2008 Lexus RX350 problems & reliability
126 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Lexus RX350. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
7 complaints report injuries (10 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 24 | 19% |
| Unknown OR Other | 20 | 16% |
| Steering | 18 | 14% |
| Electrical System | 17 | 13% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 15 | 12% |
| Engine | 12 | 10% |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 | 8% |
| Power Train | 7 | 6% |
| Air Bags | 6 | 5% |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 5% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 70,000 miles (middle 50% between 42,225 and 103,500 miles), based on 99 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Tl* the contact owns a 2008 lexus rx350. The contact stated that the automatic trunk door closed down on a family member without warning. There was no injury. The failure occurred several times with the trunk door automatically closing without warning. The contact scheduled a diagnostic appointment at lexus of…”
Structure · filed Dec 19, 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2008 lexus rx350. While reversing, the vehicle spontaneously accelerated and crashed into three trees. The steering wheel became uncontrollable/inoperable and the brake pedal was applied, but traveled to the floorboard. The contact turned off the ignition to stop the vehicle. There were no…”
Power Train · filed Oct 11, 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2008 lexus rx350. The contact stated that the entire dashboard was cracking from the driver's side to the passenger side. The vehicle was taken to lexus of wichita (1555 n greenwich rd, wichita, ks 67206, (316) 779-2606) where the contact was informed that the failure was cosmetic; therefore, it…”
Structure · filed Sep 30, 2019
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
157 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2008 Lexus RX350. The 10 most recent:
Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022
Safety Recall 22 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 13, 2022
TSB: This Service Bulletin includes procedures to replace damaged or loose front carpet floor retainer(s) without replacing the carpet assembly. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to replace the loose or…
L-SB-0006-22 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 9, 2022
TSB: Some 2005 ? 2022 model year Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address…
L-SB-0004-22 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 24, 2022
POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Lexus. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be…
Lexus PRO19-02 - · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 12, 2022
Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
Lexus Safety Re · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 31, 2021
TT: HVAC drain tube is found to blocked/clogged.
L-TT-0294-20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 30, 2020
TSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. This bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a fluid seep. Cases that are determined to…
L-SB-0002-20 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 5, 2020
TT: HVAC drain tube is found to blocked/clogged.
L-TT-0235-17 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 5, 2020
TSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. This bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a fluid seep. Cases that are determined to…
L-SB-0002-20 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 5, 2020
TT: HVAC drain tube is found to blocked/clogged.
L-TT-0235-17 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 5, 2020
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 2008 Lexus RX350 in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2008 Lexus RX350?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 70,000 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.