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 RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FAILED AND WOULD NOT ROLL UP. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE WINDOW SWITCH WAS BURNED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WANTED THE VEHICLE TO BE TAKEN ANOTHER DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE HEADLIGHT HAD WATER CONDENSATION THAT CAUSED THE ILLUMINATION OF THE HEADLIGHT TO BECOME EXTREMELY DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,448.
WHEN I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL WHILE DRIVING THE DISPLAY ON THE DASH INDICATING MPG, CURRENT MPG, AVERAGE SPEED, ETC. GOES BLAND. THE DEALER SAID HE CANNOT FIX THIS PROBLEM AS THERE APPEARS TO BE A "BUG" IN THE ELECTRONICS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO STALL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER AND AFTER PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE CAMSHAFT TOWER CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 10/17/11
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT SHE TURN THE VEHICLE OVER TO HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 5/24/11 *CN UPDATED 06/24/11
RX350 LEXUS, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN SURGE IN RPMS WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL. RPMS SURGED 1000 IN SECONDS AND DROPPED BACK DOWN. HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN PAST 4 WEEKS. SCARY, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PEOPLE ALL OVER INTERNET ARE REPORTING SAME PROBLEM. LEXUS SERVICE COULD NOT REPLICATE AND SAID NOTHING IS WRONG!
AT THE FIRST SERVICE OF MY LEXUS RX 350FWD THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY FELT IT WAS UNUSUAL AND THE THEY ADVISED MY DRIVING WITH A LOWER GEAR ON HILLS AND LESS BRAKING. SINCE I NEITHER DRIVE HILLS OR BREAK UNUSUALLY ON FLAT ROADS I FOUND THIS ODD. AT THE NEXT SERVICE I HAD TO PAY FOR WARPED ROTORS THAT NEEDED MACHINING AND THE SANDED THE BRAKE PADS DOWN. THE LAST SERVICE RESULTED IN POOR BRAKING RESPONSE. I HAVE TALKED TO LEXUS CORPORATE BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO SOLUTION. *TR
I WAS DRIVING WESTBOUND ON I-90W COMING FROM BOSTON WHEN A MILK TRUCK 2 CARS IN FRONT SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES. TRAFFIC WAS NORMAL AT 4 PM EST. CARS WERE TRAVELING 40-45 MPH AS WE WERE ABOUT 1 MILES OUT OF THE ALLSTON/BRIGHTON TOLLS. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES, BUT THE CAR SLID FOR A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT. THE LEXUS RX350 SEEMED TO HAVE VERY SOFT BRAKES, SOMETIMES REQUIRING ALMOST FLOORING OF THE BRAKES BEFORE THE BRAKE CATCHES. THIS IS ESPECIALLY WORSE WHEN THE CAR IS COMING DOWN AN INCLINE, EVEN MODERATE ONES. I'VE REQUESTED A CHECK OF THE BRAKES EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THE 5K SERVICE. BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AT 30,000 MILES SERVICE, SO THE BRAKES SHOULD BE NEW. *TR
2008 LEXUS RX350 ENGINE NOISE STARTED MAKING NOISE AT ABOUT 23,000 MILES. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. TOOK IT BACK IN FOR THE 30,000 MILE CHECK UP AND TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS GETTING LOUDER. THEY CHECKED IT OUT AGAIN AND SAID THAT IT MIGHT BE THE MECHANICAL FUEL PUMP,BUT THAT WAS NORMAL.THIS IS STARTING TO SOUND LIKE A DIESEL AND IS GETTING A LITTLE EMBARRASSING TO DRIVE AROUND SOUNDING THIS WAY. IF THIS IS NORMAL, THIS WILL BE MY FIRST AND LAST LEXUS.... *TR
2008 LEXUS RX350 MOTOR STARTED MAKING LOUD "RAPPING" NOISE AT 10,000 MILES, AFTER MANY COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER LEXUS FIELD REP. ADMITTED IT WAS AN ENGINE DEFECT CALLED "COLD ENGINE PISTON SLAP" LEXUS TELLS MOST OF THEIR COMPLAINING RX OWNERS THAT THE NOISE IS FUEL INJECTORS AND IT IS NORMAL! LEXUS REFUSES TO FIX UNDER THE WARRANTY. MY CAR IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO DRIVE, IT SOUNDS LOUDER THAN ANY DIESEL. *TR
LETTER FROM SENATOR DURBIN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE PROBLEMS WITH HER 2008 LEXUS RX350 (DOT/ I#2010-1104 *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE RAIL DUST. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. UPON PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, IT IMMEDIATELY BOLTED IN REVERSE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. AT SPEEDS OF 40-45 MPH. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT WITH NO EFFECT. IN AN ATTEMPT TO SHIFT TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL , THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INVOLUNTARILY ACCELERATE LEAVING THE DRIVER NO CHOICE, BUT TO CRASH INTO A TREE. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. UPDATED 11/16/10
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 LEXUS RS350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH INTO HIS DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS $12,000. THE INSPECTOR INFORMED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO OFFER HIM ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24980 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25000.
### I HAD ORIGINALLY IGNORED THIS INCIDENT AS REPORTED BY MY WIFE BUT WITH THE TOYOTA PROBLEMS IT MAY BE USEFUL IN YOUR TOYOTA INVESTIGATIONS. ### MY WIFE WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT (5 MPH) AND HIT A SIGNIFICANT BUMP AND IMMEDIATELY ALL BRAKING WAS GONE FOR ABOUT 5 TO 10 FEET AND THEN RETURNED. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT EXCEPT THE CAR IN FRONT MOVED. THIS HAS OCCURED ONLY ONCE . . . SHE IS A CONSERVATIVE DRIVER AND DRIVES ALMOST ALWAYS ON PAVED CITY STREETS . . . THE BUMP WAS IN A CONSTRUCTION AREA. *TR
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS SAYING OFF AND DISPLAYING AN ICON ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR AT LEAST 6 TIMES OVER THE PAST 4-5 MONTHS. IT WAS LAST IN THE SHOP IN JANUARY 2010 WHERE THEY KEPT IT FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AND REPLACED THE SEAT AND THE SENSORS .... WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM... BUT THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN THIS EVENING. *TR
2008 LEXUS RX 350 WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING STICKY ACCELERATOR WHICH CAUSED HESITATION AND THEN A SURGE AND RELATED SENSOR PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF. *KB THERE WAS A LOOSE WIRE BETWEEN E5-A12 PIN AND GENERAL INSTABILITY WITH SENSORS AND VARIOUS TROUBLE LIGHTS INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSC AND LOSS OF CRUISE CONTROL. A CODE DIAGNOSED A PROBLEM AS ACCELERATION POSITION SENSOR SWITCH MALFUNCTION, WHICH SEEMED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR THE CHECK ENGINE, VSC AND SKID. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SIGNIFICANT USE OF THE ACCELERATOR WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION TWICE WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION AND AGAIN WHEN HE TRIED TO PARK. DURING BOTH INCIDENTS HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND IT FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT HIM. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 19, 700.
ACCELERATOR STICKS. I HAD A 2002 LEXUS RX300 AND THE ACCELERATOR KEPT STICKING . I TOOK IT TO THE AUSTIN TX LEXUS DEALER IN SPRING 2008 AND REPORTED IT. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I SOLD THE CAR AND BOUGHT A NEW 2008 RX350 AND IT DOES THE SAME THING. SO LEXUS HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR A LONG LONG TIME AND THAT MAKES ME MAD FOR THEM TO KNOWNINGLY JEOPARDIZING MY SAFETY. TW*
AS A LEXUS OWNER AND INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST (WASHINGTON, DC) I HEREBY LODGE A FORMAL COMPLAINT AGAINST LEXUS USA/TMS OFFICES IN TORRANCE, CA. MY MOTHER AND I SURVIVED DEATH, SUSTAINED TRAUMATIC SERIOUS INJURIES (WHICH LED TO MY MISCARRIAGE) DUE TO MY LEXUS CAR MANUFACTURER DEFECTS AND MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONING RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL COLLISION ON 09/21/2009. SINCE 09/22/2009 UP TO DATE 11/30/09 I HAVE BEEN CHEATED, SCAMMED AND LIED TO BY MY CAR MANUFACTURER AND SALES OFFICES CORPORATE LEADERS, WHO CONTACTED ME AND GAVE ME FALSE PROMISES OF MY CAR RE-PURCHASE, STATING THAT MY DEFECTIVE CAR IS SUBJECT TO A BUY-BACK AND REPLACEMENT IN ADDITION TO LEGAL LIABILITY ISSUES RELATED TO OUR MEDICAL BILLS. UP TO DATE I HAVE BEEN CHEATED, LIED AS BEING A VICTIM OF A CHAIN OF LIARS, CHEATERS AND FRAUD MASTERS FROM LEXUS-USA. PROOF OF ALL COMMUNICATIONS WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOUR OFFICE UPON REQUEST. PLEASE HANDLE AN EXPEDITED AND EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION IN THIS MATTER. MY CAR IS ABANDONED BY LEXUS USA HEADQUARTERS THOSE WHO CONTACTED ME A FEW TIMES AND CHEATED ABOUT PROMPT RESOLUTION OF MY CLAIM FOR ALL DAMAGES RESULTED FROM MY CAR DEFECTS. AS JOURNALIST AND VICTIM OF FRAUD, I WILL PREPARE A SPECIAL NEWS COVERAGE WITH MY COLLEAGUES THAT WILL DISCLOSE AND EXPOSE LEXUS USA DECEPTIVE BUSINESS PRACTICE AND FRAUD. I WILL SEEK RECOVERY TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF LAWS. LEXUS USA OFFICE FRAUD MASTERS WHO HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO MY CLAIM, CAUSED ME PUNITIVE AND MONETARY DAMAGES. AS A RESULT I S
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS INOPERATIVE. IN FEBRUARY OF 2008, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND READ "AIR BAG OFF". IN MAY OF 2009, THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH LEXUS REGARDING THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,790. UPDATED 07/08/09. *LJ THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD READ OFF, WHEN THE PASSENGER SIT WAS OCCUPIED. UPDATED 07/08/09.*JB
REAR BACK UP LIGHTS DON'T SEEM BRIGHT, CANT SEE VERY WELL WHEN BACKING UP AT NIGHT. COULD BE A POTENTIAL INCIDENT IN THE FUTURE. *TR
AS I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, IT RAPIDLY AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A LIGHT POST. TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL, I PUT ON THE BRAKE AND SHIFTED TO DRIVE, WHERE IT SUDDENLY AND VERY RAPIDLY SPED FORWARD AND HIT A FENCE BEFORE I COULD STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE COUPLE I WAS DINING WITH HEARD THE CAR BACKFIRE TWICE WHICH CAUGHT THEIR ATTENTION. I COULD NOT HEAR THE BACKFIRE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE ACCELERATION WAS EXTREMELY RAPID AND DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE DID THIS ON ITS OWN. THIS IS NOT A CASE OF WHERE I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE GAS PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE. IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, NO ONE WAS HURT, AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS MINOR SCRATCHES. HOWEVER, AS YOU MIGHT SURMISE, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND DEADLY SITUATION HAD SOMEONE BEEN IN THE PATH OF THE CAR. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO WESTSIDE LEXUS TO CHECK ON 5.13.2008. THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND SAID THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
THIS IS A COMPLAINT ON THE DIM, WEAK BACK-UP LIGHTS IN THE 2008 LEXUS RX-350. *CN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AND SIDE WINDOWS ARE DARK DUE TO TINTING. THE POLICE STATED THAT TINTING IS ILLEGAL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WINDOWS HAVE STANDARD FACTORY TINT. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN DRAGGING AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DROVE NORMALLY FOR 5 MILES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
I AM WRITING TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A VERY SERIOUS AND TROUBLING INCIDENT THAT RECENTLY OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY BRAND NEW LEXUS RX350. IT IS NO EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT MY PASSENGER AND I WERE EXTREMELY LUCKY TO NOT HAVE INCURRED SERIOUS INJURY, OR EVEN DEATH. WHILE DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY, A DEFECT IN THE LEFT FRONT (DRIVER'S SIDE) GLASS CAUSED AN EXPLOSION THAT COULD HAVE LED TO VERY DIRE CONSEQUENCES. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT AROUND 10:30 AM ON JULY 27, 2007 WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON I-95 IN FLORIDA. WE WERE A SHORT DISTANCE NORTH OF EXIT 289 (WHERE WE ENTERED THE HIGHWAY) MOVING AT A NORMAL HIGHWAY RATE OF SPEED. WE WERE TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT LANE. SUDDENLY I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION! I LOOKED TO SEE WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM (MY LEFT) AND FOUND THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW EXPANDED OUTWARD. IT ALMOST APPEARED LIKE A BUBBLE THAT WAS BLOWING OUT FROM THE SIDE OF THE CAR. THE GLASS THEN SHATTERED IN A SPIDER WEB FASHION THE GLASS BEGAN TO BREAK, FALLING BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. ONCE STOPPED, I REALIZED THAT GLASS WAS COVERING ME FROM HEAD TO TOE. THERE WERE SEVERAL CUTS AND SCRAPES ON MY ARMS AND LEGS FROM THE SHATTERED GLASS. GLASS WAS IN MY HAIR, FELL DOWN MY NECK AND MANAGED TO MAKE ITS WAY INTO MY SHIRT. MY BROTHER, WHO WAS TRAVELING WITH ME, TRIED TO HELP ME BY REMOVING SOME OF THE GLASS, CUTTING HIS OWN FINGERS IN THE PROCESS. WHEREAS MY CAR HAD, PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, BEEN IN NEW CONDITION, IT WAS NOW SCRATCHED
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 RX350 → · Every RX350 year → · How the figures are calculated →