MODEL
Lexus IS 500
NHTSA safety across every Lexus IS 500 model year we cover.
Across the 4 model years of the Lexus IS 500 we cover (2022 to 2025), the strongest crash-test showing is the 2025 at 95 on the NHTSA Safety Index. No recalls are on record across those years.
The Lexus IS 500 is a rear-wheel-drive sport sedan slotting into the competitive entry-to-mid luxury performance segment. Powered by a naturally aspirated V8, it targets driving enthusiasts who want genuine performance credentials alongside Lexus refinement. Offered from the 2022 model year onward, it competes against German and domestic sport sedans and appeals to buyers who prioritize engagement, build quality, and brand prestige in equal measure.
From a safety standpoint, the Lexus IS 500 presents one of the cleaner records in its segment across the 2022 to 2025 model years we cover. Its best NHTSA Safety Index reaches 95 out of 100 for the 2022 model year, placing it in the Exceptional band - a strong result for a performance-oriented sedan where chassis tuning sometimes trades ride compliance for outright dynamics. The crash-test breakdown tells a nuanced story: side and rollover protection both earn a full 5 out of 5 stars, reflecting the rigid structure you would expect from a platform engineered with performance rigidity in mind. The frontal result of 4 out of 5 stars is solid but worth noting, as it is the one area where the IS 500 falls short of a perfect sweep. Shoppers should weigh that against an otherwise impressive dataset. Recall activity across all covered model years sits at zero, which is a genuinely rare achievement for any vehicle spanning four model years. Owner complaints total just 9 across the entire coverage window, with zero reported crashes, zero fires, and zero fatalities recorded among those unverified allegations. One injury allegation has been noted. That complaint volume is exceptionally low for the segment. The honest bottom line: the IS 500 is among the safest choices in its class by the federal numbers, with its only modest gap being the frontal star rating.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally celebrate the IS 500 as a rare modern V8 sport sedan with visceral character and a rewarding driving experience that stands apart from turbocharged rivals. Most acknowledge that the platform carries some age but argue the powertrain and rear-wheel-drive dynamics compensate convincingly. Interior technology and infotainment responsiveness tend to draw the most criticism in professional assessments.
- The IS 500 earned a 95 out of 100 NHTSA Safety Index in its 2022 debut model year, landing in the Exceptional band - one of the stronger federal safety scores in the performance sedan segment.
- Side and rollover crash protection both score a perfect 5 out of 5 stars, but the frontal crash result of 4 out of 5 means shoppers who prioritize head-on collision protection should factor that gap into their comparison shopping.
- Zero recalls have been issued across all covered model years from 2022 through 2025, an unusually clean record that suggests consistent manufacturing quality and minimal safety-related engineering corrections.
- Owner complaints number just 9 across four model years, with zero crashes and zero fatalities among those unverified allegations - one of the lowest complaint volumes you will find in this segment, though the small owner population relative to mass-market vehicles should be kept in mind.