MotorDeets

2012 Lexus Is 250C: Recalls, Problems & MPG

Here are the deets on the 2012 Lexus Is 250C: 4 recalls, 4 owner complaints and up to 24 mpg combined.

4vehicle recalls
4owner complaints
0mention a crash
24best combined mpg
2012 Lexus Is 250C
Photo: Sarah Larson from Ann Arbor, MI, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Representative photo of this generation; trim may differ.

Recalls

4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.

Visibility/Wiper Vehicle recall #13V030000 · 2013 · 267,718 vehicles

What's wrong: The nuts that fasten the wiper arms May be insufficiently torqued such that if the wiper arms are restricted by an external load, such as a buildup of heavy snow, one or both of the wipers May become inoperative.

Why it matters: Inoperative wipers could reduce driver visibility and increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and Lexus dealers will install new wiper arm nuts, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on April 4, 2013.

Airbags Vehicle recall #17V006000 · 2017 · 577,875 vehicles

What's wrong: S. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2009 Toyota corolla, corolla matrix, yaris, yaris hb, Scion xb, Pontiac vibe, Lexus, es350, is250, is350, and is-f vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new…

Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 1, 2017.

Airbags Vehicle recall #19V005000 · 2019 · 1,299,448 vehicles

What's wrong: S. Virgin islands or "zone a." Toyota is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Toyota corolla, corolla matrix, Lexus is250, is350, 2011-2016 4runner, 2011-2015 Scion xb, Lexus is350c, is250c, 2011-2014 Toyota sienna, Lexus is-f, 2011-2017 Lexus gx460, and 2011-2012 Lexus es350 vehicles ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland,…

Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019.

Airbags, Airbags Vehicle recall #19V741000 · 2019 · 928,220 vehicles

What's wrong: These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019.

Most-reported problems

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 0 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.

Airbags4

What owners describe

The 2012 Lexus Is 250C has 4 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 6 Is 250C model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 4). Neighboring years: 2011 (7 complaints, 4 recalls), 2013 (0 complaints, 3 recalls).

Engines & fuel economy (EPA)

EngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyComb.Fuel
2.5 L 6-cylAutomatic (S6)Rear-Wheel Drive212924Premium
2.5 L 6-cylManual 6-spdRear-Wheel Drive192722Premium

Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.

Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Lexus Is 250C.

eManualOnline Download (PDF), keep forever

Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.

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Mitchell 1 DIY Online access, factory-level data

Pro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.

From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yr
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ALLDATAdiy Online access, factory OEM info

OEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.

From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yr
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Haynes Print book or AllAccess online

Step-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.

Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/mo
Check 2012 Lexus Is 250C manual

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FAQ

Does the 2012 Lexus Is 250C have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Lexus Is 250C. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common 2012 Lexus Is 250C problems?

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (4).

What gas mileage does the 2012 Lexus Is 250C get?

EPA ratings run up to 24 mpg combined (2.5 L, Automatic (S6)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.

Where can I get a 2012 Lexus Is 250C repair manual?

eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.

Other Is 250C years

201020112012201320142015