HS (1st)
Data covers 2 NHTSA model names
Reliability Score
Complaints by Engine Code
Every complaint of any kind (brakes, airbags, electrical and the rest) whose VIN names the engine, across all model years. The score above counts only engine, transmission and drivetrain complaints, so its figures for the same engine are smaller. Fire, injury and death figures count complaints that report one.
2AZ-FXE + 2JM
2.4L 4-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Lexus HS Unidentified Engine
View details
Complaint Breakdown
Battery & Propulsion Reliability
Hybrid (HEV)
Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2010-2012 Lexus HS
About 52 battery-related complaints per 100,000 hybrids built. The median across 35 hybrid generations in this database is 46.
What kind of battery complaint?
What the 11 battery-related complaints describe. One complaint can name more than one of these, so the shares add up to more than 100%. They describe what owners complained about, not how often the vehicle fails.
Hybrid system warnings, eCVT, motor-generator, hybrid transaxle.
Loss of power, drive unit, inverter, traction motor, DC-DC converter.
Propulsion battery defects, capacity loss, BMS faults, replacement claims.
Regen brake feel, one-pedal driving, B-mode complaints.
Low-voltage battery deaths, common on EVs and hybrids that use a 12V for accessories.
Battery & propulsion recalls (1)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010 Lexus HS 250h Hybrid vehicles. A component within the hybrid transaxle assembly may short circuit and result in a reduction or a complete loss of available power for moving the vehicle.
Consequence: A complete loss of motive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Sample complaint excerpts
Hybrid Drivetrain
- [2010] The contact owns a 2010 Lexus HS-250H. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the Hybrid failure message was displayed. A dealer contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The battery was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the warr
- [2010] The contact owns a 2010 Lexus HS 250H. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact stated that upon depressing the accelerator pedal a second time, the vehicle jerked while responding sluggishly. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while making a turn. The contact stated that the accelerator peda
- [2010] TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS HS250 HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DON MOORE TOYOTA (4216 FREDERICA ST, OWENSBORO, KY 42301) AND KENNY KENT LEXUS (5600 DIVISION ST, EVANSVILLE, IN 47715) WHERE THE MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STAT
Electric Propulsion
- [2010] I HAVE A COMPLETE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER A LOT WHEN I RUN OVER A BUMP AND THEN MY CAR ACCELERATE FASTER ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT SOMEONE IN THE REAR.
- [2010] TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS H250SH (NA). WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (JM LEXUS, 5353 W SAMPLE RD, MARGATE, FL 33071, 954-972-2000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JM LEXUS AGAIN WHERE IT WAS DIA
Regenerative Braking
- [2010] 2010 LEXUS 250HS BRAKE ACTUATOR. DRIVING ALONG A CITY STREET GOING 55 MPH. SLOWING DOWN TO APPROACH A STOP LIGHT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL THE RED BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT COMES ON. MY PEDAL GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAVE NO BRAKES AND ALMOST CRASHED MY CAR INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER CAR. I HAD TO HIT THE CA SHIFTER INTO B MODE AND FLY INTO THE GRASS TO STOP. THERE WAS A
12V Auxiliary Battery
- [2010] 2010 LEXUS HS 250H START MALFUNCTION, ALL LIGHTS FLICKERING THEN NOTHING. ATTEMPTED JUMPING THE 12V BATTERY OFF BUT THAT DID NOT WORK, ATTEMPTED REPLACING KEY FOB BATTERY AND THAT DID NOT WORK. NOW THERE IS NO LIGHTS OR ELECTRICITY THE ONLY LIGHTS THAT FLICKER ARE THE P LIGHT WHICH STROBES SLIGHTLY AND WHEN THE BRAKE IS PLAYED WITH (DEPRESSED AND LET OUT SEVERAL TIMES) I CAN GET THE LIGHT "KEY NOT
Source: classified from NHTSA complaint and recall data. "Battery-related" includes high-voltage propulsion battery, charging system, hybrid drivetrain, electric propulsion, regenerative braking, 12V auxiliary battery, and thermal-event complaints. Other complaints (suspension, steering, brakes, infotainment) appear in the engine and vehicle-level sections. The rate divides those complaints by the electrified versions built, from the production counts makers report to NHTSA, and it is not adjusted for age. Death and injury figures count complaints that report one, not the number an owner typed in.
Owner Complaints by System
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Lexus HS, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.
What to check on a used 2010-2012 Lexus HS
On a used 2010-2012 Lexus HS, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the brakes (64), the suspension (37) and the electrical system (25). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-09. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
- On an empty road, brake firmly from 40 mph with a light grip on the wheel.Safety. NHTSA has 64 owner complaints on the 2010-2012 Lexus HS about the brakes.
- Drive over a speed bump and a rough patch at 15 to 20 mph with the radio off.Safety. NHTSA has 37 owner complaints on the 2010-2012 Lexus HS about the suspension.
- Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 25 owner complaints on the 2010-2012 Lexus HS about the electrical system.
- Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 6 owner complaints on the 2010-2012 Lexus HS about the engine.
Recalls (7)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010 Lexus HS 250h Hybrid vehicles. A component within the hybrid transaxle assembly may short circuit and result in a reduction or a complete loss of available power for moving the vehicle.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 31, 2005, to September 7, 2010, and 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles manufactured July 6, 2009, to August 26, 2010. The affected vehicles have rear suspension arms (rear tie rods) with adjusting lock nuts that may have been improperly tightened after servicing. As a result of being loose, the arm may have thread damage and may rust, possibly leading to the failure of the arm and an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h passenger vehicles manufactured from October 2005 through September 2010. If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 Prius vehicles manufactured March 31, 2009, through October 9, 2009; and model year 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles manufactured June 19, 2009, through October 9, 2009. Nitrogen gas from a component of the brake booster pump assembly could leak into the brake fluid.
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h passenger vehicles manufactured from October 2005 through September 2010. If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust, leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
Show 2 older recalls
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 HS250h LEXUS VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ROTATED FOLLOWING A CRASH TEST AS REQUIRED, THE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKAGE EXCEEDED THE ALLOWABLE LIMITS.
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND LEXUS HS250H PASSENGER VEHICLES. CUSTOMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED INCONSISTENT BRAKE FEEL AFTER ABS ACTUATION DURING SLOW AND STEADY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES ON ROUGH OR SLICK ROAD SURFACES. STOPPING DISTANCES MAY BE INCREASED COMPARED WITH A CUSTOMER'S EXPECTATION FOR A GIVEN PEDAL FORCE.
Alternatives in Compact Hybrid
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2010-2012 Lexus HS complaints?
Owners have filed 148 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010-2012 Lexus HS. The systems they name most often are the brakes, the suspension and the electrical system.
Is the 2010-2012 Lexus HS a good used car?
That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 148 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010-2012 Lexus HS. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2010-2012 Lexus HS have?
NHTSA has 148 owner complaints on file for the 2010-2012 Lexus HS as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
What recalls affect the 2010-2012 Lexus HS?
NHTSA lists 7 recalls covering some 2010-2012 Lexus HS vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.
What should I check before buying a used Lexus HS?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the brakes, the suspension and the electrical system, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.
Does the HS have NHTSA crash test ratings?
NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2010-2012 Lexus HS. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 148 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-18.