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Model file · LexusUpdated · 11 sources

Selling a non-running or worn-out Lexus HS 250h

Nearly every complaint about the Lexus HS 250h is about one model year. Owners have filed 149 complaints with NHTSA on the HS, and 146 of them are on the 2010. All seven recall campaigns listed for the HS cover the 2010 as well.

A dark gray Lexus HS 250h sedan parked at a curb on a sunny residential street
Photo: DestinationFearFan · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Model years (EPA)
2010-2012
Complaints to NHTSA
149
Complaints on the 2010
146
Recall campaigns
7, all for the 2010
Powertrain
2.4 hybrid four, eCVT
US production ended
January 2012

The HS was a short run. Wikipedia quotes Lexus saying production of the HS 250h ceased in January 2012, and EPA data lists only the 2010 to 2012 model years. If yours has a brake, suspension or hybrid problem that isn't worth fixing, you can sell the whole car as it sits. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US.

What owners reported on the 2010

The HS is a front-wheel-drive sedan with a 2.4-liter 2AZ-FXE hybrid four, an eCVT and a nickel-metal hydride battery, built in Miyawaka, Fukuoka. Its 2010 complaints cluster in three places: service brakes (40), suspension (33) and hydraulic service brakes (16). Owners also reported 14 crashes on the 2010.

Each of those lines up with recall campaigns.

Brakes: two campaigns

  • 10V039000 (February 2010): owners felt inconsistent brake feel after the ABS activated during slow, steady braking on rough surfaces. Dealers rewrote the ABS control unit's programming. The campaign's 148,549 vehicles include the 2010 Prius.
  • 13V235000 (June 2013): nitrogen gas from the brake booster pump assembly, on HS 250h models built June 19 to October 9, 2009. Dealers replaced the pump. This campaign's 87,060 vehicles also include the 2010 Prius.

Rear suspension: three campaigns

The rear alignment adjusting nuts drew three separate campaigns, all shared with the 2006-2011 RAV4. Under 12V373000, dealers checked the rear tie-rod nut for looseness. Under 13V383000, they replaced tie rods with rust or corrosion on the adjustment threads. Under 16V596000, they replaced both rear suspension arms and encapsulated the locknuts. Those campaigns counted 780,584, 780,584 and 337,449 vehicles, mostly RAV4s.

Fuel and the hybrid transaxle

Recall 10V285000 covered 17,801 2010 HS 250h models that failed federal standard 301 for fuel system integrity. Wikipedia describes it as excessive fuel leakage in a rear-end collision. Dealers fitted a redesigned protector for the fuel filler inlet.

Recall 17V619000 came in 2017. A component in the hybrid transaxle may short circuit, and the remedy was a replacement hybrid transaxle assembly, free of charge. That campaign counted 18,130 vehicles.

Complaints and recalls by model year

From NHTSA's owner complaint file, October 10, 2026.

Model yearComplaintsCrashes reportedLeading componentsRecall campaigns
201014614Service brakes 40, suspension 33, hydraulic brakes 167
201132Power train, air bags, suspension (1 each)0
201200None filed0

Fix it or let it go?

  1. On a 2010, recalls come first. NHTSA's VIN search plus a call to a Lexus dealer will show whether the suspension, brake and transaxle work was done. The open recall guide covers selling with one still open.
  2. Hybrid system dead? See hybrid battery failed before paying for a diagnosis.
  3. Clunks from the rear? The broken suspension guide explains what to weigh.
  4. Weigh the quote. The HS was sold for only three model years; if fixing yours costs close to what a working one fetches, sell it as is.

How to sell the HS whole

  1. Note your HS's VIN, mileage and what it's doing.
  2. Get an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
  3. Describe where the HS is parked and if it can be pushed. Pickup is free anywhere in the US.
  4. Leave every part on, hybrid battery included. If something is missing, say so.
  5. When the HS is picked up, have the title and a photo ID. After you sell covers plates and insurance by state.

Other Lexus sedans: the ES and IS, the CT hatchback, or every Lexus we cover.

Questions people ask

Why does the 2010 HS 250h have so many more complaints than the 2011?
NHTSA's file holds 146 complaints on the 2010 and 3 on the 2011, with none on the 2012. The 2010 complaints center on service brakes (40) and suspension (33), and all seven recall campaigns list the 2010.
Is there a recall on the HS 250h hybrid transaxle?
Yes, for certain 2010 models. Recall 17V619000 covers a component in the hybrid transaxle that may short circuit; dealers replace the hybrid transaxle assembly at no cost. Look up the HS's VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls, and it tells you whether that repair ever happened.
Will you buy an HS 250h that won't go into Ready mode?
Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, and pickup is free anywhere in the US. Tell us what the dash shows and where the car is parked.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.

  1. NHTSA complaints flat file (FLAT_CMPL.zip), Lexus HS 2010-2012, downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
  2. NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
  3. NHTSA recall 10V039000: ABS programming, 2010 HS 250h nhtsa.gov
  4. NHTSA recall 10V285000: fuel system integrity, 2010 HS 250h nhtsa.gov
  5. NHTSA recall 12V373000: rear suspension alignment nuts nhtsa.gov
  6. NHTSA recall 13V235000: brake booster pump nhtsa.gov
  7. NHTSA recall 13V383000: rear tie rods nhtsa.gov
  8. NHTSA recall 16V596000: rear suspension arms nhtsa.gov
  9. NHTSA recall 17V619000: hybrid transaxle, 2010 HS 250h nhtsa.gov
  10. EPA fuel economy data: Lexus HS 250h model years fueleconomy.gov
  11. Wikipedia: Lexus HS (powertrain, plant, 2010 fuel recall, end of production) en.wikipedia.org