2008 Lexus RX350

Routine

Owners filed 126 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the unknown or other. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

101 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles; the median is 69,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or Other16
101
Steering15
000
Vehicle Speed Control13
807
Electrical System13
000
Engine10
010
Structure › Body8
001
Structure7
000
Exterior Lighting6
000
Service Brakes4
100
Power Train4
010

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Body › Trunk Lid
Filed Dec 19, 2019109,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRUNK DOOR CLOSED DOWN ON A FAMILY MEMBER WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO INJURY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE TRUNK DOOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT AT LEXUS OF RICHMOND (703 MIDLOTHIAN TURNPIKE, RICHMOND, VA 23235, (804) 323-8000). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Oct 11, 2019103,000 milesCO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHILE REVERSING, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THREE TREES. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE/INOPERABLE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE IGNITION TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, BUT A REPORT WAS FILED 3 DAYS LATER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED COMPONENTS WERE WORKING PROPERLY AND CONSUMER MADE NO ATTEMPT TO STOP OR STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. VEHICLE ALSO CRASHED INTO 1 CAR.*PM CONSUMER'S INSURANCE COMPANY STATED CAR WAS TOTALED. ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

Structure › Body
Filed Sep 30, 201980,000 milesKS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF WICHITA (1555 N GREENWICH RD, WICHITA, KS 67206, (316) 779-2606) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COSMETIC; THEREFORE, IT WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED FOR FREE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Structure
Filed Aug 16, 2019SC

2008 LEXUS RX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DETERIORATING DASH BOARD. *LD *JS

Engine
Filed Apr 29, 2019185,000 milesGA

MASSIVE CATASTROPHIC OIL LEAK. NOTICED HOT OIL SMELL. NO OIL ON DIPSTICK. OIL SPRAYING OUT AT BOTTOM OF ENGINE, RIGHT FRONT. CAR TOWED TO SHOP. OIL HOSE BETWEEN COOLER AND FILTER BURST. KNOWN PROBLEM. TOYOTA/LEXUS HAS MADE AN UPGRADED PART BUT NOT NOTIFIED MOST OWNERS AND WILL NOT REPLACE UNTIL IT FAILS. WHEN IT FAILS CAR CAN CATCH FIRE AND SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE RESULTS. MANY VIDEOS AND REPORTS ON THE INTERNET AS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM.

Steering
Filed Dec 27, 201889,000 milesWI

I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW RACK & PINON DUE TO LEAKAGE WITH LESS THAN 92,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED JUST 2 YEARS AGO AND HAD ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE RECORDS FROM PREVIOUS OWNER & DEALER SERVICE. HAVE HAD REGULAR SERVICE SINCE PURCHASING IT - WHICH IS HOW ISSUE WAS DISCOVERED. WILL COST OVER $1500 TO REPAIR. UPON DOING SOME INVESTIGATION ON-LINE, I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER EXPERIENCING THIS IN UNDER 100,000 MILEAGES.

Engine
Filed Nov 29, 201880,000 milesNM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE OIL COOLER LINE BURST AND ALL THE OIL LEAKED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME WHERE HE REPLACED THE OIL COOLER LINE HIMSELF. THE CONTACT FOUND THERE WAS INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE AND A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Power Train
Filed Oct 23, 2018120,300 milesCA

THERE WAS A WINING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I STARTED MY SUV UP IN THE MORNING THERE WAS A LOUD WINING SOUND. THE SOUND LOWERED AS THE CAR WARMED UP, NUT WHEN I PUT THE CARE IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATED THE NOUS BECAME LOUDER. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT HAS THE POWER STEERING SO I HAD THEM REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. BUT BEFORE THEY RETURNED THE CAR TO ME THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE AND THAT I NOW NEEDED A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL. AT 120,000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD CLEAN THE TRANSMISSION OIL MOTOR PAN AND THAT COULD STOP THE NOISE FOR NOW. THE DEALER CLEANED OIL PAN AND THE NOISE STOPPED. I AND TOLD THAT THIS IS A TEMPORARY FIX AND THAT I WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION SOON. I THINK IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHERS THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION OF THE 2008 RX 350.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 18, 2018151,500 milesPA

REAR LIFTGATE HANDLE MELTING WHEN CAR IS OPERATIONAL. HOT TO THE TOUCH. HAVE READ THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MULTIPLE LEXUS/TOYOTA MODELS.

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 22, 2018OH

MY DASHBOARD HAS A SERIOUS CRACKING ISSUE. IT IS ALSO STICKING AND IS MELTING CAUSED BY HEAT. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND REPLACEMENT ON THE DASHBOARD. ONCE I RESEARCHED THE DASHBOARD ISSUE ONLINE I CONTACTED LEXUS ON JUNE 01, 2017. THE TOLD ME THAT SINCE IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT WAS ONLY COSMETIC ISSUE THAT BY LAW THEY DID NOT HAVE TO NOTIFY ME. I THINK THIS IS VERY UNFAIR.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Aug 14, 2018117,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND IMPAIRED THE DRIVER'S VISION. THE HEADLIGHT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF CHERRY HILL (1230 ROUTE 73 SOUTH, MOUNT LAUREL, NJ 08054, (856) 393-4583) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

Seat Belts
Filed Jul 21, 2018CA

SEAT BELT IN THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE NOT WORKING. CRACKED DASH BOARD.

Seat Belts
Filed Jul 20, 201889,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000. *DT UPDATED 12/18/18*JB

Steering
Filed Jun 26, 2018122,000 milesOK

I PURCHASED MY 2008 LEXUS RX 350 FROM A ONE OWNER. ONLY 122,000 MILES, GARAGED KEPT AND EXTREMELY CLEAN. UPON TAKING THE CAR OVER AND BRINGING IT HOME. I REMOVED THE ENGINE SPLASH GUARD TO GET A BETTER LOOK AT THE UNDERNEATH. REMOVED THE SPLASH GUARD AND WOUND THAT THE RACK/PINION WHICH IS COVERED BY THE SPLASH GUARD HAD ONE BOOT TOTALLY BUSTED AND THE OTHER (DRIVER SIDE) LEAKING. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS. I FIND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. LEXUS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. WE'VE DRIVEN TOYOTA FOR OVER 25 YEARS. THIS IS OUR FIRST UPGRADE TO THE TOYOTA BRAND. THIS LEXUS WAS "BABIED" AND THAT WAS MY MAIN REASON TO BUY IT. I TOO "BABY' ALL OUR CARS AS WE KEEP THEM FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS. I'VE TAKEN THE LEXUS TO MY ASE MECHANIC THAT I'VE USED FOR 30 YEARS. HE IS GOING TO REPLACE THE RACK. MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT I SOLD HAD 360.000 MILES. NEVER A STEERING OR "BOOT" ISSUE..... MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH LEXUS AND SO FAR....NOT GOOD. I WILL KEEP THIS CAR AND HAVE MY MECHANIC DO A FULL SERVICE ON IT (BELTS, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, TRANS OIL, ETC) SOMETHING I DO WITH ALL MY VEHICLES. BUT I'M NOT USED TO HAVING LARGE SAFETY ITEMS LIKE THIS FROM TOYOTA. DOMESTIC CAR MAKERS, YES, BUT NOT TOYOTA.....NOT RIGHT BY LEXUS! THE PREVIOUS OWNER COULD NOT HAVE SEEN THIS. IT'S BEEN THIS WAY FOR SOMETIME.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Jun 26, 2018144,000 milesIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE ESP, OIL, AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (TOM WOOD LEXUS, 4610 E 96TH ST, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46240, (317)-580-6880) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL COOLING LINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

Engine
Filed Jun 1, 2018149,700 milesOH

THE RUBBER HOSE IN THE OIL LINE TO THE OIL COOLER FAILED, ALLOWING ALL ENGINE OIL TO QUICKLY LEAK OUT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE SEIZED AND POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WOULD HAVE BEEN INSTANTLY LOST... CREATING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING ON SURFACE ROADS AT 25-35 MPH WHEN MINE FAILED LEXUS KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM AND ELIMINATED THE RUBBER HOSE IN ITS 2011 MODELS BUT DID NOTHING TO WARN OWNERS OF THAT VEHICLE. NHTSA WAS ALSO AWARE AND ADDRESSED IN NHTSA ID 10056509 (POSSIBLY INCORRECT ID). I'M REALLY PISSED THAT IT IS GOING TO COST ME $500 TO FIX THIS LEXUS DEFECT, BUT I'M THANKFUL I HADN'T DRIVEN TO MY OFFICE THAT DAY USING INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS! ALL LEXUS VEHICLES HAVING THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY.

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 17, 201835,000 milesFL

I NO LONGER HAVE THE CAR BUT WAS REPEATEDLY REPLACING THE BRAKES ROTORS, BRAKE PADS AND BRAKES THEMSELVES. LEXUS WAS TELLING ME THAT I WAS RIDING THE BRAKES TOO HARD AND ULTIMATELY I GOT RID OF THE CAR. I AM ONCE AGAIN SEEKING ANOTHER CAR BUT WOULD LOVE TO GET ANOTHER LEXUS SO I GOOGLED THE ISSUE, AND DISCOVERED MANY, MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE ON THIS AND OTHER MODELS AND RECEIVED THE SAME REPLY. I AM SHOCKED TO SEE THAT LEXUS CONTINUES NOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND/OR FIX THIS ISSUE. PERHAPS A GOVT AGENCY INVESTIGATION WOULD INSPIRE THEM TO RECTIFY IT ONCE AND FOR ALL.

Unknown or Other
Filed Apr 9, 201837,450 milesCA

THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2008 LEXUS 350 IS CRACKING AND GETS STICKY WHEN PARKED OUTSIDE. THE LIFT TAB FOR THE BACK POWER DOOR IS TACKY LIKE TAR WHEN YOU TOUCH IT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 37,476 MILES ON IT. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A CAR ESPECIALLY A LEXUS. I TOOK IT TO TUSTIN LEXUS ON SATURDAY 4/7/18 AND THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND COULD NOT REPLACE THE DASHBOARD. THE LETTER I RECEIVED FROM LEXUS ADVISED ME OF THE ENHANCEMENT COVERAGE EVEN TO COVER CARS OUT WARRANTY. I BELIEVE LEXUS SHOULD REPLACE THE DASHBOARD. WE WERE LOOKING TO REPLACE OUR 2ND LEXUS GX460 WITH A NEW ONE BUT WE DECIDED WE WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER LEXUS IF THEY CANNOT WARRANTY THE DEFECTS IN THEIR CARS.

Steering
Filed Mar 6, 201875,000 milesCA

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE AROUND AND NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL HAS BECOME "LOOSE". THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING, BUT I WASN'T ABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. I FILLED IT BACK UP WITH ANTI-LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID, BUT A COUPLE MONTHS LATER I HAD IT CHECKED OUT BECAUSE THE STEERING BECAME NOTICEABLY LOOSER. RACK AND PINION IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FROM BRAND NEW SINCE 2007 AND ONLY HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT. MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE (BASED UPON OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS). NORMAL CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 25, 2018115,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE BULBS WERE REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE STATUTE HAD EXPIRED TO RECEIVE A MANUFACTURER RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

20 of 126 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20234100Routine
202210010Routine
20211100Routine
20207100Routine
201931300Routine
201818100Routine
201746301Fatalities reported
201658310Routine
201542120Routine
201415000Routine
201359131Fatalities reported
201233120Routine
201130120Routine
201094161Fatalities reported
200997010Routine
2008 — this page126040Routine
2007167110Routine
20060100Routine
20050100Routine
20040100Routine

Compare every RX350 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.