Model year 2018 · Compact Cars

2018 Lexus IS: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2018 Lexus IS at 22–26 mpg combined across 4 versions. NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 9 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

1

EPA combined mpg

22–26

NHTSA overall rating

5/5

Recall file dated Oct 28, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 28, 2026, 7:36 AM EDT

NHTSA lists this vehicle as IS 300.

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Lexus dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2018 Lexus IS recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 1 safety recall for the 2018 Lexus IS, newest first.

Fuel system, gasoline: Delivery: Fuel pump

NHTSA 20V012000 Reported Jan 13, 2020
Filed by
Toyota Motor Corporation (manufacturer recall no. 20TB02/20TA02/20LB01)
Units affected
1,830,752 (estimate)
Problem
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the…
Risk
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2018 Lexus IS fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2018 Lexus IS EPA fuel economy
VersionEngineTransmissionDriveFuelCity/Hwy/CombFuel cost/yrCO2 g/mi
IS 3002.0L 4-cyl turboAutomatic 8-speedRear-Wheel DrivePremium22/32/26 mpg$3,150345
IS 300 AWD3.5L 6-cylAutomatic 6-speedAll-Wheel DrivePremium19/26/22 mpg$3,750410
IS 3503.5L 6-cylAutomatic 8-speedRear-Wheel DrivePremium20/28/23 mpg$3,550388
IS 350 AWD3.5L 6-cylAutomatic 6-speedAll-Wheel DrivePremium19/26/22 mpg$3,750410

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2018 Lexus IS crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2018 Lexus IS NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicleOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover riskForward collision warning
2018 Lexus IS300 4 DR AWD5 stars4 stars5 stars5 stars9.5%Standard
2018 Lexus IS300 4 DR RWD5 stars4 stars5 stars5 stars9.5%Standard

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2018 Lexus IS owner complaints

Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Lexus IS, most recently on Nov 27, 2024. 1 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 2 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2018 Lexus IS complaints
Component named in complaintsMentions
Engine2
Fuel/propulsion system2
Structure: Body2
Unknown or other2
Fuel system, gasoline: Fuel injection system: Injectors1
Latches/locks/linkages: Doors: Latch1
Power train1
Vehicle speed control1

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Lexus IS model years

Lexus IS by model year
YearCombinedRecallsComplaintsOverall rating
2026 IS22 mpg01—
2025 IS20–25 mpg015/5
2024 IS20–25 mpg015/5
2023 IS20–25 mpg055/5
2022 IS20–25 mpg155/5
2021 IS22–25 mpg035/5
2020 IS21–24 mpg085/5
2019 IS21–24 mpg295/5
2017 IS21–26 mpg2215/5
2016 IS21–26 mpg0155/5
2015 IS21–24 mpg09—

All Lexus IS years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2018 Lexus models

2018 Lexus ES2018 Lexus GS2018 Lexus GX2018 Lexus LC2018 Lexus LS2018 Lexus LX2018 Lexus NX2018 Lexus RC2018 Lexus RX

Sources

  • Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 28, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
  • Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
  • Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
  • Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
  • NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Lexus.