LEXUS IS F · model year

2008 LEXUS IS F

15 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008LEXUSIS F carries 15 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 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 IS F is air bags with 8 filings, followed by engine (3) and vehicle speed control (1). 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. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2008 IS F. 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.

15
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

15 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS8
ENGINE3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
POWER TRAIN1

Recalls (5)

13V03000030/01/2013

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 vehicles manufactured August 23, 2005, through October 5, 2011; 2010-2012 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles manufactured April 10, 2009, through October 6, 2011; and 2008-2011 Lexus IS-F vehicles manufactured December 14, 2007, th

16V34000023/05/2016

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C, Lexus IS350C and Lexus GX460, 2011 Sienna, 20

19V74100017/10/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX4

14V64700015/10/2014

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Lexus LS vehicles manufactured May 9, 2006, to July 20, 2010, 2006-2011 Lexus GS vehicles manufactured January 6, 2005, to September 10, 2010, and 2006-2011 Lexus IS vehicles manufactured August 30, 2005, to

17V00600009/01/2017

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia,

Recent Complaints

20200417ENGINE

PER THE FORUMS AND USED FB GROUPS, ALL ISFS YEAR MODELS 2008-2014 ARE AFFECTED THE VALLEY PLATE LEAK DUE TO THE FACT THAT TOYOTA/LEXUS UTILIZED THE IMPROPER SEALANT AND USED THE IMPROPER AMOUNT, LEADING TO THE HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKING COOLANT ONCE THE ORIGINAL, INADEQUATE SEALANT BEGINS TO DISINTEGRATE. THIS COULD CAUSE A CONDITION WHERE THE ENGINE COULD FAIL AND SOMEONE COULD GET HURT. FURTHERMORE, ALL ISFS WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A CRACKED RH MANIFOLD ON THE #8 RUNNER. THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD IN ADDITION TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. I PERSONALLY HAD THIS ISSUE ON MY 2008 AND KNOW AT LEAST 100 OWNERS WHO HAVE ALSO HAD THIS ISSUE FIXED. I AM SURE MANY MORE ARE OUT THERE. *TR

20200417POWER TRAIN

PER THE FORUMS AND USED FB GROUPS, ALL ISFS YEAR MODELS 2008-2014 ARE AFFECTED THE VALLEY PLATE LEAK DUE TO THE FACT THAT TOYOTA/LEXUS UTILIZED THE IMPROPER SEALANT AND USED THE IMPROPER AMOUNT, LEADING TO THE HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKING COOLANT ONCE THE ORIGINAL, INADEQUATE SEALANT BEGINS TO DISINTEGRATE. THIS COULD CAUSE A CONDITION WHERE THE ENGINE COULD FAIL AND SOMEONE COULD GET HURT. FURTHERMORE, ALL ISFS WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A CRACKED RH MANIFOLD ON THE #8 RUNNER. THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD IN ADDITION TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. I PERSONALLY HAD THIS ISSUE ON MY 2008 AND KNOW AT LEAST 100 OWNERS WHO HAVE ALSO HAD THIS ISSUE FIXED. I AM SURE MANY MORE ARE OUT THERE. *TR

20190524UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CAN'T SEE OUT OF REAR VIEW MIRROR THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ALMOST BACKED UP INTO SOMETHING IN THE CITY AND ALMOST HIT A CAR ON HIGHWAY CHANGING LANES BECAUSE MIRROR IS CLOUDY.

Mileage: 5

20170820AIR BAGS

"TAKATA RECALL" - I RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM LEXUS IN EARLY 2017 STATING THAT MY VEHICLE WAS PART OF A RECALL DUE TO FAULTY TAKATA INFLATORS. THE STATEMENT SHOWED THAT MY VEHICLES AIRBAG REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE RECALL COULD BE DELAYED BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS WERE PUT INTO CATEGORIES BASED ON THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND STATING THE CHANCE OF DEGRADATION BY WHERE YOU LIVED. THE INFO STATED THEY WOULD BE IN TOUCH WITH ME AT A LATER DATE WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE MORE AT RISK. THIS WAS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I NOW LIVE IN FLORIDA WHERE IT IS VERY HOT, AND SINCE MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AN TAKEN INTO THE DEALER FOR ASSESSMENT AND/OR REPAIR, I CANNOT REGISTER IT FOR THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

20170602AIR BAGS

AIRBAG RECALL IN INCOMPLETE AND ENGINE IS KNOCKING.

Mileage: 237,000

20170602ENGINE

AIRBAG RECALL IN INCOMPLETE AND ENGINE IS KNOCKING.

Mileage: 237,000

20170314AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. WE RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THIS AIRBAG ON MAY 2016. FAST FORWARD TO MARCH 2017 AND A REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL IS FINALLY AVAILABLE!! WHEN I CALLED MY AUTHORIZED LEXUS DEALER IN CONCORD, CA I WAS TOLD THAT I'LL BE PUT ON A WAITING LIST UNTIL THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. I WAS TOLD IT COULD TAKE 2-3 WEEKS. WHAT'S THE POINT OF ADVISING THEIR CUSTOMERS THAT A REMEDY IS AVAILABLE IF THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT PREPARED TO FIX THE ISSUE WHEN WE'VE BEEN WAITING ALMOST A YEAR FOR A RESOLUTION!!

20170119AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL - IT IS TAKING TOO LONG FOR A REMEDY. I HAVE HAD TO USE ANOTHER CAR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. A FIX WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AVAILABLE THIS MONTH. HOW WILL I BE COMPENSATED FOR EXPENSES, MILEAGE, AND/OR WEAR & TEAR ON THE OTHER VEHICLE?

20160920AIR BAGS

PLUG FOR KNEE AIRBAG BECOMES LOOSE AND TRIGGERS AIRBAG LIGHT. BASED ON DEALER FEEDBACK THIS IS A WIRE HARNESS PLUG ISSUE AND WILL CAUSE THE KNEE AIRBAG TO NOT INFLATE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERN CAUSE BY A POSSIBLE DESIGN/MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

Mileage: 88,850

20160819AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS F. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN MAY 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 10/13/16*LJ UPDATED 08/15/2017*JS

Mileage: 52,000

20160708AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS F. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20160520AIR BAGS

THE AIRBAG DASH LIGHT HAS COME ON AND WILL NOT GO OUT.

Mileage: 27,888

20140521ENGINE

COOLANT LEAK FROM WATER PUMP. STEAM SHOW UP TOWARDS ENGINE BAY'S FIRE WALL. LEAK IS EXTREMELY CLOSE TO ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT. FAIRLY COMMON ISSUE WITH MODELS BASE DON THIS CHASSIS: HTTP://WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUMS/IS-F/570931-WATER-PUMP-LEAKING.HTML PLEASE INVESTIGATE WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR THIS ISSUE, AND INITIATE A RECALL SO THAT OTHERS WHO HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET CAN BE REIMBURSED. *TR

Mileage: 84,000

20140212VISIBILITY/WIPER

I RECEIVED 2 RECALLS IN THE MAIL ONE WAS FOR FRONT WIPER NUT AND THE OTHER WAS TRUNK RELEASE LEVER. I CALLED LEXUS OF MOBILE TO SET UP APT TO HAVE THE RECALLS FIXED. I LIVE IN DESTIN, FL AND MOBILE IS THE CLOSEST LEXUS DEALERSHIP. I HAVE HAD ANOTHER RECALL ON MY LEXUS ISF AND THEY PICKED IT UP AND LEFT ANOTHER LEXUS UNTIL THEY WERE ABLE TO HAVE IT DONE. THIS LEXUS DEALERSHIP JUST DOESN'T MEET STANDARDS OF THE LEXUS EXPERIENCE I ACTUALLY FLEW TO LEXUS IN KNOXVILLE IN 2008 TO GET MY LEXUS ISF BECAUSE THE MOBILE LEXUS IS HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. WITH ALL THIS SAID THE LADY I TALKED TO TODAY[XXX] WAS ONE OF THE WORSE CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE. I ASKED IF THEY COULD PICK UP MY CAR 1. BECAUSE IT IS A 2HR DRIVE 2. I DO WORK LAND 3. I DIDN'T CAUSE THIS RECALL THE LETTER WAS SENT TO ME. SHE TOLD ME IT WAS NOTHING DANGEROUS (THE NUT ON THE WIPER) IT WAS ONLY IF YOU WERE DEALING WITH SNOW. THIS MAY BE TRUE I DON'T KNOW BUT I WOULD HATE TO BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT FALL OFF BECAUSE SH

20100119CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS-F. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A GARAGE DOOR AT A LOCAL SHOP. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THIS VEHICLE AND THEY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS REQUESTED THAT THE MANUFACTURER BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS OF THE VEHICLE AND THE GARAGE DOOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8900.

Mileage: 8,900

Compare 2008LEXUSIS F to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 LEXUS IS F have?
The 2008 LEXUS IS F has 15 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2008 LEXUS IS F?
Yes, the 2008 LEXUS IS F has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is VISIBILITY/WIPER. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 LEXUS IS F?
The most-complained component for the 2008 LEXUS IS F is AIR BAGS with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2008 LEXUS IS F 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.