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2011 Lexus IS problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2011 Lexus IS. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 32% of relevant complaints.
Better than 68% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 43 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 10%).
Does the 2011 Lexus IS have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 6 of 19 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Lexus IS concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (32%). For comparison, the 2010 scores 35% and the 2012 scores 40%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2011 compares with other Lexus IS years
Of the 5 Lexus IS years with enough complaints to score, the 2011 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (32%). The worst is the 2012 (40%), the best the 2015 (23%). By volume, the 2011 drew 62 complaints (6 drivetrain), against 112 for the 2010 and 41 for the 2012.
Lexus IS years to avoid and best years →
2010 IS problems · 2011 · 2012 IS problems · 2014 IS problems · 2015 IS problems
The rest of the picture on the 2011 Lexus IS
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 6 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2011 Lexus IS engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2011 Lexus IS, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2011 Lexus IS? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2011 Lexus IS have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 6 of 19 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Lexus IS concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (32%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Lexus IS?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2011 Lexus IS is air bags: 43 of 62 complaints (69%) name it, followed by engine (5) and vehicle speed control (5). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 32% of the relevant total.
Is the 2011 Lexus IS reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 32% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 68% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 5 Lexus IS years we score, it ranks 3rd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2011 Lexus IS?
No. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2011 Lexus IS, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Lexus IS years are better?
Among the Lexus IS years we track, the 2015 (23%) and the 2014 (29%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2011 (32%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/lexus-is
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 5 body styles NHTSA files separately.