Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

2018 Lexus IS pre-purchase inspection checklist

What to check before you buy, built from NHTSA recall data, owner-reported failures, and mechanic intel. Print it or bring it to your mechanic.

Pre-purchase inspection · 2018 Lexus IS
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2018 Lexus IS
IS200t / IS300 / IS350 / IS350 AWD (3rd gen XE30, 2014–2020)
Low Risk

The 3rd-gen IS is a sharp-driving, highly reliable sport sedan. The IS350 with the 3.5L V6 is the standout — naturally aspirated, smooth, and proven. The IS200t/IS300 2.0T is also reliable but less satisfying. Main buyer risks are the same as any sport sedan: modified suspension, aggressive driving history, and GDI carbon on the direct-injection V6. Lexus’s Takata scope ends with the 2013 IS 250/350, so this car is not part of it; well-maintained examples hit 200k miles without drama.

Items to check
11
Open recalls
1
NHTSA complaints
150
Top concern
Minimal

Recall

Open recalls — check VIN (Takata scope ends at the 2013 IS)

Monitor
Lexus lists the IS 250/350 for 2006–2013, the IS 250C/350C convertible for 2010–2015 and the IS-F for 2008–2014 as Takata-affected. A 2018 sedan is outside all three. “IS models through 2019” is not a scope that exists.
Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you go and see the car. Any campaign that comes back open = do not purchase until the dealer has closed it. Recall work is always free, and completion is logged against the VIN, so a seller's word is not evidence.
Est. cost: Free under recall Source: Toyota Takata affected-model list (toyota.com/recall/takata), verified 2026-08-09

Powertrain

3.5L 2GR V6 (IS350) — excellent

Low Risk
The V6 IS350 is the preferred powertrain — smooth, powerful, and highly reliable. Direct injection means some carbon at 80k+; test idle.
Cold-start idle smoothness. Any rough idle on 80k+ unit = carbon service possible.
Est. cost: Routine maintenance Source: Lexus 3.5L reliability history

2.0T IS200t / IS300 turbo

Low Risk
The 8AR-FTS is reliable but less engaging. Change oil every 5,000 miles for turbo longevity.
Standard oil and turbo check. No significant failure modes.
Est. cost: Routine maintenance Source: Lexus 2.0T reliability history

Sport Sedan Checks

Suspension / lowering springs

Monitor
IS is popular for modification. Check for coilovers, lowering springs, or wear indicative of aggressive driving.
Inspect wheel wells for coilover tops or abnormally low ride height. Test for clunks over bumps.
Est. cost: $500–$2,000 suspension restoration Source: AutoVetting editorial

Brake pad/rotor wear

Monitor
Sport sedans often get hard use. Check rotor surfaces for deep grooves or heat bluing.
Inspect rotor surface through wheel spokes. Look through caliper for pad thickness.
Est. cost: $300–$700 full brake service Source: AutoVetting editorial

Documentation

Service records + modification history

Monitor
For a sport sedan, both maintenance history and what's been modified matter equally.
Request all records. Ask explicitly about any modifications ever made.
Est. cost: n/a Source: AutoVetting editorial

NHTSA Recalls (verify completion via VIN)

VIN check
Severity: Informational
Lexus lists the 2006–2013 IS 250/350, the 2010–2015 IS C and the 2008–2014 IS-F as Takata-affected. A 2018 sedan is outside all three. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the campaigns that do apply. Remedy: Any open campaign is repaired free by a dealer.

What the VIN tells you

The 2018 IS came three ways and the badge tells you the powertrain. IS300 (rear-drive) = 2.0L turbo four (8AR-FTS, 241hp) with 8-speed automatic; the VIN engine character is 'A' on this car. IS300 AWD and IS350 both use the 3.5L V6 (2GR-FKS); the VIN engine character is 'Z'. The AWD-only IS300 detunes that V6 to 260hp with a 6-speed automatic, while the IS350 makes 311hp (8-speed RWD / 6-speed AWD). Note: the checklist's '2GR-FSE, 260hp' label describes the 2014-2015 IS350; for 2018 every V6 IS is the newer 2GR-FKS. Buyer priorities differ by engine: on the turbo four, check for oil consumption and a healthy wastegate/turbo; on the V6, budget for a GDI walnut-blast decarbon at 80-100k miles. All trims: run the VIN for open recalls before purchase — but note the Takata inflator campaign covers the 2006–2013 IS, not this one.
After you buy: common DIY repair guides
Planning the upkeep this car will need? Our step-by-step guides cover oil changes, brake pads & rotors, battery replacement, transmission fluid, coolant flushes, and spark plugs — each with the tools, parts, torque specs, and common mistakes that matter. Browse all repair guides →

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