LexusIS2502015Overview/lexus/is250/2015/base/

2015 Lexus IS250

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2015 IS250.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2015 Lexus IS250 is a compact passenger car that pairs its smooth‑shifting six‑speed automatic transmission with a modest 6.6‑quart oil capacity and 0W‑20 viscosity requirement, delivering EPA fuel‑economy figures of 21 mpg city, 30 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined. Its powertrain efficiency is complemented by a respectable reliability record: across the 2011‑2015 model span the IS250 logged just 16 owner complaints in 2015, with no recalls and the most frequent issues falling into an “Unknown or Other” category. Compared with the peak of 49 complaints in 2011 and the low of 13 in 2013, the 2015 model sits toward the quieter end of the series, indicating a relatively stable year in the line’s overall durability trend.

Model year201520142013201220112010200920082007

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.6 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy21/30/24 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24 · 585 CCA battery, OE oil filter 9672335028. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24 · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnHOTOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205/55R16, P225/45R17; FRONT: P225/40R18; REAR: P255/35R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rimALL 8.0 EXCEPT: P205/55416, 7.0JJ and REAR P255/35R18 8.0 OR 8.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9672335028 alt 9030179006
Engine air filter1780131170 alt 1780131110
Fuel filter7702453090 alt 2330031140
Spark plug9091901249
Battery2880038100
Front wiper blades8521253081 alt 8521253100
Serpentine belt99367K1550
Thermostat1632631050 alt 1603131020
Cabin air filter8713930100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined21 / 30 / 24 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume90 cu ft
Cargo volume11 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.6 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, API · GL-5 · SAE 90 · SAE 80W · 80W-90 · 75W-85 in the differential, SAE J1703 · DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 29.0-30.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidSAE J1703 · DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-85 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.17-1.26
Differential Gear OilAPI · GL-5 · SAE 90 · SAE 80W · 80W-90 · 75W-85
Engine CoolantHOAT
Engine Coolant Capacity11.1
Engine Oil0W-20
Engine Oil Capacity6.6 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or StudsLong bolts: 21.0, Short bolts: 12.0 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts192 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts184 ft-lbs
Main Bearings16
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0-30.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts41.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub217 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub214 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub214 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub Bearing Housing BoltsAfter tightening, stake lock nut.
Front Wheel Hub217 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub Bearing Housing BoltsAfter tightening, stake lock nut.
Rear Wheel Hub214 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerLexus
Spark Plug Gap.039 - .043 in
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity18.4-21.8 lbs
Oil TypeDENSO ND-OIL 8
Oil Capacity6.0-7.0 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

RPM28-85 @ idle rpm
Residual Pressure21 min after 5 min, engine off psi
Engine Compression142-203 PSI. 15 Maximum variation PSI
Engine Compressionpsi 142 - 203 Max variation 15 psi
Engine Compressionpsi 142-203 max variation 15 psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 25; Rear: 20 /; Rear: 20
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 100; Rear: 92 /; Front: 100; Rear: 92
ABS Sensor Torque7.2 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.040 in
Solid Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementRear: .335
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementRear: .650
Maximum Rotor Runout.002
Maximum Drum DiameterParking brake 7.520

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9030 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (road test) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2015 Lexus IS250 stands out as a notably clean year within its generation, recording zero recalls and just 16 complaints—a sharp decline from the 35 complaints in 2014 and far below the 49 seen in 2011. The recall trend across these years shows a clear downward arc, dropping from 4 recalls in 2011–2012 to 3 in 2013 and then zero for both 2014 and 2015, indicating that earlier design or manufacturing issues were largely resolved by the time the 2015 model was produced. While the number of Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) remained substantial at 232, it is lower than the 2013–2014 peak, and the top complaint areas are vague (“Unknown or Other”) or low-frequency, with no fires and only one crash-related complaint. The data does not specify root causes for the few reported issues, but the overall pattern suggests a mature, sorted vehicle. For a used buyer, the 2015 IS250 is a strong choice, offering a low-complaint, recall-free record in the context of its generation.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
232
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
16
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 16 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Unknown Or Other4
Air Bags2
Electrical System,Structure1
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other1
Wheels1
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Suspension1
Seats1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 232 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
KLG Dealer Packa2022-12-01EquipmentDP: Limited Service Campaign KLG expired December 01, 2022
19LE05 Dealer Pa2022-12-01EquipmentDP: Customer Support Program 19LE05 expired December 1, 2022.
KLG Technical In2022-12-01EquipmentTI: 19LE05 Expired December 1, 2022
19LE05 Technical2022-12-01EquipmentTI: 19LE05 Expired December 1, 2022
Safety Recall 222022-04-13EquipmentLexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific IS250. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2015 IS250 take?

6.6 qt of 0W-20 ILSAC GF-5 multigrade engine oil, per the factory manual.

Does the 2015 IS250 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the IS250 get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 30 highway / 24 combined mpg.