KnownCarProblems2008 Lexus IS 350 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 30 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Lexus IS 350, most often about the air bags (33% of complaints, typically around 66,500 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about IS 350 model year since 2000 and has 8 recalls.
Most common 2008 Lexus IS 350 problems
Air bags
10 complaints · 33%Half of these problems showed up before 66,500 miles. Parts named most often: knee bolster.
Dashboard has developed a sticky, shiny appearance. Dealership has acknowledged that these models have this problem but will not cover under warranty. The shiny appearance makes it difficult to see out the windshield in strong sunlight. I feel this is very unsafe. Will the airbag deploy properly with a sticky surface?
There has been an intermittent airbag warning light on my vehicle. When taken to the dealer for service, unfortunately the light went out, and no code was captured. It was returned to the dealer recently, and a fault code was recognized; a possible knee airbag issue. When talking with the service writer, their…
Body and structure
7 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles.
Dashboard has developed a sticky, shiny appearance. Dealership has acknowledged that these models have this problem but will not cover under warranty. The shiny appearance makes it difficult to see out the windshield in strong sunlight. I feel this is very unsafe. Will the airbag deploy properly with a sticky surface?
25% of my 2008 Lexus IS 350 dash is melting. The shine from the dash reflects off the windshield producing a significant glare. This issue could potentially cause an accident. The material used for the dash and door panels are defective and not up to par for Lexus or any other luxury auto maker. Contacted Lexus…
Speed control
5 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 14,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2008 Lexus is350. The contact was driving approximately 0 MPH and applied the brakes however, the vehicle continued to accelerate and crashed into another vehicle. A police report was not filed of the incident. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to a collision center where the front end…
As I was parking my Lexus in a parking lot, the car suddenly shot forward, moving over the parking cement barrier and crashing into a wall. The car was repaired. After I received the recall notice from toyota relating to the floor mat issue, I made sure the floor mats were properly attached. This happened only once. I…
Electrical
4 complaints · 13%Parts named most often: wiring.
The contact owns a 2008 Lexus IS 350. While parked, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 45,700.
Takata recall. After letting the Lexus dealership do the recall on my airbags, I received a airbag light shortly after and let them know I didn't have the issue until after they serviced the airbag. The issue is stated that they made the harness too short in my year car and Lexus is not taking responsibility for their…
Steering
3 complaints · 10%While stationary and in motion, while turning the steering wheel, it produces a grinding noise. While driving, the steering has the tendency to lock up/create resistance for a few seconds as a result the car wanders into oncoming traffic or into the other lane/shoulder of the road until it breaks free which then…
Other or unspecified
3 complaints · 10%So I bought the car just yesterday and I searched the VIN in ur website and I saw that there is one unrepaired issue and I'm a little worried it could cause a safety issue later in the future if I don't do anything about it. The dealer where I bought it from told me the car was good with no issue so I was a little…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Lexus IS 350 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began november 20, 2019. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are j0a, j0b, and j0c. Lexus' numbers for this recall are jli, jlj, and jlk.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4runner, 2003-2006 tundra, 2003-2013 corolla, 2009-2010 corolla matrix, 2004-2005 rav4, 2002-2007 sequoia, 2011-2013 sienna, 2008-2012 scion xb, 2008-2009 lexus is-f, 2007-2012 yaris and lexus es350, 2010-2017 lexus gx460, 2002-2010 lexus sc430, 2006-2012 lexus is250 and is350 and 2010-2015 lexus is250c and is350c vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Fuel system: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery pipe with a new pipe that has improved pulsation dampers, free of charge. The recall began august 23, 2018. Owners may contact lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's number for this recall is jlf.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2007-2011 lexus gs350 and gs450h, 2006-2013 lexus is350 and 2010-2014 lexus is350c vehicles, equipped with 3.5l v6 2gr-fse gasoline engines. The diaphragms in the fuel pulsation dampers may harden over time and develop cracks, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the toyota, scion and lexus owners. General motors will contact the pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on february 1, 2017. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are g0p (toyota zone a), g0r (toyota zone b), h0a (toyota zone c), glg (lexus zone a), glh (lexus zone b) and hla (lexus zone c).
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2012 toyota 4runner, corolla, corolla matrix, sienna, yaris, scion xb, lexus es350, gx460, is-f, is250, is350, is250c, is350c, and lexus lfa vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, toyota is recalling certain 2009 toyota corolla, corolla matrix, yaris, yaris hb, scion xb, pontiac vibe, lexus, es350, is250, is350, and is-f vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsy
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the toyota and lexus owners. General motors will contact the pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on december 6, 2016. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for interim notification for this campaign are g1p (toyota zone a), g1r (toyota zone b), g2g (lexus zone a), and g2h (lexus zone b). Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are g0p (toyota zone a), g0r (toyota zone b), glg (lexus zone a), and glh (le
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 scion xb and lexus is f, 2009-2011 toyota corolla and corolla matrix, 2006-2011 toyota yaris, lexus is250 and lexus is350, 2010-2011 toyota 4runner, lexus is250c, lexus is350c and lexus gx460, 2011 sienna, 2007-2011 lexus es350, and 2009-2010 pontiac vibe vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 scion xb and lexus is f, 2007-2008 toyota yaris, 2006-2008 lexus is250 and lexus is350 and 2007-2008 lexus es350 vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, distric
Fuel system: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will clean and reseal the fuel pressure sensor mounting area, free of charge. The recall began march 3, 2015. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 lexus ls vehicles manufactured may 9, 2006, to july 20, 2010, 2006-2011 lexus gs vehicles manufactured january 6, 2005, to september 10, 2010, and 2006-2011 lexus is vehicles manufactured august 30, 2005, to september 10, 2010. Due to anti-corrosion plating remnants, fuel may leak from where the fuel pressure sensor is attached to the fuel delivery pipe.
Engine
Risk: The loose bolts could cause the vvt gear housing and sprocket to separate and result in the engine stopping while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and lexus dealers will replace the vvt unit free of charge. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 lexus gs350 vehicles manufactured june 19, 2006, through july 12, 2011; and model year 2006-2011 lexus is350 vehicles manufactured may 27, 2005, through july 13, 2011; and model year 2010-2011 lexus is350c vehicles manufactured november 25, 2009, through july 19, 2011. These vehicles, equipped with the 2gr-fse engine, use bolts to secure the housing and sprocket of the variable-valve timing (vvt) system gear assembly. These bolts could become loose due to abnormal impacts generated within the gear assembly immediately after a cold start-up.
Visibility and wipers: visibility/wiper
Risk: Inoperative wipers could reduce driver visibility and increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and lexus dealers will install new wiper arm nuts, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on april 4, 2013. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 lexus is250 and is350 vehicles manufactured august 23, 2005, through october 5, 2011; 2010-2012 lexus is250c and is350c vehicles manufactured april 10, 2009, through october 6, 2011; and 2008-2011 lexus is-f vehicles manufactured december 14, 2007, through july 10, 2011. The nuts that fasten the wiper arms may be insufficiently torqued such that if the wiper arms are restricted by an external load, such as a buildup of heavy snow, one or both of the wipers may become inoperative.
Engine
Risk: The engine could fail and stop suddenly while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on september 2, 2010. Owners may contact lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2008 lexus passenger cars manufactured from august 26, 2005 through august 4, 2008. Micro-foreign objects in the material of the valve spring may degrade the strength of the valve spring, possibly causing the spring to break.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2008 Lexus IS 350
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Lexus IS 350?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (10 complaints, typically around 66,500 miles); body and structure (7 complaints, typically around 56,000 miles); speed control (5 complaints, typically around 14,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Lexus IS 350 have?
- 8 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 17, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Lexus IS 350?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about IS 350 model year since 2000, with 30 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.