Last updated: 2026-03-04

2023 Lexus IS Reliability Score & Common Problems
The 2023 Lexus IS scores 83/100 ("Excellent") with a complaint rate below the segment average. Data shows a dependable ownership experience across 0 recalls and 9 owner complaints.
2023 is the last model year of the Third generation (XE30).
Recalls
0
Complaints
9
Complaint Rate
4
per 10k sold
Below avgEst. Annual Cost
$551
Major Repair Risk
N/A
NHTSA Rating
5/5
Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
Strong reliability record — a solid choice for buyers.
Top Issues
Generation & Refresh (US)
2023 is the last model year of the Third generation (XE30).
- Final-year models are typically the most refined version of a generation.
- 3 years after the last refresh (2020).
- 3rd generation IS (US).
What this means for buyers
Final-year models are usually the most polished version of a generation, but resale value may dip as buyers anticipate the next redesign.
Third generation (XE30)
Should You Buy the 2023 Lexus IS?
The 2023 Lexus IS earns an Excellent 83/100 reliability score. 2023 is the last model year of the Third generation (XE30).
Its complaint rate (4 per 10k sold) sits below the Sedan segment average, and most owners report a trouble-free ownership experience.
A solid choice for buyers prioritizing dependability, whether purchased new or used.
Compared to the 2024 Lexus IS, which scored the same. See also the 2022 Lexus IS for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- Strong reliability score
- No recalls issued
- Below-average complaint rate for Sedan
- 5-star NHTSA crash rating
- Well-established generation
Cons
- STRUCTURE (1)
- Moon roof shattering reported at 10,000–12,000 miles
Compare 2023 Lexus IS With
2023 BMW 5-Series
Score: 70/100
2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Score: 63/100
2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Score: 53/100
2023 BMW 4-Series
Score: 63/100
2023 Lexus NX
Score: 77/100
Common Problem Categories
Other
- STRUCTURE (1)
- VISIBILITY (1)
- POWER TRAIN (1)
Recall Overview
0
recalls on record
The 2023 Lexus IS has no recalls on record, which is uncommon and a positive indicator of manufacturing quality.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
4
per 10k soldSegment avg: 9.2
Safety Incidents
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2023 Lexus IS NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 9.5%
Safety Technologies
Lexus IS Repair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4.5Maintenance rating: 4.5 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$551
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
2023 Lexus IS Example Repair Prices
National average price ranges for common repairs. These are not model-year-specific failure predictions.
| Repair | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Brake Hose Replacement | $227 – $291 |
| Blower Motor Replacement | $442 – $478 |
| Drive Axle Assembly Leak Inspection | $76 – $112 |
| AC Compressor Clutch Replacement | $1,424 – $1,566 |
| Camshaft Position Sensor Replacement | $358 – $466 |
| Axle Shaft Seal Replacement | $431 – $618 |
| Liftgate Glass Support Strut Replacement | $188 – $217 |
| Heater Hose Replacement | $417 – $517 |
| Parking Brake Shoe Replacement | $477 – $619 |
| Air Conditioning Receiver Drier Assembly Replacement | $544 – $852 |
Estimates based on national average repair costs. Actual costs may vary by location and shop.
When Buying a Used 2023 Lexus IS
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing, based on the most common reported issues.
- Test transmission for slow downshifting response
- Inspect front bumper for cracks near passenger-side headlight
- Check moon roof for signs of stress or damage
- Verify any Technical Service Bulletins have been addressed
Check Any 2023 Lexus IS's History Before You Buy
Reliability scores tell you what to expect from the 2023 IS in general — but every car has its own story. Uncover past accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and service records for a specific Lexus IS with a free VIN lookup.
Powered by VINExposed.com — free vehicle history reports using public title and safety data.
2023 Lexus IS Common Problems by Component
9 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
STRUCTURE
1 complaintI am reporting a recurring front bumper cracking and separation issue on my Lexus IS 500. A crack developed at the front bumper seam directly adjacent to the passenger-side headlight assembly. The crack originates at the bumper mounting/retention area near the headlamp and appears to be stress-related rather than impact-related. There is a known Lexus Technical Service Bulletin addressing front bumper sag and improper retention on this model. Multiple other Lexus IS 500 owners have reported similar cracking and separation in the exact same location, including vehicles that have not been modified or involved in collisions. My concern is that: The crack appears at a structural mounting point of the bumper. Continued stress or separation may compromise bumper retention. Progressive separation could create risk of partial bumper detachment at highway speeds. The issue occurs adjacent to the headlight assembly, raising potential concern for lighting alignment or mounting stability if the condition worsens. This does not appear to be isolated cosmetic damage but rather a recurring stress point at the bumper mounting seam. If the bumper retention system is insufficient or prone to stress cracking, this could pose a potential roadway hazard if separation increases while driving. Given that Lexus has issued a Technical Service Bulletin regarding bumper sag/retention on this model, I am requesting that NHTSA review whether the front bumper attachment design presents a broader safety concern.
VISIBILITY
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2023 Lexus IS350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the moon roof suddenly shattered, raining glass into the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 11,000.
POWER TRAIN
1 complaintDuring driving an issue arose where the acceleration had to be performed in order to avoid a potential accident. The gas pedal vas depressed but the transmission would not downshift or accelerate. After about a second or more the transmission finally downshifted and the vehicle accelerated. I was able to steer out of trouble and fought the in order to do it. This is a know issue and programmed by Lexus. Who in their right mind does not allow the car to accelerate when the gas pedal is depressed. this issue ue seems to be with IS500 only. the mechanic did acknowledge a slow shift and this is by design. I am afraid to pull into traffic since the car will not go. It will start to go then slow down or back off and then after it downshifts it picks up speed. The time is so slow that I could get hit if the approaching traffic gets to me despite knowing that the distance is sufficient to safely pull into traffic. the car is unpredictable. In my other cars I have no issues like this. I have another Lexus vehicle and it does not do this. Many have reported the slow downshift and Lexus mechanic say it is by design. A downshift of one second or more at 60 miles an hour is 88 feet of travel. The car is not safe to drive because the driver is not in control. If you have to accelerate to avoid an accident or get out of the way you will not be able until the stupid car decides to. I have driven other Lexus models and they do not do this. Only IS500 does this. It is so unnatural that you press the gas pedal half way down and nothing. The car has to accelerate when you need to accelerate. Lexus also sells performance but it is not a performance car. Somebody is going to die due to this issue. I am nervous driving the car and I feel like I am out of control. This is a continuous problem. So far I almost got into 3 accidents due to this issue that could have resulted in a serious accidents.
When Do 2023 Lexus IS Problems Start?
Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.
Best & Worst Lexus IS Years
Best Lexus IS Years to Buy
The best Lexus IS year is 2025 with a reliability score of 83/100, rated excellent. Other strong picks include 2024 (83/100) and 2023 (83/100).
2025
0 recalls · 1 complaint
2024
0 recalls · 3 complaints
2023(this page)
0 recalls · 9 complaints
Lexus IS Years to Avoid
No Lexus IS years are statistical outliers in our data — all years score consistently.
See full Lexus IS years-to-avoid analysis →Lexus IS Reliability Score Trend
Lexus IS reliability has remained consistent across model years, averaging 82/100.
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 81/100 | Excellent |
| 2019 | 79/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2021 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 83/100 | Excellent |
Lexus IS Reliability Compared to Other Years
| Year | Score | vs Prior Year | Rating | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 83/100 (predicted) | — | Predicted | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 83/100 | 0 | Excellent | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | 83/100 | 0 | Excellent | 0 | 3 |
| 2023(selected) | 83/100 | 0 | Excellent | 0 | 9 |
| 2022 | 83/100 | 0 | Excellent | 0 | 13 |
| 2021 | 83/100 | 0 | Excellent | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 | 83/100 | +4 | Excellent | 0 | 3 |
| 2019 | 79/100 | -2 | Good | 4 | 8 |
| 2018 | 81/100 | — | Excellent | 2 | 6 |
2023 Lexus IS Common Questions
10 questions from 2023 Lexus IS owners.
Stalling and stopping
My vehicle only has 30,800,000 miles. If the fuel pump which is a recalled part is the manufacture responsible There is no way of knowing, it stalls when accelerating A few days
No power steering
i just bought a 2006 lexus rx400h and i have zero power steering, a p/s light and "check hybrid system" and "check vsc system" as well as p1421, p3298, c1310, c1336 codes, it has a brand new car battery More than a week
Braking malfunction
After about 100 miles all the dash lites came on,cel,anti skid parking brake ECT. It said pull over right away and have towed to dealer. Well I was not to far from home so drove it home. The brake pedal was very hard to push so I drove slow and tried not to use brake pedal. I could use it if I did it gently. Next morning , drove it to shop and they called me back and said they got a code c1247 which was brake pedal stroke sensor. Replaced that and had it calibrated. After driving around 70 miles it did the same thing. Stiff brake ,lites on dash, so took it back and it came back with the same code so they erased the code on the obd and it drives perfect until I hit the 70 mi and does it again. This has happened like 5times and even took it to different shops. All they do is reset code and they tell me it is good to go .Could it be in the brake booster? When I tell them the problem is still there they all have said " it's probably the abs module but they are just guessing. Booster? When the dash lites are off it rides perfect for 70 miles or so More than a month
Repair estimate
Is it worth it to repair a 2007 Lexus RX400h that needs the compressor, condenser and hybrid battery replaced? Car no longer turns on. The heat/AC would make the car run rough. More than a month
Seatbelt alarm
The seatbelt alarm for the rear middle seatbelt goes off even when no one is sitting in the back seats and no items are on the seats either. The only way I’ve been keeping this from triggering every time I drive is to keep the middle seatbelt latched. I’ve been told that it is a faulty sensor in the latch and it should be replaced. Is this the only way? More than a year
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2023 Lexus IS reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Lexus IS?
How many recalls does the 2023 Lexus IS have?
Is the 2023 Lexus IS expensive to maintain?
How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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