U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Lexus RX HYBRID problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

57 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

56,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 49 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 57 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	34	59.6%
Steering behavior	6	10.5%
Engine operation	5	8.8%
Electrical and battery issues	4	7.0%
Fuel system concerns	1	1.8%

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.

Vehicle Speed Control

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Service Brakes

Steering

Electrical System

Air Bags

Exterior Lighting

Service Brakes, Electric

Vehicle Speed Control: 19; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 10; Service Brakes: 8; Steering: 5; Electrical System: 4; Air Bags: 3; Exterior Lighting: 3; Service Brakes, Electric: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 3

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 8 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.

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2021

2022

2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 20; 2011: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 5; 2015: 6; 2016: 3; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2021: 2; 2022: 2

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 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 10298735 · 2010-01-08 (January 8, 2010)

I WAS COMING BACK FROM MY FIRST OIL CHANGE FROM CROWN LEXUS DEALER. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP EVEN WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. I TRIED TO STEER AWAY FROM THE CONCRETE WALL IN FRONT BUT THE FRONT LEFT SIDE STILL HIT THE WALL. THE CAR WAS DAMAGED AND THE WALL IS DAMAGED. THE COST OF THE DAMAGED IS 9,000-10,000. RIGHT NOW IS BEING FIXED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MODEL OF THE CAR IS LEXUS RX400H YEAR 2008. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 27,120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10298735 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10302442 · 2010-01-26 (January 26, 2010)

I WAS DRIVING A LEXUS RX 400H IN A PARKING LOT. WHEN I TURNED LEFT INTO THE PARKING SPOT AND ENGAGED THE BRAKES WHILE PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPOT. AT THAT TIME, I FELT THE CAR CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE AND ENDED UP HITTING AND GOING OVER THE PARKING CEMENT CURB AND THE CAR STOPPED BETWEEN THE CURB AND THE SIDEWALK AFTER I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND SAID THEY COULD NOT REPEAT THE INCIDENT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 23,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10302442 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10331774 · 2010-05-22 (May 22, 2010)

I DRIVE A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. I EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILURE, WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING. ON OCT 15, 2009, I DROVE MY CAR ON THE FREEWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. LATER THAT DAY, I PARKED MY LEXUS RX VEHICLE, AND IN DOING SO I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT "LOCK' POSITION. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR I MADE A HARD LEFT U-TURN TO EXIT THE PARKING AREA. AS SOON AS I ACCELERATED AND TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL BACK TOWARDS THE RIGHT TO STEER, I REALIZED MY POWER STEERING HAD FAILED COMPLETELY, AND…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,305 miles reported. Look up ODI 10331774 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10353630 · 2010-09-02 (September 2, 2010)

WHILE TURNING INTO PARKING LOT FROM ROAD BUMPED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE INTO CURB AT APPROX 4 MPH. POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY CEASED TO FUNCTION. TOLD BY TOYOTA MECHANIC THAT A HIGH VOLTAGE POWER SPIKE DESTROYED THE POWER STEERING COMPUTER. PAID $1050 FOR REPLACEMENT OF POWER STEERING COMPUTER. DOES THIS MEAN A POTHOLE CAN ALSO FRY THE P/S COMPUTER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 16,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353630 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10808077 · 2015-12-02 (December 2, 2015)

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, I LOST POWER STEERING COMPLETELY. P/S AND BRAKE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON ALONG WITH "SERVICE HYBRID SYSTEM" AND "SERVICE AWD SYSTEM". AFTER A FEW MORE MILES THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE PROPULSION POWER AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED FINE WITH NO POWER STEERING. I MADE THE NEXT MILE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE ECU THAT HAD SHORTED OUT DUE TO A BAD STEERING RACK. I AM NOT SURE WHY THE ELECTRONIC STEERING MECHANISM WOULD CAUSE COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER FROM THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 90,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10808077 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11067251 · 2018-02-06 (February 6, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400 HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO FULLY DEPRESS. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 239,995.

Owner-reported narrative. 239,995 miles reported. Look up ODI 11067251 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10305451 · 2010-02-04 (February 4, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE LACK OF ELECTRICITY IN THE BATTERY CAUSED THE CONTACT TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WITHIN MINUTES THE BRAKES BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY SINCE THE BATTERY RECHARGED BY PUMPING THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND BOTH TIMES THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM COULD CAUSE A CRASH …

Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305451 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10305665 · 2010-02-04 (February 4, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S ON AND LUNGE FORWARD WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE MALFUNCTION SHOULD OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SWITCHING FROM AN ELECTRICAL ENGINE TO A GASOLINE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305665 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10293889 · 2009-11-29 (November 29, 2009)

I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON US290. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AND THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY WENT BLANK (EXCEPT FOR THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM). I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. THERE WAS A MESSAGE TO CHECK THE ACV SYSTEM. I TIGHTENED THE GAS TANK CAP AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART. A COMPLETE SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 18,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293889 at NHTSA ↗