LEXUS GS · model year

2008 LEXUS GS

16 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008LEXUSGS carries 16 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2008 GS is engine with 4 filings, followed by unknown or other (4) and fuel/propulsion system (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2008 GS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

16
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

16 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
STEERING1
SERVICE BRAKES1
VISIBILITY1

Recent Complaints

20241227VISIBILITY

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus GS 350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he became aware that the rearview mirror's reflective surface was fading, reducing rear-view visibility. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 115,000.

Mileage: 115,000

20230523ENGINE

I am writing to file a complaint against Lexus Corporation regarding a significant safety issue with my vehicle. Despite NHTSA’s recall notice for defective engine valve springs installed in certain 2008 GS350 vehicles with a specified range of VIN numbers that includes my vehicle’s, Lexus still persevered my car is not applicable for the recall and refused to cover the necessary repair costs after identifying the root cause of my car’s engine failure to be a broken valve spring out of a total of 24, as was initially diagnosed by a local auto repair shop. Their negligence of timely contacting impacted vehicle’s owner and outright refusal to cover this critical recall repair cost is truly outrageous as my own life and public safety have been in danger during these years. My vehicle experienced a near-catastrophic sudden engine failure with violent shaking and stalling at around 7:30am on April 27 while traveling on Highway 101. Fortunately, I managed to exit the highway safely d

20210517FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2008 GS350 - 129k miles - 1 owner Looking for input on whether/how to proceed as this is now a multi-year problem (2019- 2021). My 2008 Lexus GS350 had the following recalls (All fuel and engine related): NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 18V432000; NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V647000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 09V020000; NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 10V309000 Before the last fuel assembly recall work was out of warranty 2019, I started experiencing an extreme fuel odor after a decline AND each time car was started (noticeable only with windows down). No warning lights, system reported no issues. Independent mechanic found a leaking fuel injector (port on that side is "clean".) (Lexus dealerships found no issues). Replaced fuel injector, no change in fuel smell, strong as ever. Neither Lexus or Independent mechanic can determine what is wrong. Pandemic happened and I only drive the car once a week to the grocery store, strong fuel smell on startup still happens. (Haven't been on any incline/declines). 5/9/21, fil

20210507SERVICE BRAKES

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM,VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM,TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

Mileage: 80,000

20201001UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ALMOST 2 MONTHS STARTED TO EXPERIENCE WET DRIVERS FLOOR. I DRIED THE WATER PUDDLE UP. IN TWO DAYS PUDDLE BACK ALONE WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE BACK FLOORS WET. I DRIED THE WATER UP AGAIN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO LEXUS DEALERSHIP. TECHNICIAN UNCLOGGED THE SUNROOM HOSE DRAIN AT A COST $155.15 THE NXT COUPLE OF DAYS THE PUDDLES ARE BACK. SERVICE CONSULTED STATED THEY HOPE THE PROBLEM IS FIXED. IN 2014 LEXUS REPAIRED HVAC EVAPORATORS DRAIN HOSE ON 2007-2017 LEXUS VEHICLES EXCEPT THE LEXUS GS. I HAVE WIPE WET WINDOWS EVEN WHEN THE HVAC IS OFF. I CALLED LEXUS CLAIM WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT HELP WITH THE PROBLEM. BUT, NEVERTHELESS MY COMPLAINT WOULD BE REVIEWED AND WAS TO RECEIVE AN ANSWER WITHIN 24 HRS. I WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP TO BRING BACK IF PROBLEM CONTINUED. I FEEL THAT WOULD BE A DIME AND NICKEL TRANSACTIONS. ON THE LEXUS BLOG MANY INDIVIDUALS HAVE SPENT UP TO $2500 AND PROBLEM STILL EXIST. TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM THEY SOLD THE CARS VOWING NEVER TO PURCHASE A LEXUS. THANK YOU.

Mileage: 96,000

20200210ENGINE

THIS CAR BURNS AN INSANE AMOUNT OF OIL AND TURNS BLACK IN COLOR. I HAVE NO OIL LEAK BUT HAVE TO PUT ABOUT A QUART IN WEEKLY.

20200210UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SPEAKERS - I'VE HAD 2 "BLOW" BUT THEY WEREN'T BLOWN, THE SPEAKER GLUE HAD JUST DISSOLVED AND THE TOP OF THE SPEAKERS WERE RATTLING. I CAN'T EVEN GET TO THE REAR BLOWN SPEAKER BECAUSE THE ENTIRE BACK SEAT HAS TO BE REMOVED TO ACCESS IT. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT IN ALL OF THE FORUMS I'VE VISITED THAT THESE SPEAKERS FALL APART.

20190503UNKNOWN OR OTHER

REAR VIEW MIRROR CLOUDY AND SHOWING BLACK SPOTS

20180117EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHEN DRIVING AT LEAST 3 MIN THE FRONT HEAD LIGHTS GOES OUT.DONT MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU GET IT FIX

Mileage: 70,000

20171016FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL SMELL SEEMING TO ORIGINATE FROM UNDER THE HOOD

Mileage: 144,000

20170902ENGINE

SMELL OF GAS IN THE MAIN CABIN ALL OF THE SUDDEN WHEN DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. UPON EXITING CAR, SMELL OF GAS COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Mileage: 160,000

20170902FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

SMELL OF GAS IN THE MAIN CABIN ALL OF THE SUDDEN WHEN DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. UPON EXITING CAR, SMELL OF GAS COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Mileage: 160,000

20170420UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SAFETY ISSUE: LEXUS GS 350 2008 HAS THE ISSUE OF REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS LOOSING UNDER THE GLASS THE SPECIAL TEXTURE. LEXUS COMPANY SAVED MONEY AND REPLACED HIGH QUALITY OF REAR VIEW MIRROR TO CHEAP STRUCTURE. MIRROR LOOKS LIKE FROM THE LATE 19TH CENTURY. APPEARANCE OF REAR VIEW MIRROR IS SCRATCHED UP WITH RANDOM BLACK SPOTS, FOGGY TO THE POINT THAT YOU CANNOT SEE THROUGH IT DURING THE LATE DARK HOURS OF THE EVENING AND NIGHT. EVEN THOUGH THE TOP OF THE GLASS IS SMOOTH WITHOUT ANY TRACE OF NEGLECT. THIS ISSUE STARTED TO BE A LONG TIME AGO WITH A SMALL BAD APPEARANCE, BUT IT'S GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE. LEXUS OF ROSEVILLE AT 300 AUTOMALL DR, ROSEVILLE, CA 95661 ON APRIL 19, 2017, OFFERED TO BUY FOR $1235 THEN THEY GAVE ME DISCOUNT OF $882 BECAUSE OF MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE OLD LEXUS GS 400 1998 AND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR LOOKS PERFECT. PLEASE REVIEW THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

20151109ENGINE

AFTER HAVING THE CAMSHAFT TIMING GEAR REPLACED DUE TO THE RECALL, I NOTICED MY CAR WAS BURNING A LOT OF OIL BUT THERE WAS NO LEAK. MY CAR WOULD BE OUT OF OIL 1,800 MILE PRIOR TO ME NEXT OIL CHANGE AND I WOULD NEED TO ADD 2 QUARTS OF OIL TO MY CAR. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO BE LOOKED AT, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS OIL SEEPAGE IN THE TIMING CHAIN AREA WHICH IS A $3,500 REPAIR. THE MORE I RESEARCH, THE MORE I'M FINDING THAT PEOPLE ARE STATING THIS IS RELATED TO THE RECALL PERFORMED.

Mileage: 132,000

20140907STEERING

STEERING RACK FAILURE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. PROBLEM DISCOVERED PRIOR TO ANY POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20110124EXTERIOR LIGHTING

NEARLY CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF A LEXUS SEDAN SLOWING FOR FULL SPEED TOLL PAYMENT. EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD DAYTIME DRIVING LIGHTS, THERE WAS NO INDICATION IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HEAVY RAIN WAS AFFECTING VISIBILITY AND THE LACK OF ANY REAR LIGHT INDICATIONS NEARLY LEAD TO A MULTIPLE VEHICLE CRASH. I BELIEVE THIS CONDITION EXISTS ON MOST VEHICLES WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND MAY VERY WELL HAVE LED TO NUMEROUS FATAL ACCIDENTS. NO LIGHT ON THE READ OF A VEHICLE DURING POOR VISIBILITY CONDITIONS CAN NO DOUBT LEAD TO RE-END CRASHES. *TR

Compare 2008LEXUSGS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 LEXUS GS have?
The 2008 LEXUS GS has 16 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 LEXUS GS?
The most-complained component for the 2008 LEXUS GS is ENGINE with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2008 LEXUS GS safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.