MYRModel Year Report

2008 Lexus ES350

◆ Worse than typical
2008 Lexus ES350
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
255
Recalls
5

Campaigns on file for 2008

Investigations
2

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

67% of complaints

Complaints per year

2007: 465 complaints 2008: 255 complaints 2008 255 2009: 145 complaints 2010: 137 complaints 2010 2011: 153 complaints 2012: 89 complaints 2013: 23 complaints 2013 2014: 16 complaints 2015: 16 complaints 2016: 21 complaints 2016 2017: 22 complaints 2018: 5 complaints 2019: 5 complaints 2019 2020: 5 complaints 2021: 5 complaints 2022: 2 complaints 2022 2023: 1 complaint
2007: 465 complaints 2007 2008: 255 complaints 2008 255 2009: 145 complaints 2009 2010: 137 complaints 2011: 153 complaints 2011 2012: 89 complaints 2013: 23 complaints 2013 2014: 16 complaints 2015: 16 complaints 2015 2016: 21 complaints 2017: 22 complaints 2017 2018: 5 complaints 2019: 5 complaints 2019 2020: 5 complaints 2021: 5 complaints 2021 2022: 2 complaints 2023: 1 complaint 2023
2007: 465 complaints 2007 2008: 255 complaints 2008 255 2009: 145 complaints 2009 2010: 137 complaints 2010 2011: 153 complaints 2011 2012: 89 complaints 2012 2013: 23 complaints 2013 2014: 16 complaints 2014 2015: 16 complaints 2015 2016: 21 complaints 2016 2017: 22 complaints 2017 2018: 5 complaints 2018 2019: 5 complaints 2019 2020: 5 complaints 2020 2021: 5 complaints 2021 2022: 2 complaints 2022 2023: 1 complaint 2023

2008: 255 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
2007465
2008255
2009145
2010137
2011153
201289
201323
201416
201516
201621
201722
20185
20195
20205
20215
20222
20231

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Air bags

67% · 170 reports

Most commonly citing side/window and frontal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Takata inflators: I was involved in a serious accident on 05/25/2017. The veh I was in was a 2008 Lexus es 350. The airbags deployed but failed to inflate. As a result I have to undergo surgery due to severe injuries sustained in the accident.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-03

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Lexus ES350. While driving at 25 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle independently accelerated and crashed into a ditch. The air bags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI report, 2015-05-13

My son-in-law, mark kuhar, was driving my (Robert lehman's) 2008 Lexus ES350 with permission, when it went off the road down an appx. 100 foot hill, rolling end over end, appx. 8 times. None of the air bags were activated.

NHTSA ODI report, 2010-01-19

Vehicle speed control

15% · 39 reports

Most commonly citing accelerator pedal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ES 350 Lexus. While driving 15 MPH, and approaching a traffic light, the vehicle suddently accelerated excessively and crashed into another vehicle. There was no damage to the vehicle, nor were there any injuries.

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-03-21

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 Lexus ES350. On March 27, 2008, while driving 5 MPH, the contact heard a high pitched sound coming from the engine. A second later, she heard a roaring noise like that of a rocket ship coming from the engine.

NHTSA ODI report, 2008-05-07

Structure

5% · 12 reports

Most commonly citing body and frame and members.

Electrical system

4% · 10 reports

Most commonly citing instrument cluster/panel.

CRASHINJURY

Visibility

2% · 5 reports

Most commonly citing power window devices and controls and glass, side/rear.

Safety timeline

5 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. I
    2007-08-08Engineering analysisClosed 2007-10-11 Unwanted acceleration, floor mat
  2. R
    2007-10-08Equipment07E082000 Certain all weather floor mats (Awfm) specifically sold as an optional accessory for use on the 2007 and 2008 model year Lexus ES350 and Toyota camry vehicles. The awfm includes two grommet holes…

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners of all 2007 and 2008 Lexus ES350 and Toyota camry vehicles about the recall even though not all of these owners will have purchased the all weather mats. If the owner had…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. ▮
    2008Complaint volume 255 complaints filed for this model year.
  4. R
    2009-12-31Vehicle speed control09V388000 Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's…

    Remedy: Toyota filed an amended defect report on November 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal.…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2016-11-18Air bags16V340000 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...

    Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2017-02-01Air bags17V006000 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...

    Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2019-11-20Air bags19V741000 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,...

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. I
    2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Buy-smart checklist

2008 Lexus ES350 — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 170 reports on file for this year.
  • Vehicle speed control: 39 reports on file for this year.
  • Structure: 12 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 07E082000 · Equipment
  • Recall 09V388000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 16V340000 · Air bags
  • Recall 17V006000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V741000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years1 year

Worst years1 year

FAQ

Is the 2008 Lexus ES350 reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2008 Lexus ES350 is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Lexus ES350?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 67% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2008 Lexus ES350 have?
5 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.