Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2008 record →
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH KEYLESS ENTRY AND A PUSH BUTTON IGNITION. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, SHE PRESSED THE IGNITION BUTTON AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE STILL IN THE DRIVE GEAR. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF WHILE IN DRIVE MODE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 4,700. UPDATED 11/07/08 *BF UPDATED 11/07/08. *JB
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT KEEP SWITCHING FROM ON TO OFF AND OFF TO ON. WE BROUGHT IT IN TWICE INTO LEXUS TO HAVE THEM FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY KEEP SAYING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I KNOW THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE 2007 LEXUS ES 350. MY 2008 IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL I'M ASKING THEM IS TO HAVE FIX THE PROBLEM, BEFORE ANY ACCIDENT HAPPEN. MY HUSBAND AND I CARPOOL EVERYDAY TO WORK, AND WE ARE SO AFRAID THAT IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE OF THE SENSOR PROBLEM AND TURNING THE AIRBAG OFF. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS ES350. ON MARCH 27, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HIGH PITCHED SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. A SECOND LATER, SHE HEARD A ROARING NOISE LIKE THAT OF A ROCKET SHIP COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND STOPPED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE COLLISION SHOP. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT PROVIDE A REPORT FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES TO HER LEGS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,242. CONSUMER SENT IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON 06/26/08. *KB THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH WAS THE ELECTRONIC WIRE ACCELERATOR. UPDATED 06/26/08
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A 100 POUND ADULT WOMEN IN THE SEAT. LED INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYS "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" EVEN WHEN A 100 LB ADULT PERSON IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. DEALER SAYS SYSTEM OPERATING NORMALLY. TOYOTA IS UNRESPONSIVE. *TR
THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE CORRECT FORUM FOR THIS BUT THE COMPLAINT THAT I HAVE IS WITH THE NEW CARS AND THE HID HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE READ AND HEARD OLDER FOLKS SAY "THEY ARE GREAT, I CAN FINALLY SEE AT NIGHT" BUT THE ISSUE IS THEY ARE SO BRIGHT THAT WHEN ON A TWO LANE ROAD OR WHEN THE GROUND IS WET THE ONCOMING DRIVER HAS TO LOOK AWAY BECAUSE THOSE LIGHTS ARE BLINDING. HOW SAFE IS THAT TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF OF THE ROAD AND NOT LOOKING AT ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE YOUR BLINDED? THOSE NEW LIGHTS NEED TO BE OUTLAWED FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL DRIVERS. *TR
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2008 Lexus ES350 → · Every ES350 year → · How the figures are calculated →