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2018 Lexus IS

Gas
Compact Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
A
Safety Signal
92 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns1
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA9
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA26 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 Lexus IS is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the IS 300, is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 9 complaints, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
IS 300GasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo223226$3,000
IS 350GasRWD3.5L 6-cyl202823$3,350
IS 300 AWDGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl192622$3,500
IS 350 AWDGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl192622$3,500

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39653, 39711, 39710, 39712.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 Lexus IS is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

20TB02/20TA02/20LB01
1,830,752 vehicles
ProblemToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200TRiskIf the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.FixToyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
NHTSA campaign 20V012000reported Jan 13, 2020Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
9complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2018: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2024: 3

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System2
Structure2
Engine2
Unspecified2
Vehicle Speed Control1
Power Train1

What owners describe

“All four (4) door actuators stopped working or work intermittently. This is a known issue with both front and rear driver and passenger doors. Automobile doors will not open.”Mar 2, 2024 · Latches/Locks/Linkages · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2018 Lexus IS300. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle felt sluggish. The contact then heard an abnormal cranking noise underneath the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. No warning lights were illum…”Nov 7, 2022 · Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA owner report
“I was driving down the highway at 70 mph and it was windy at the same time. Out of no where my sunroof window exploded shattering the glass. Luckily I usually keep the cover close. It sounded a gun shot that went off. There was nothing around me that would come down and break the window of the sunroof. It just happened…”Apr 7, 2022 · Structure · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★10%
4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★10%
4 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★10%
4 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Other IS model years

A

2026 Lexus IS

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2025 Lexus IS

0 recalls · 1 complaints

A

2024 Lexus IS

0 recalls · 1 complaints

A

2023 Lexus IS

0 recalls · 5 complaints

A

2022 Lexus IS

1 recalls · 5 complaints

A

2021 Lexus IS

0 recalls · 3 complaints

A

2020 Lexus IS

0 recalls · 7 complaints

B

2019 Lexus IS

2 recalls · 10 complaints

B

2017 Lexus IS

2 recalls · 19 complaints

A

2016 Lexus IS

0 recalls · 16 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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