2008 Lexus RX350: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
126 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
69,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 101 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 126 complaints (15.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 20 | 15.9% |
| Steering behavior | 20 | 15.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 7.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 3.2% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 20 |
| Steering | 18 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Structure:Body | 11 |
| Structure | 10 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
Unknown Or Other: 20; Steering: 18; Electrical System: 17; Vehicle Speed Control: 14; Engine: 12; Structure:Body: 11; Structure: 10; Exterior Lighting: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 25 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 21 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 21; 150,000 and above: 5
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 25 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 16 |
| 2019 | 5 |
2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 13; 2011: 2; 2012: 7; 2013: 9; 2014: 19; 2015: 21; 2016: 12; 2017: 14; 2018: 16; 2019: 5
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 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 10200237 · 2007-08-21 (August 21, 2007)
I AM WRITING TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A VERY SERIOUS AND TROUBLING INCIDENT THAT RECENTLY OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY BRAND NEW LEXUS RX350. IT IS NO EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT MY PASSENGER AND I WERE EXTREMELY LUCKY TO NOT HAVE INCURRED SERIOUS INJURY, OR EVEN DEATH. WHILE DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY, A DEFECT IN THE LEFT FRONT (DRIVER'S SIDE) GLASS CAUSED AN EXPLOSION THAT COULD HAVE LED TO VERY DIRE CONSEQUENCES. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT AROUND 10:30 AM ON JULY 27, 2007 WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON I-95 IN FLORIDA. WE WERE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200237 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10205829 · 2007-10-16 (October 16, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN DRAGGING AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DROVE NORMALLY FOR 5 MILES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10205829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10211008 · 2007-12-06 (December 6, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AND SIDE WINDOWS ARE DARK DUE TO TINTING. THE POLICE STATED THAT TINTING IS ILLEGAL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WINDOWS HAVE STANDARD FACTORY TINT. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10211008 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216447 · 2008-01-29 (January 29, 2008)
THIS IS A COMPLAINT ON THE DIM, WEAK BACK-UP LIGHTS IN THE 2008 LEXUS RX-350. *CN
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10216447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10227666 · 2008-05-13 (May 13, 2008)
AS I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, IT RAPIDLY AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A LIGHT POST. TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL, I PUT ON THE BRAKE AND SHIFTED TO DRIVE, WHERE IT SUDDENLY AND VERY RAPIDLY SPED FORWARD AND HIT A FENCE BEFORE I COULD STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE COUPLE I WAS DINING WITH HEARD THE CAR BACKFIRE TWICE WHICH CAUGHT THEIR ATTENTION. I COULD NOT HEAR THE BACKFIRE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE ACCELERATION WAS EXTREMELY RAPID AND DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE DID THIS ON ITS OWN. THIS IS NOT A CASE OF WHERE …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,871 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227666 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259253 · 2009-02-18 (February 18, 2009)
REAR BACK UP LIGHTS DON'T SEEM BRIGHT, CANT SEE VERY WELL WHEN BACKING UP AT NIGHT. COULD BE A POTENTIAL INCIDENT IN THE FUTURE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10259253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10273660 · 2009-06-12 (June 12, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS INOPERATIVE. IN FEBRUARY OF 2008, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND READ "AIR BAG OFF". IN MAY OF 2009, THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH LEXUS REGARDING THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,790. UPDATED 07/08/09. *LJ THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD READ OFF, WHEN THE PASSENGER SIT WAS OCCUPIED. UPDATED 07/08/09.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 12,790 miles reported. Look up ODI 10273660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10293945 · 2009-11-30 (November 30, 2009)
AS A LEXUS OWNER AND INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST (WASHINGTON, DC) I HEREBY LODGE A FORMAL COMPLAINT AGAINST LEXUS USA/TMS OFFICES IN TORRANCE, CA. MY MOTHER AND I SURVIVED DEATH, SUSTAINED TRAUMATIC SERIOUS INJURIES (WHICH LED TO MY MISCARRIAGE) DUE TO MY LEXUS CAR MANUFACTURER DEFECTS AND MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONING RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL COLLISION ON 09/21/2009. SINCE 09/22/2009 UP TO DATE 11/30/09 I HAVE BEEN CHEATED, SCAMMED AND LIED TO BY MY CAR MANUFACTURER AND SALES OFFICES CORPORATE LEADERS, WHO CONTACTED ME AND GAVE ME FALSE PROMISE…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293945 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.