2011 Lexus Is 350: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2011 Lexus Is 350: 7 recalls, 5 owner complaints and up to 22 mpg combined.
Recalls
7 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.
Engine Vehicle recall #13V395000 · 2013 · 101,584 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles, equipped with the 2gr-fse engine, use bolts to secure the housing and sprocket of the variable-valve timing (vvt) system gear assembly. These bolts could become loose due to abnormal impacts generated within the gear assembly immediately after a cold start-up.
Why it matters: The loose bolts could cause the vvt gear housing and sprocket to separate and result in the engine stopping while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and Lexus dealers will replace the vvt unit free of charge.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #14V647000 · 2014 · 422,509 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to anti-corrosion plating remnants, fuel May leak from where the fuel pressure sensor is attached to the fuel delivery pipe.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will clean and reseal the fuel pressure sensor mounting area, free of charge. The recall began March 3, 2015.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V340000 · 2016 · 1,754,517 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 Scion xb and Lexus is f, 2007-2008 Toyota yaris, 2006-2008 Lexus is250 and Lexus is350 and 2007-2008 Lexus es350 vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, 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 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 December 6, 2016.
Fuel system, Fuel system Vehicle recall #18V432000 · 2018 · 114,998 vehicles
What's wrong: 5l v6 2gr-fse gasoline engines. The diaphragms in the fuel pulsation dampers May harden over time and develop cracks, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery pipe with a new pipe that has improved pulsation dampers, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2018.
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.
What owners describe
- Engine (2): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Speed control / throttle (2): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Airbags (2): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Fuel system (1): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2011 Lexus Is 350 has 5 owner complaints, ranking #6 of 15 Is 350 model years for complaints (well below the 14 average). Complaints peaked in 2016 (3 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 55,500 miles. Neighboring years: 2010 (8 complaints, 8 recalls), 2012 (2 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 22 | Premium |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 20 | Premium |
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 2011 Lexus Is 350.
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FAQ
Does the 2011 Lexus Is 350 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2011 Lexus Is 350. 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 2011 Lexus Is 350 problems?
Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (2), speed control / throttle (2), airbags (2).
What gas mileage does the 2011 Lexus Is 350 get?
EPA ratings run up to 22 mpg combined (3.5 L, Automatic (S6)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2011 Lexus Is 350 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.