2008 Lexus IS 250: complaints, problems and recalls

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, ALMOST TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED & I WENT UP OVER A CURB & HIT A TRANSFORMER. THE DISTANCE WAS ONLY ABOUT 8 FEET. I DO NOT KNOW HOW FAST I WAS GOING PROBABLY ABOUT 15 - 30 MPH. I MOVED THE TRANSFORMER ABOUT 3 FEET. (THE TRANSFORMER WEIGHED ABOUT 1/2 - 1 TON)9I I DO NOT KNOW HOW THE CAR ACCELERATED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282360 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING MY WIFE'S LEXUS 2008 IS 250 OUT OF A PARKING LOT WHEN APPLYING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATED. I NOW SLAMMED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED MY CAR WAS THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT WITH VERY LITTLE DAMAGE. IF THE CAR WAS NOT IN FRONT OF ME I WAS ACCELERATING FASTER INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. MY FLOOR MAT IS NOT ON THE FLOOR AS AFTER THE SAN DIEGO INCIDENT THAT WAS TOYOTA'S REASONING. WE WERE TOLD ROUGHLY A MONTH AND HALF AGO TO TAKE THE MAT OUT, WHICH I DID RIGHT AWAY. THEY C…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10291091 at NHTSA ↗

IN FOR SERVICE AT LEXUS DEALER ON 6/3/09 - DRIVING W/SUNROOF AND WINDOWS OPENED THE REARVIEW MIRROR VIBRATES EXTENSIVELY TO THE POINT IMAGES ARE TOTALLY DISTORTED CAUSING MOTION SICKNESS, UNABLE TO SWITCH LANES SAFELY WO/CLOSING SUNROOF NOR SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. MIRROR TORQUED ON 6/3/09 AND REPLACED UNDER TSIB NV006-07 8/17/09. MIRROR STILL VIBRATES EXTENSIVELY AND NOW THE AUTO DIMMER FEATURE DOES NOT WORK, MAKING DRIVING AT NIGHTS VERY DIFFICULT AND AFFECTING MY WELL BEING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 11,788 miles reported. Look up ODI 10298205 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS-250 WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 2008. HE STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 25 MPH ON A TWO-LANE STREET, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. HE ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. HE THEN UTILIZED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE YET THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR INTO THE PARK POSITION AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, HE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MATS …

Owner-reported narrative. 9,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10299923 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH INTO HER GARAGE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR AND THE GARAGE WALL AFTER SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE COLLISION SHOP TO BE REPAIRED BUT THE DEALER NEVER CHECKED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE BUT DIDN'T INDICATE WHAT COMPONENT IT WAS RELATED TO. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10303783 at NHTSA ↗

2008 LEXUS IS 250. CAR LOSES TRACTION AND CONTROL WHEN BRAKING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES. HAVE COMPLAINED TO LEXUS SINCE 1ST WEEK I OWNED THE CAR, WITH NO AVAIL. SEEMS TO BE IDENTICAL TO PROBLEMS REPORTED FOR 2010 PRIUS. WRITING THIS TO ASK IF COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN PLACED FOR THIS VEHICLE, OR IF IT MIGHT BE PART OF THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE PRIUS BRAKING SYSTEM? *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305501 at NHTSA ↗

THREE DAYS AGO, MY 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER COULD NOT UNBUCKLE HER SEAT BELT. IT IS THE MIDDLE OF THE REAR SEAT. I HAD TO PULL SOME SLACK ON THE SEAT BELT IN ORDER FOR HER TO SLIP UNDER AND OUT OF THE BELT. AFTER THAT, THE SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED. I HAD HER SIT DOWN AGAIN IN THE SAME POSITION AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I TRIED IT NEXT AND FOUND THAT I COULD NOT UNBUCKLE THE SEAT BELT EITHER. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE PERSON IN THE MIDDLE SEAT IN THE BACK WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR EA…

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10306211 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS250. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND CHANGING LANES TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL IT AND DRIVE IN ANY OTHER DIRECTION. HE THEN TURNED THE STEERING TO THE RIGHT AND ONCE AGAIN IT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35000. UPDATED 05/06…

Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313675 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2013-01-30 (January 30, 2013)

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 vehicles manufactured August 23, 2005, through October 5, 2011; 2010-2012 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles manufactured April 10, 2009, through October 6, 2011; and 2008-2011 Lexus IS-F vehicles manufactured December 14, 2007, through July 10, 2011. The nuts that fasten the wiper arms may be insufficiently torqued such that if the wiper arms are restricted by an external load, such as a buildup of heavy snow, one or both of the wipers may become inoperative.

Consequence: Inoperative wipers could reduce driver visibility and increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and Lexus dealers will install new wiper arm nuts, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on April 4, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2014-10-15 (October 15, 2014)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Lexus LS vehicles manufactured May 9, 2006, to July 20, 2010, 2006-2011 Lexus GS vehicles manufactured January 6, 2005, to September 10, 2010, and 2006-2011 Lexus IS vehicles manufactured August 30, 2005, to September 10, 2010. Due to anti-corrosion plating remnants, fuel may leak from where the fuel pressure sensor is attached to the fuel delivery pipe.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will clean and reseal the fuel pressure sensor mounting area, free of charge. The recall began March 3, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2016-05-23 (May 23, 2016)

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 IS250C, Lexus IS350C and Lexus GX460, 2011 Sienna, 2007-2011 Lexus ES350, and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2007-2008 Toyota Yaris, 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350 and 2007-2008 Lexus ES350 vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles of these model years and models that were not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

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. The recall began on December 6, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for interim notification for this campaign are G1P (Toyota Zone A), G1R (Toyota Zone B), G2G (Lexus Zone A), and G2H (Lexus Zone B). Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), GLG (Lexus Zone A), and GLH (Lexus Zone B).

Reported: 2017-01-09 (January 9, 2017)

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 registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2009 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Yaris HB, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Lexus, ES350, IS250, IS350, and IS-F vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and IS350, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350, Toyota Yaris, Yaris HB, and 2008 Lexus IS-F and Scion xB vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

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. The recall began on February 1, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), H0A (Toyota Zone C), GLG (Lexus Zone A), GLH (Lexus Zone B) and HLA (Lexus Zone C).

Reported: 2019-10-17 (October 17, 2019)

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, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

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. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.