Home · 2013 · Lexus
2013 Lexus IS 250
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
13 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 26, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#77 of 541Among the 2013 models with a matured record, the 2013 Lexus IS 250 ranks #77, scoring higher than 84% of them. See the 2013 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2013 Lexus IS250 4 DR RWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 10%
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2013 Lexus IS 250, plotted where owners report it happening.
Visibility & wipers
31%4 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“EXHAUST HEADER LEAK, AUDIBLE TICKING SOUND ONCE WARMED UP IN DRIVE”
Engine
23%3 complaints
“EXHAUST HEADER LEAK, AUDIBLE TICKING SOUND ONCE WARMED UP IN DRIVE”
Airbags
23%3 complaints
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS IS 250C. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V024000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO TH…”
Wheels
15%2 complaints
“WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. A METAL SCRAPING NOISE OCCURS. THIS HAS BEEN FIXED SEVERAL TIMES BUT KEEPS OCCURING MORE OFTEN. THIS ONLY HAP…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.
Read all 13 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 3 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking any seller before you hand over money:
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2013 Lexus IS 250 beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2013? See how every IS 250 model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2013 Lexus IS 250 against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.