2008 Lexus IS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
102 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
78,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 60 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 102 complaints (23.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.9% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 2.9% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 24 |
| Engine | 22 |
| Air Bags | 20 |
| Structure | 13 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 11 |
| Structure:Body | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
Unknown Or Other: 24; Engine: 22; Air Bags: 20; Structure: 13; Visibility/Wiper: 11; Structure:Body: 7; Electrical System: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 20 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 42 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 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 16 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2012: 3; 2014: 19; 2015: 7; 2016: 8; 2017: 11; 2018: 4; 2019: 7; 2020: 16; 2021: 13; 2022: 4; 2023: 3; 2024: 3; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10644157 · 2014-10-12 (October 12, 2014)
THE IS 250 AND IS 350 HAVE A KNOW ISSUE FROM LEXUS CONCERNING THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS.IT FAILS AND LEAVES ALL OF THE SRS SYSTEM UNUSABLE TO WORK.LEXUS IS NOT RECALLING THIS PROBLEM BUT ONLY REPLACING THE HARNESS IF YOU COMPLAIN AND MEET THE MILEAGE AND WARRANTY .THIS IS A KNOW SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH.ESTIMATES ON THE REPAIR RANGE FROM 2500.00 TO OVER THREE THOUSAND.PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10644157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10649019 · 2014-10-21 (October 21, 2014)
OVER TIME, AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS BECOMES LOOSE AND/OR DISCONNECTED, CAUSING AIRBAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND DISABLING ONE OR MORE AIRBAGS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. LEXUS DEALERS CONFIRM THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX WITHOUT COSTLY PAYMENT. *TR.....UPDATED 12/03/15 *BF
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10649019 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10251618 · 2008-12-12 (December 12, 2008)
I AM WRITING TO REPORT A BRAKE FAILURE ON MY NEW LEXUS IS 350 WHILE PARALLEL PARKING. I BACKED MY CAR INTO THE SPACE, AND THEN TOUCHED THE GAS LIGHTLY TO MOVE IT FORWARD TO CLOSE THE 4 TO 5 FOOT GAP. I PUT FOOT ON BRAKE AND PUSHED DOWN. BRAKE WENT DOWN CLOSE TO FLOOR AND DID NOT STOP CAR. IT KEPT MOVING SLOWLY FORWARD AND BUMPED INTO VEHICLE PARKED AHEAD OF ME, SCRATCHING BOTH IT AND MY CAR. WITH CAR IN NEUTRAL I PUSHED DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL TWICE MORE AND IT WELT CLOSE TO FLOOR. ON THIRD ATTEMPT IT CAME BACK TO NORMAL. I LEFT NOTE FOR OW…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10251618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10293664 · 2009-11-26 (November 26, 2009)
IN EARLY 02/09 I WAS DRIVING HOME ON INTERSTATE 695 N IN MARYLAND. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 95 MPH THROUGH NO EFFORT OF MY OWN. I DID NOT ENGAGE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO INCREASE THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY ENGAGED THE FOOT BRAKE TO DECELERATE AND BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW. EVENTUALLY AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR WITH THE BRAKE BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO VIOLENTLY REV. AS I RELEASED THE FOOT BRAKE, THE CAR ONCE AGAIN ACCELERATED WITHOUT ENGAGING …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293664 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10593530 · 2014-05-22 (May 22, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT LINE, MOST OF THE TIME WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A NORMAL CORRECTION IT WOULD FEEL LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS CAUGHT ON A MAGNET AND I NEEDED TO TUG THE STEERING LOOSE. THIS CAUSES ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR FOR FEW SECONDS TO CORRECT THE STEERING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 59,998 miles reported. Look up ODI 10593530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11253961 · 2019-09-08 (September 8, 2019)
AFTER DRIVING THROUGH A DEEPER PUDDLE ON THE ROAD MY ELECTRON POWER STEERING STARTED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND AFTER STOPPING BRIEFLY TO BUY SOME SNACKS, MY ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING QUIT COMPLETELY. IT NOW NO LONGER WORKS AT ALL, AND THE ONLY WAY TO STEER IT IS WITH MANUAL (VERY HEAVY) STEERING. IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR THE PAST 3 WEEKS.
Owner-reported narrative. 147,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11253961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10475689 · 2012-09-17 (September 17, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE BRAKES MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND NOTICED THAT THE ODOMETER HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER SHIFTED OUT OF PARK SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10475689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11240965 · 2019-07-31 (July 31, 2019)
I BOUGHT 2008 LEXUS IS250 WITH 123K MILES ON 05/18/19. I HAD INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC PRIOR TO PURCHASING IT. ON ONE OCASSION PROR TO ACCIDENT, I BACKED OUT OF A DRIVE WAY. WHEN I SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IT SUDDEN ACCELERATED FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, BUT IT WAS CLEAR IN FRONT OF ME AND I REMAIN IN CONTROL. IT ONLY HAPPENED TO ME THAT ONE TIME THAT WEEK AND I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. IN THE MORNING OF MAY 29, 2019 THE CAR WAS PARALLEL PARKED WITH A VEHICLE BOTH IN FRONT BEHIND IT. MY WIFE SLOWLY BACK UP THE CAR TO ALLOW …
Owner-reported narrative. 123,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11240965 at NHTSA ↗