2008 Lexus LS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
43 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 43 complaints (39.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 48.8% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 9.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 17 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
Service Brakes: 17; Unknown Or Other: 11; Structure:Body: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4; Engine: 4; Electrical System: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 21 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 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2008: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 5; 2018: 4; 2019: 4; 2020: 9; 2021: 2; 2022: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 7; 2025: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10237545 · 2008-08-09 (August 9, 2008)
BECAUSE OF MY BLIND SPOT, ALMOST HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. DON'T YOU THINK IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT THE CAR MANUFACTURER PROVIDE A MIRROR THAT ELIMINATES THE BLIND SPOT???????? WHAT IS THE BEST BLIND SPOT MIRROR? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10237545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10588841 · 2014-05-16 (May 16, 2014)
LEXUS HAS A FAULTY BRAKE ACTUATOR DESIGN. IT'S MAKING CLUNKING REPETITIVE NOISES WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED. LEXUS KNOWS OF THIS FAULTY DESIGN BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE BECAUSE THEY SAY IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE NOISE ALONE WILL DRIVE YOU CRAZY. LEXUS OF NAPERVILLE, IL WANTS TO CHARGE ME $3000.00 TO REPLACE THIS COMPONENT. IF THEY DO NOT RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER LEXUS AGAIN. GUARANTEE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10588841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10887789 · 2016-07-22 (July 22, 2016)
THIS PROBLEM IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO "MELTING DASH" OR "STICK INTERIOR PANELS". THERE IS A TSB L-SB-0144-11. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE INTERIOR VINYL PANELS START DISINTEGRATING OR MELTING IN HOT CLIMATES. THIS INCLUDES THE DOOR PANELS AND THE DASH. THE SURFACE OF THESE PANELS BECOMES STICKY AND SOFT. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON MANY TOYOTA VEHICLES BETWEEN THE YEARS 2007-2012. HOWEVER, TOYOTA/LEXUS HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ONLY FOR THE 2007 VEHICLES AND VEHICLES FROM FOLLOWING YEARS ARE NOT COVERED, EVEN …
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10887789 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10888606 · 2016-07-26 (July 26, 2016)
LEXUS ADMITS THAT THE ABS BRAKE ACCUMULATOR IS SUSPECT TO INTERNAL LEAKS WHICH CAN LEAD TO LACK OF BRAKING ABILITY. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10888606 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10947034 · 2017-01-23 (January 23, 2017)
DASHBOARD AND DOOR PANELS SEEM TO BE MELTING. IN SUNSHINE THEY GET GLUEY AND STICKY. SUN ON DASH REFLECTS IN EYES
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10947034 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10983191 · 2017-05-02 (May 2, 2017)
UPPER DASH STICKY AND MELTING. LOWER DASH CRACKING, STICKY AND MELTING. UPPER DOOR PANELS ALSO STICKY AND MELTING. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA/LEXUS. IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE OVER TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10983191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10984999 · 2017-05-11 (May 11, 2017)
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, CAR WARNINGS ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN FLASHING STATING "CHECK ABS", "CHECK VSC", "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM", AND "STOP THE VEHICLE IN A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY. CONTACT A DEALER".
Owner-reported narrative. 152,473 miles reported. Look up ODI 10984999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11031508 · 2017-10-03 (October 3, 2017)
(HESITATION ON ACCELERATION) THIS MORNING GOING TO WORK L NOTICE THAT THE CAR WASN'T ACTING RIGHT. I WAS AT THE YIELD LEFT TURNING LANE WAS TURNING RIGHT BEFORE OTHER INCOMING CAR COME. AS I WAS TURNING THE ACCELERATION DIDNT GO NO WHERE AS IT FEEL LIKE THE CAR WAS GOING UP A VERY HIGH HILL. I WAS SO SCARE THAT ANOTHER CAR COMING STRIGHT AND HIT ME AND SOME HOW THE ACCELERATION JUST PICK UP AND START GOING AS IT HAS NO POWER TO IT. THE ONLY REASON WHY IM REPORTING THIS IS BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY AND COULD BE AN DANGEROUS PROBLEM NOT TO MYSEL…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 11031508 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
09V020000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Reported: 2009-01-16 (January 16, 2009)
TOYOTA IS RECALLING 214,570 MY 2006-2008 LEXUS IS, MY 2006-2007 GS AND MY 2007-2008 LS PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM FUEL DELIVERY PIPES (FUEL RAILS). ETHANOL FUELS WITH A LOW MOISTURE CONTENT WILL CORRODE THE INTERNAL SURFACE OF THE FUEL RAILS. AS THIS CONDITION PROGRESSES, THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE.
Consequence: OVER TIME, THE CORROSION MAY CREATE A PINHOLE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FUEL DELIVERY PIPES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA/LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
NHTSA campaign record ↗