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U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Lexus IS 350 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

30 owner complaints analyzed

8 distinct recall campaigns

50,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 30 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior516.7%
Steering behavior310.0%
Transmission and shifting26.7%
Electrical and battery issues13.3%

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.

Air Bags
10
Structure
7
Vehicle Speed Control
5
Electrical System
3
Steering
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Power Train
2
Visibility/Wiper
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags10
Structure7
Vehicle Speed Control5
Electrical System3
Steering3
Unknown Or Other3
Power Train2
Visibility/Wiper2

Air Bags: 10; Structure: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Electrical System: 3; Steering: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Power Train: 2; Visibility/Wiper: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
6
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9996
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 7 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.

2009
1
2010
4
2011
3
2013
1
2014
8
2015
1
2016
4
2017
3
2018
2
2019
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20091
20104
20113
20131
20148
20151
20164
20173
20182
20193

2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 8; 2015: 1; 2016: 4; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 3

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 10332179 · 2010-05-25 (May 25, 2010)

I AM DRIVING A CAR WHICH HAS ACCELERATED UNINTENTIONALLY THREE TIMES. I WANT LEXUS TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND FIND OUT WHY MY CAR ACCELERATES RANDOMLY AND I WANT THEM TO FIX MY CAR. I ALSO WANT LEXUS TO ADMIT TO THIS SAFETY FLAW. I WISH THAT LEXUS WOULD BE PUNISHED FOR THIS SERIOUS BREACH IN CONCERN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY ALTHOUGH THAT IS NOT MY IMMEDIATE CONCERN. IN JULY OF 2009 THE CAR ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CAR COULD NOT BE STOPPED BY APPLYING THE BRAKES ALONE AND ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL AND HIT THE CAR IN …

Owner-reported narrative. 14,283 miles reported. Look up ODI 10332179 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10378673 · 2011-01-25 (January 25, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN BRAKING OVER WET ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME ABNORMALLY HARD TO STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SECURE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600. UPDATED 5/9/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE IDLE SPEED WAS EXCESSIVELY HIGH. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. UPDATED 05/18/1…

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10378673 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10292685 · 2009-11-18 (November 18, 2009)

POWER STEERING FAILURE DURING TURN IN 2008 LEXUS 350- SUDDEN. CAUSED ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES TO PERSON AND PROPERTY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 36,499 miles reported. Look up ODI 10292685 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10875230 · 2016-06-20 (June 20, 2016)

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS 350. UPON ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10875230 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10428887 · 2011-10-06 (October 6, 2011)

WHEN ACCELERATING ONTO A FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE WILL SHIFT GEARS NORMALLY. THERE HAVE BEEN A HANDFUL OF INSTANCES, THOUGH, WHERE THE GEARS DO NOT SHIFT AS EXPECTED. ON THOSE OCCASIONS, THE CAR WOULD SHIFT UPWARD TO THE 5TH GEAR (OUT OF 6). AFTER LIGHTLY RELEASING GAS PEDAL, THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT TO 6TH GEAR AND THE RPM STAYS HIGH AROUND 3500-4000RPM. IT STAYS IN THAT GEAR UNLESS I BRIEFLY TAP ON THE BRAKES AND BACK TO THE GAS PEDAL. IF THE SPEEDDROPS TO HE 35MPH RANGE, THEN IT DROPS TO 4TH GEAR. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR …

Owner-reported narrative. 35,135 miles reported. Look up ODI 10428887 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10432767 · 2011-10-25 (October 25, 2011)

VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AT 45MPH AND GROUND GEARS. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 21,622 miles reported. Look up ODI 10432767 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11174298 · 2019-02-04 (February 4, 2019)

THERE HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON MY VEHICLE. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, UNFORTUNATELY THE LIGHT WENT OUT, AND NO CODE WAS CAPTURED. IT WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER RECENTLY, AND A FAULT CODE WAS RECOGNIZED; A POSSIBLE KNEE AIRBAG ISSUE. WHEN TALKING WITH THE SERVICE WRITER, THEIR TECHNICIANS HAD MENTIONED IT WAS MOST LIKELY A SHORT IN A WIRING HARNESS AT A COST OF $3500 TO REPLACE. I WAS TOLD ALL OF THE AIRBAGS MAY BE INOPERATIVE WITH THE WARNING LIGHT ON, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT SURE. A NUMBER OF ONLINE LEXUS …

Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11174298 at NHTSA ↗