 2014 | 89.5% | – |
| 2015 | 90.9% | – |
| 2016 | 91.1% | – |
| 2017 | 92.5% | 88,376 km |
| 2018 | 93% | 79,235 km |
| 2019 | 92.8% | 79,752 km |
| 2020 | 93.4% | 69,714 km |
Model-level pattern, not per-car prediction
These figures describe the Lexus Is as a model. The reliability of any individual Lexus Is also depends on service history, accident history, and how it was driven. Run a free VIN check to see the records attached to a specific car you're considering.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Lexus Is reliable?
Based on owner-reported inspection records, the Lexus Is consistently passes first-time inspections at an above-average rate. Its first-time inspection pass rate sits around 90%. Reliability varies by year and engine: see the year-by-year breakdown on this page for the specific cohort you're considering.
What are the common problems on the Lexus Is?
The most common owner-reported issues are: A tyre cords visible or damaged (1.5% of inspections); A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED (0.9% of inspections); A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative (0.9% of inspections); A tyre seriously damaged (0.8% of inspections); Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (0.8% of inspections).
What mileage is normal for a Lexus Is?
For a typical Lexus Is, owner-reported average mileage works out to about – at 3 years, – at 5 years, and 153,964 km at 10 years. The mileage section on this page shows the full distribution, high-use vs low-use cars often differ by a factor of three.
How do I check a specific Lexus Is before buying?
Enter the 17-character VIN on Carlytics. The free check shows decoded specs and open safety recalls. The full vehicle history report (from EUR 8.90) cross-references owner-reported issues, mileage records, and stolen-vehicle databases for the specific car, model-level reliability tells you the pattern, the VIN check tells you the car.