The Lexus HS spans 2010–2012 with 7 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.0/5 ForCar reliability score. It delivers up to 35 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Lexus HS is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2010 to 2012 across multiple generations.
How to read a Lexus HS VIN — every digit explained
Every Lexus HS carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Lexus and the country it was built in.
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this HS.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your HS, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Lexus HS have?
The Lexus HS has 7 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2010–2012. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2010 Lexus HS recalls 7
Service Brakes, Air:antilock:control Unit/module
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCES MAY INCREASE RELATIVE TO A CUSTOMER'S EXPECTATION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REWRITE THE PROGRAMMING OF THE ABS CONTROL UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 3, 2010, AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN LATE MARCH 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 AND LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix. TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE AFFECTED VEHICLES BY INSTALLING A NEWLY DESIGNED PROTECTOR COMPONENT FOR THE FUEL FILLER INLET PIPE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 9, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
Suspension:rear
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear tie-rod nut for looseness and replace any suspect tie-rod found loose. Dealers will also affix instructions in multiple places to prevent improper servicing in the future. The recall began on November 30, 2012. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Service Brakes
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. As nitrogen is released into the brake fluid, the brake pedal may have reduced hydraulic pressure. Under certain circumstances, this condition could affect stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected brake booster pump assemblies. The recall began on August 7, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Suspension:rear
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tie rods and replace any that have rust or corrosion on the alignment adjustment threads. All of the rear tie rods will then be encased in an epoxy to prevent future environmental damage. Due to limitations in parts, the recall remedy will be launched in phases from September 2013 through mid-April 2014. All owners will receive notification of the recall, with most receiving second notifications when parts are available in their area. IMPORTANT: This recall supersedes Toyota and Lexus recall 12V-373. All vehicles that have been inspected and remedied under the previous recall need to be re-inspected and have the appropriate remedy applied.
Suspension:rear
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. Toyota will notify owners and dealers will replace both rear suspension arms and encapsulate the locknuts, free of charge. The recall began on September 30, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are G0V for Toyota vehicles and GLK for Lexus vehicles. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V-383, in which some vehicles were only inspected, sealed, and did not have both arms replaced. The affected vehicles were previously recalled under 13V-383, but did not have both rear suspension arms replaced at that time. Those vehicles need to have both arms replaced as part of this recall remedy.
Electrical System
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. A complete loss of motive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix. Lexus will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hybrid vehicle transaxle assembly, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2017. Owners may contact 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's number for this recall is HLE.
Best and worst years for the Lexus HS
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Lexus HS — best- and worst-year trends will appear here once that data is in.
What are the most common Lexus HS problems?
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint data for the Lexus HS — the most-reported problems will appear here once that data is in.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Lexus HS specifications & dimensions
The 2010 Lexus HS measures 185″ long on a 107″ wheelbase, with a curb weight near 3,682 lb. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Lexus HS window sticker.
| Years | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 185″ | 70″ | 59″ | 107″ | 3,682 lb |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Lexus HS cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the HS holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 90 cu ft of passenger volume and 12 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Lexus HS tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Lexus HS get?
The Lexus HS returns up to 35 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $1,800/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 2012 Lexus HS (2.4L 4-cyl Hybrid) gets 34 mpg combined and costs about $1,850/yr to fuel, emitting 261 g/mi CO₂ (smog 8/10) — that's about $1,750 saved over 5 years versus the average new vehicle.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 HS | 35 | 33 | $1,850 | 261 | 8/10 | 2.4L 4-cyl Hybrid | |
| 2011 HS | 35 | 33 | $1,850 | 261 | 8/10 | 2.4L 4-cyl Hybrid | |
| 2010 HS | 35 | 34 | $1,800 | 254 | 8/10 | 2.4L 4-cyl Hybrid |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the HS stacks up against the most fuel-efficient sedans, or calculate this HS's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Lexus HS have? Power & range
The Lexus HS is offered with 1 powertrain — 2.4L 4-cyl Hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 2.4L · 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a Lexus HS cost to own?
A used Lexus HS sells for a median of about $6,800 for a 2012 — most listed between $6,500 and $8,995, from 32 real US listings we track. That real market price is what depreciation eats into, so it's the true anchor of the cost to own:
| Year | Typical price | Market range | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 HS | $6,500–$8,995 | 3 | |
| 2011 HS | $4,250–$10,988 | 6 | |
| 2010 HS | $3,400–$10,800 | 23 |
For every model year mileage-adjusted, trade-in vs private-party vs dealer pricing and a good-deal check, see what a HS is worth today, or browse used-market prices for sedans.
A Lexus HS holds its value well. A typical example keeps roughly 56% of its value after five years — losing about 44% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 84% | $25,200 | −$4,800 |
| Year 2 | 76% | $22,800 | −$7,200 |
| Year 3 | 68% | $20,400 | −$9,600 |
| Year 4 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 5 | 56% | $16,800 | −$13,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this HS loses about 44% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $9,000 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the HS ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
How much is a Lexus HS to insure?
A Lexus HS costs about $1,510 a year to insure for a typical driver on full coverage — roughly 5% above the average car. That's from its real HLDI insurance-loss index (105, where 100 = average car); your own rate moves with state, age, record and coverage.
Estimate = US-average premium × the HS's HLDI loss index. See Lexus insurance cost by model, cost by state, or compare any car.
Is the Lexus HS safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the HS yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Lexus HS last?
A well-maintained Lexus HS typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.0/5.
Check your Lexus HS’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this HS’s VIN free →All Lexus HS model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Lexus HS — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 HS | 0 | — | |
| 2011 HS | 0 | — | |
| 2010 HS | 7 recalls | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the HS?
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Lexus HS.
How many recalls does the HS have?
7 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2010–2012. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Lexus recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the HS get?
Up to 35 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a HS last?
A well-maintained HS typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the HS reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the HS is 4.0/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Lexus HS warranty?
New Lexus models carry a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 6 years / 70,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Lexus dealer.
Where is the Lexus HS made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your HS's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Lexus may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the HS have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.