LEXUS GX470 · model year

2008 LEXUS GX470

16 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008LEXUSGX470 carries 16 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 0 fires, 5 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 GX470 is service brakes, hydraulic with 3 filings, followed by service brakes, electric (2) and vehicle speed control (2). 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 GX470. 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
6
Crashes
0
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

16 filings

Crashes Reported

6 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC3
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
AIR BAGS2
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
SERVICE BRAKES1
POWER TRAIN1
SUSPENSION1

Recent Complaints

20190613SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS GX470. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND SWAYED BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOWSON LEXUS (1040 YORK RD, TOWSON, MD) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

20190605AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL CAR RIDE WAS LIKE RIDING A WILD BRONCO

Mileage: 158,000

20171115POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS GX470. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HERB CHAMBERS LEXUS OF HINGHAM (141 DERBY ST, HINGHAM, MA 02043 (781) 210-5200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVETRAIN AND DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

Mileage: 85,000

20140323CrashSERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING AND MERGING FROM THE LOCAL LANES ON MARYLAND I-270 SB TO THE MAIN LANES. IN ORDER TO MOVE SLOWLY FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER, I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND MOVE TO THE LANE ON MY LEFT. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE, I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND AND THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE, THEREFORE I ATTEMPTED TO RE-APPLY THE BRAKES ONCE MORE. AT THIS POINT, THE BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE BEYOND MY CONTROL. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED USING THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE HIT SEVERAL CARS TO MY LEFT AND RIGHT. AFTERWARDS, MY VEHICLE HIT A LARGE TRACTOR TRAILER AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS, MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE DAMAGES BY MY INSURANCE, LIBERTY MUTUAL. *TR

Mileage: 58,000

20140323CrashAIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING AND MERGING FROM THE LOCAL LANES ON MARYLAND I-270 SB TO THE MAIN LANES. IN ORDER TO MOVE SLOWLY FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER, I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND MOVE TO THE LANE ON MY LEFT. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE, I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND AND THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE, THEREFORE I ATTEMPTED TO RE-APPLY THE BRAKES ONCE MORE. AT THIS POINT, THE BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE BEYOND MY CONTROL. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED USING THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE HIT SEVERAL CARS TO MY LEFT AND RIGHT. AFTERWARDS, MY VEHICLE HIT A LARGE TRACTOR TRAILER AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS, MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE DAMAGES BY MY INSURANCE, LIBERTY MUTUAL. *TR

Mileage: 58,000

20140323CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS DRIVING AND MERGING FROM THE LOCAL LANES ON MARYLAND I-270 SB TO THE MAIN LANES. IN ORDER TO MOVE SLOWLY FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER, I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND MOVE TO THE LANE ON MY LEFT. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE, I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND AND THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE, THEREFORE I ATTEMPTED TO RE-APPLY THE BRAKES ONCE MORE. AT THIS POINT, THE BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE BEYOND MY CONTROL. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED USING THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE HIT SEVERAL CARS TO MY LEFT AND RIGHT. AFTERWARDS, MY VEHICLE HIT A LARGE TRACTOR TRAILER AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS, MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE DAMAGES BY MY INSURANCE, LIBERTY MUTUAL. *TR

Mileage: 58,000

20130429ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE KEY IGNITION, I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HADN'T LOCKED IN PLACE. I TRIED TWO OTHER KEYS AND FINALLY THE IGNITION TURNED AND THE CAR STARTED. I DROVE TO MY DESTINATION AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND LOCKED THE DOORS. I WENT OUT TO RESTART THE CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AGAIN. I CALLED LEXUS OF CONCORD AND THEY ADVISED ME TO BRING IT IN. I FINALLY GOT IT STARTED AND DROVE IT THE 15 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP, AT THE END OF THE DAY I RECEIVED A CALL SAYING THAT I NEEDED A NEW IGNITION STARTER CYLINDER AND ALL THE KEYS NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED TO MATCH THE NEW CYLINDER THEY WOULD INSTALL. IT WOULD TAKE A DAYS LABOR AND COST OF THE CYLINDER AND REPROGRAMMING. COST WAS $616.00. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE WARRANTY WAS OUT AT 50,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS. I AM 4.5 YEARS AND 59,500 MILES. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A HISTORY OF THIS PART GOING OUT BUT USUALLY IT HAPPENED BEFORE THE WARRANTY WAS UP. MY QUE

Mileage: 59,475

20110510SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

FOR THE THIRD TIME, THE BRAKES ON OUR 2008 LEXUS GX FAILED. THIS TIME, WHEN PUT IN REVERSE IN THE GARAGE, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED MOVING--HITTING OUR GARAGE DOOR AS IT WAS GOING UP. THE CAR THEN CONTINUED ANOTHER 40 FEET, INTO A RETAINING WALL--REPEATED PRESSING OF THE BRAKES DID NOTHING--AS IN EARLIER TIMES. *TR

Mileage: 35,000

20101029SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

2008 LEXUS GX470. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- EMAIL TO THE SECRETARY FROM RE TOYOTA LEXUS PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HE SUDDENLY CAME UPON OTHER VEHICLES AHEAD OF HIM. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME, BUT SOMETHING MISFIRED IN THE ABS AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A BUCKING MODE. THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE WOULD SEIZE AND THEN RELEASE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD COAST FOR 2-3 SECONDS. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS SON RECEIVED A MILD WHIPLASH FROM THE SEVERE LURCHING OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SEIZING AND RELEASING OF THE BRAKES ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

20100601SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

ON MARCH 22, 2010, WHILE BACKING OUT OF OUR GARAGE, OUR LEXUS GX470 EXPERIENCED A BRAKE FAILURE. THE DRIVER, [XXX], EVEN OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND PUT HER FOOT DOWN TO TRY TO STOP THE CAR. INSTEAD THE DOOR WAS ALSO DAMAGED WHEN THE CAR HIT A RETAINING WALL. LATER THAT SAME DAY, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN, BUT THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE STOPPED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

20100427CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS GX470. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY SURGED FORWARD RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED LEXUS DEALER TO BE EXAMINED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

20100223SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

LEXUS GX 470 ONE OCCURRENCE A HESITANCE BETWEEN THE TIME THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND ACTUAL BRAKING OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CIRCUMSTANCES ON A CURVY ROAD. *TR

20100210SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I OWN A 2008 LEXUS GX 470, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE SHOP AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM WORKED ON TWO SEPARATE TIMES, BECAUSE THE BRAKES HAD WARPED. AT SPEEDS EXCEEDING 50 MILES AN HOUR THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD START SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

20091130CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS GX 470. HE HAD TO USE GREAT FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, AN IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED. CONSEQUENTLY HE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. HE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000. THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE EXITED A PARKING LOT, HE REALIZED HE COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, SO HE MADE A SHARP TURN INTO A LANDSCAPE OF AN ESTABLISHMENT AND HIT A PARKED CAR. THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR INCIDENT SIX MONTHS PRIOR. UPDATED 04/23/10.*JB

Mileage: 2,000

20091130CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS GX 470. HE HAD TO USE GREAT FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, AN IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED. CONSEQUENTLY HE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. HE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000. THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE EXITED A PARKING LOT, HE REALIZED HE COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, SO HE MADE A SHARP TURN INTO A LANDSCAPE OF AN ESTABLISHMENT AND HIT A PARKED CAR. THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR INCIDENT SIX MONTHS PRIOR. UPDATED 04/23/10.*JB

Mileage: 2,000

20080510EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

I PURCHASED A NEW LEXUS GX 470 IN NOVEMBER 2007. IT ALWAYS SMELLED MUSTY. I TOOK IT TO DEALER TWO TIMES AND A 3RD PARTY MECHANIC ONCE. LEXUS TOLD ME IT WAS MOLD BUILD UP IN AC UNIT. THEY SAID IT OCCURRED BECAUSE I PUT THE AIR FLOW ON INTERIOR AIR FLOW ONLY. ME AND MY 2 CHILDREN HAVE HAD ASTHMA ATTACKS AND ALLERGIC REACTIONS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THEY HAVE HAD TO INCREASE THEIR ALLERGY MEDICATION AND I HAVE BEEN PUT ON A PRESCRIPTION. *TR

Compare 2008LEXUSGX470 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 LEXUS GX470 have?
The 2008 LEXUS GX470 has 16 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 LEXUS GX470?
The most-complained component for the 2008 LEXUS GX470 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2008 LEXUS GX470 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.