MajorCommonBrakes

Lexus IS: IS250 Rear Brake Caliper Seizure

IS250 Rear Brake Caliper Seizure is a common brakes fault on the Lexus IS on the 2005–2013 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $600 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 41 documented faults on the Lexus IS.

Vehicle: Lexus IS
Years: 2005–2013
System: Brakes

This page covers the Lexus IS as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Lexus IS faults41 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Brake disc and pads yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The rear calipers on the GSE20 IS250 integrate the parking brake mechanism directly into the caliper piston via a screw actuator. The actuator threads and dust seals corrode in wet conditions, causing the piston to seize in the applied or partially-applied position. Seized calipers drag constantly, overheating the rotor and pad and creating a fire risk under sustained braking. This fault is particularly prevalent in NZ and southern AU climates. Lexus conducted a service campaign in the Australian market targeting affected vehicles.

What you would notice

Vehicle pulls to one side during braking or when driving straight
Rear brake disc discoloured (blue or brown) from heat when vehicle is cold
Burning smell from rear wheels after normal driving
Uneven pad wear — rear pads worn far more than fronts

How to check it

Where to look. Rear brake calipers — integrated parking brake screw actuator

After a test drive, park and carefully feel both rear wheel centres (not the disc rim) for heat — a seized caliper will radiate significantly more than the other side. Inspect rear disc faces for heavy scoring or heat bluing. Try releasing and re-applying the handbrake several times and confirm rear wheels spin freely by hand (with auto in Park, wheels should still spin with some effort — binding indicates seizure).

Parts involved: Brake disc and pads.

What it costs to put right

$600 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Have the rear brake calipers ever been replaced or rebuilt?”
“Has the vehicle been subject to any Lexus Australia brake service campaign?”

Now check the Lexus IS you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Lexus IS buyer questions

Is is250 rear brake caliper seizure serious on a Lexus IS?

We rate it major and common on the Lexus IS. The rear calipers on the GSE20 IS250 integrate the parking brake mechanism directly into the caliper piston via a screw actuator. The actuator threads and dust seals corrode in wet conditions, causing the piston to seize in the applied or partially-applied position. Seized calipers drag constantly, overheating the rotor and pad and creating a fire risk under sustained braking. This fault is particularly prevalent in NZ and southern AU climates. Lexus conducted a service campaign in the Australian market targeting affected vehicles.

How much does it cost to fix on a Lexus IS?

$600 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Lexus IS years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2005–2013 Lexus IS. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.