2008 Lexus ES problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
68 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
62,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 37 of 68 complaints (54.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 5.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 37 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Structure | 2 |
Air Bags: 37; Unknown Or Other: 11; Engine: 4; Structure:Body: 4; Electrical System: 3; Visibility/Wiper: 3; Service Brakes: 2; Structure: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 48 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 5; 2015: 5; 2016: 14; 2017: 17; 2018: 4; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 4; 2023: 3; 2024: 3; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10499474 · 2013-02-20 (February 20, 2013)
HAD TO MAKE A HARD STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FADED BADLY. PEDAL HAS BECOME SOFTER OVER TIME. ALREADY HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE FAULTY DESIGNED REAR PADS AND FRONT DISCS. LEXUS HAS A TSB ON THE SQUEAKY REAR PADS BUT NEVER LET US KNOW. IT WAS A REPLACE ONLY IF OWNER COMPLAINED. 1 PAD WAS BADLY WORN, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND LEXUS WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. WITH ALL THE TOYOTA MASTER CYLINDER ISSUES UNDER RECALL, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE OUR ES350 IS NOT EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. EXPENSIVE FIX THAT WE CANNOT DELAY FOR SAFETY SAKE. …
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10499474 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10712255 · 2015-04-22 (April 22, 2015)
I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. BUMPER TO BUMPER. THE CAR IN FRONT MOVED FORWARD AND I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL 2 SECONDS AND WENT BACK TO THE BRAKE. THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV UP OUT OF CONTROL. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE AND MANAGED TO SLOW THE CAR BUT NOT STOP IT. I PUT IT IN PARK BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ROAR. IT FINALLY WENT BACK TO NORMAL. LEXUS CHECKED THE CAR BUT SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THIS MODEL HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CLEARLY THE CAR MAY BE DANGEROUS. LEXUS DENIES ALL RESPONSIBILITY. THE INSPECTOR …
Owner-reported narrative. 33,296 miles reported. Look up ODI 10712255 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10588487 · 2014-05-15 (May 15, 2014)
BEGINNING ON OR AROUND JANUARY 13TH, 2010, THE TRANSMISSION ON THE ABOVE NAMED VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. THIS PROBLEM PERSISTED UP UNTIL MARCH 15TH, 2014, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION ULTIMATELY FAILED. DESPITE BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSIS AT TREASURE COAST LEXUS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS FROM 2010 TO 2014, THE DEALERSHIP AND ITS TECHNICIANS NEVER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM. THIS ULTIMATELY PLACED THE DRIVER AND OTHERS AT RISK AND RESULTED IN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION AT OUR EXPENSE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10588487 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10621702 · 2014-08-12 (August 12, 2014)
OCCASIONALLY AND RANDOMLY, MY CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS "STALLING" WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A STOP OR ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP. IT HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE TIMES TURNING LEFT BUT MOSTLY MAKING A RIGHT-TURN. I'VE BROUGHT THIS UP TO MY SERVICE ADVISOR AND WAS AT FIRST TOLD THAT THE ENGINE COULDN'T "STALL" AND SINCE THEN I'VE REPORTED IT DURING MY NORMAL SERVICES. THEY WOULD TAKE IT FOR A DRIVE AND COULDN'T REPLICATE IT. THE LAST TIME I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT THE DEALERSHIP SAID I COULD LEAVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS SO THEY COULD DRIVE IT AROUND MORE. …
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10621702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11328538 · 2020-06-12 (June 12, 2020)
DRIVING TO WORK (I'M A REGISTERED NURSE), THE CAR (ON THE HIGHWAY) JUST STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. IT WAS A BLESSING THAT I WAS COMING UP ON A REST STOP. BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE EXIT LANE, THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE AND THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. PRESSING AS HARD AS I POSSIBLY COULD, I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL THAT THERE WAS TROUBLE WITH THE ENGINE PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. THAT SAME WEEK, MY MECHANIC HAD 3 OTHER LEXUS WITH BLOWN ENGINES AND NO PRE-WARNING…
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11328538 at NHTSA ↗