2002 Lexus IS Recalls

No recalls on record Updated July 2026

No NHTSA recalls on record for the 2002 Lexus IS. That means NHTSA has no open safety campaign for this vehicle — it does not guarantee the absence of problems. Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the structure. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Complaints by component

STRUCTURE
4
AIR BAGS
1
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
1
SERVICE BRAKES
1
STEERING
1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
1
SUSPENSION
1
TIRES
1
Total complaints17

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Car runs great until check engine light comes on followed by vsc and then brake light. When those lights come on it runs rough and brakes make gear noise under driver's side hood area. Brake is very sluggish and almost non existent when it fails. Let it set, clear fault and runs fine until warm…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2018-02-02

“Car runs great until check engine light comes on followed by vsc and then brake light. When those lights come on it runs rough and brakes make gear noise under driver's side hood area. Brake is very sluggish and almost non existent when it fails. Let it set, clear fault and runs fine until warm…”

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · reported 2018-02-02

“Something on windshield that makes it hard to see, it impairs my vision. Dashboard is literally melting! It's sticky! Now I don't understand why lexus doesn't take care of their customers and send out a recall. Fix their mistakes and do it right. I understand they tried to pass some cheaper…”

VISIBILITY/WIPER · reported 2014-11-03

“Dashboard is melting. *tr”

STRUCTURE · reported 2014-05-01

“As I'm driving the dashboard starts to melt and it's very sticky,paid good money for this car and there's no recall or warrantee for this defect. *tr”

STRUCTURE · reported 2012-10-02

“Over the years my dashboard has deteriorated, the rubber has become sticky and nasty just like all the other lexus vehicles in complaints. I understand there is a recall regarding this matter but not my year. I do not understand why this wouldn't apply to all the 2002 models that are experiencing…”

STRUCTURE · reported 2010-01-01

“Problem started when car was in for repair of wheel alignment wheels got stolen from dealer collision center lexus not car goes out of alignment while driving on a rough road wearing out tires compliantly about 3 set of tires replaced”

SUSPENSION · reported 2008-08-18

“Vehicle stalls, bucks and sways onto other drivers not an alignment problem when braking the vehicle sways left or right. It is missing a spare tire and jack, I asked on 3 different occasions for this safety equipment and was denied. Also, missing weather strips on all 4 doors the wind enters the…”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING · reported 2007-04-27
Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Lexus IS as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.