LEXUS RX350 · model year

2008 LEXUS RX350

160 NHTSA complaints, 20 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008LEXUSRX350 carries 160 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 20 crashes, 5 fires, 12 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 RX350 is unknown or other with 20 filings, followed by steering (18) and electrical system (17). 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 RX350. 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.

160
Complaints
20
Crashes
5
Fires
12
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

160 filings

Crashes Reported

20 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
UNKNOWN OR OTHER20
STEERING18
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL14
ENGINE12
STRUCTURE:BODY11
STRUCTURE10
EXTERIOR LIGHTING7
POWER TRAIN7
SERVICE BRAKES6
AIR BAGS5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC3
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC3
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2

Recent Complaints

20191219STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

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.

Mileage: 109,000

20191011CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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 PURSU

Mileage: 103,000

20191011CrashSERVICE BRAKES

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 PURSU

Mileage: 103,000

20191011CrashSTEERING

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 PURSU

Mileage: 103,000

20191011CrashPOWER TRAIN

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 PURSU

Mileage: 103,000

20190930STRUCTURE:BODY

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.

Mileage: 80,000

20190816STRUCTURE

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

20190429ENGINE

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.

Mileage: 185,000

20181227STEERING

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.

Mileage: 89,000

20181129ENGINE

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.

Mileage: 80,000

20181023POWER TRAIN

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.

Mileage: 120,300

20180918ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 151,500

20180822STRUCTURE:BODY

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.

20180814EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

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.

Mileage: 117,000

20180721SEAT BELTS

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

20180721UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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

20180720SEAT BELTS

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

Mileage: 89,000

20180720STRUCTURE:BODY

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

Mileage: 89,000

20180720SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

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

Mileage: 89,000

20180626STEERING

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

Mileage: 122,000

Compare 2008LEXUSRX350 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 LEXUS RX350 have?
The 2008 LEXUS RX350 has 160 NHTSA complaints, 20 crashes, 5 fires, 12 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 LEXUS RX350?
The most-complained component for the 2008 LEXUS RX350 is UNKNOWN OR OTHER with 20 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2008 LEXUS RX350 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.