CarBrief

NHTSA has 19 owner complaints on file for the 2015 Lexus GS[1]. It also has one recall for a fuel pump that can fail and stall the engine[2].

19owner complaints[1]
1recalls[3]
21–31MPG combined (EPA)[4]

Most reported problems

Owners filed 19 complaints with NHTSA[1]. Two mention a crash and three mention injuries. None mention a fire or a death[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name several components.

Component group Complaints Crashes Injuries
Steering[5] 7 0 0
Electrical system[6] 4 1 2
Unknown or other[7] 3 0 0
Brakes[8] 2 0 0
Structure[9] 2 0 0
Fuel/propulsion system[10] 2 2 3
Wheels[11] 1 0 0
Visibility/wiper[12] 1 0 0

Steering has the most complaints. In the small sample of steering complaints we read, In the small sample of steering complaints we read, owners describe the wheel stiffening or locking up in 4 of 7 texts, several of them at highway speed[5].. Two of the 7 describe the car pulling to the right at higher speed even after an alignment[5].

The electrical and fuel/propulsion groups have fewer complaints but carry the crash and injury reports[6][10]. With counts this small, we do not treat any group as a known weak spot.

Recalls

Fuel economy

EPA ratings for the three versions, all on premium fuel:

Version City / highway / combined MPG Annual fuel cost
GS 350 AWD[13] 19 / 26 / 21 $3,900
GS 350 RWD[14] 19 / 29 / 23 $3,550
GS 450h RWD[4] 29 / 34 / 31 $2,650

EPA fuel cost uses current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA lists the 4 DR RWD version as not rated in its 5-Star Safety Ratings[15]. We have no crash test stars to report.

Engine and size

EPA lists the 3.5L 6-cylinder as rated 286 to 306 hp depending on version[16]. Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

Version Length Width Height Wheelbase Curb weight
GS 350 AWD sedan[17] 192 in 72 in 58 in 112 in 3,891 lb
GS 450h sedan[18] 192 in 72 in 57 in 112 in 4,112 lb

How 2015 compares with other years

1995: 11 complaints, 1 recalls19951996: 3 complaints, 1 recalls1997: 0 complaints, 1 recalls1998: 64 complaints, 1 recalls19981999: 42 complaints, 0 recalls2000: 36 complaints, 0 recalls2001: 24 complaints, 0 recalls20012002: 17 complaints, 0 recalls2003: 21 complaints, 0 recalls2004: 9 complaints, 0 recalls20042005: 4 complaints, 0 recalls2006: 180 complaints, 8 recalls2007: 106 complaints, 7 recalls20072008: 45 complaints, 4 recalls2009: 10 complaints, 3 recalls2010: 18 complaints, 3 recalls20102011: 9 complaints, 3 recalls2013: 48 complaints, 3 recalls2014: 20 complaints, 1 recalls20142015: 19 complaints, 1 recalls1920152016: 10 complaints, 2 recalls2017: 6 complaints, 3 recalls20172018: 4 complaints, 4 recalls2019: 1 complaints, 3 recalls
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each GS model year. The 2015 is highlighted[3].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
1995111
199631
199701
1998641
1999420
2000360
2001240
2002170
2003210
200490
200540
20061808
20071067
2008454
2009103
2010183
201193
2013483
2014201
2015191
2016102
201763
201844
201913

The 2015 model year has 19 complaints and 1 recall[3]. The 2014 model year has 20 complaints and 1 recall[3]. The 2013 model year has 48 complaints and 3 recalls[3]. The 2016 model year has 10 complaints and 2 recalls[3]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so read them as rough signals only.

Should you buy a used 2015 Lexus GS?

The complaint file is small at 19 reports, and steering is the largest group at 7[1][5]. Ask a seller how the steering feels at highway speed and test drive for it. Check that the fuel pump recall 20V012 was done, since the remedy is a free pump replacement[2]. The GS 450h has the best EPA combined rating of the three at 31 MPG[4].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2015 Lexus GS?
Steering has the most complaints with 7 of 19[1][5]. In the sample we read, owners describe the wheel stiffening or locking up and pulling to the right[5].
Does the 2015 Lexus GS have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one, 20V012, for a fuel pump that may fail and stall the engine. Dealers replace the pump free of charge[2].
What is the gas mileage of the 2015 Lexus GS?
EPA rates the GS 350 at 21 combined MPG with AWD and 23 with RWD, and the GS 450h at 31 combined[13][14][4].
Is the 2015 Lexus GS better than other years?
It has fewer complaints than 2013 (48) and 2014 (20), and more than 2016 (10), 2017 (6) and 2018 (4)[3]. Counts are not adjusted for sales. Counts are not adjusted for sales.

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 19 owner complaints on file for the 2015 Lexus GS (2 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 3 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Recall 20V012, filed January 13, 2020: Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump. NHTSA recall database
  3. Owner complaints and recalls for every Lexus GS model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  4. EPA rating for GS 450h, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (AV-S8), Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 29 city / 34 highway / 31 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,650. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  5. 7 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 4 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 3 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 2 complaints name the brakes component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 2 complaints name the structure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 2 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 1 complaints name the wheels component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 1 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. EPA rating for GS 350 AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  14. EPA rating for GS 350, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S8), Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 29 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  15. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR RWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  16. EPA Test Car List, 2015 Lexus GS with 3.5L 6-cylinder: rated 286 to 306 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
  17. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, GS 350 AWD 4DR SEDAN: length 192 in, width 72 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 112 in, curb weight 3,891 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  18. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, GS 450h 4DR SEDAN HYBRID: length 192 in, width 72 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 112 in, curb weight 4,112 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.