Model year record

2008 Lexus Is 350 recalls & problems

The 2008 Lexus Is 350 has 8 safety recalls and 30 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (11 complaints).

Recalls8safety recalls

Complaints30filed by owners

Crashes · fires6 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Air bagsOct 17, 2019

Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Recall 19V741000928,220 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

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

Components: Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module; Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

Fuel system, gasolineJun 26, 2018

Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 18V432000114,998 vehicles

Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Lexus GS350 and GS450h, 2006-2013 Lexus IS350 and 2010-2014 Lexus IS350C vehicles, equipped with 3.5L V6 2GR-FSE gasoline engines. The diaphragms in the fuel pulsation dampers may harden over time and develop cracks, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery pipe with a new pipe that has improved pulsation dampers, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2018. Owners may contact Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's number for this recall is JLF.

Components: Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings; Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery

Air bagsJan 9, 2017

Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Recall 17V006000577,875 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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).

Air bagsMay 23, 2016

Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Recall 16V3400001,754,517 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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).

Fuel system, gasolineOct 15, 2014

Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 14V647000422,509 vehicles

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

EngineSep 4, 2013

Engine

Recall 13V395000101,584 vehicles

Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Lexus GS350 vehicles manufactured June 19, 2006, through July 12, 2011; and model year 2006-2011 Lexus IS350 vehicles manufactured May 27, 2005, through July 13, 2011; and model year 2010-2011 Lexus IS350c vehicles manufactured November 25, 2009, through July 19, 2011. These vehicles, equipped with the 2GR-FSE engine, use bolts to secure the housing and sprocket of the Variable-Valve Timing (VVT) system gear assembly. These bolts could become loose due to abnormal impacts generated within the gear assembly immediately after a cold start-up.
Risk: The loose bolts could cause the VVT gear housing and sprocket to separate and result in the engine stopping while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and Lexus dealers will replace the VVT unit free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Visibility/wiperJan 30, 2013

Visibility/wiper

Recall 13V030000267,718 vehicles

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

Engine and engine coolingJul 6, 2010

Engine

Recall 10V309000138,874 vehicles

Problem: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2008 LEXUS PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 26, 2005 THROUGH AUGUST 4, 2008. MICRO-FOREIGN OBJECTS IN THE MATERIAL OF THE VALVE SPRING MAY DEGRADE THE STRENGTH OF THE VALVE SPRING, POSSIBLY CAUSING THE SPRING TO BREAK.
Risk: THE ENGINE COULD FAIL AND STOP SUDDENLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

IS 350

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Air bagsKnee bolster	11	1	1	77,000 mi
Structure	7	0	0	56,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	5	4	0	14,283 mi
Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash	4	0	0	—
Steering	3	1	1	—
Unknown or other	3	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine	2	0	0	—
Power train	2	0	0	—
Visibility/wiper	2	0	0	—
Equipment adaptive/mobility	1	1	0	—
Equipment	1	1	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulic	1	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Unknown or other
SO I BOUGHT THE CAR JUST YESTERDAY AND I SEARCHED THE VIN IN UR WEBSITE AND I SAW THAT THERE IS ONE UNREPAIRED ISSUE AND I'M A LITTLE WORRIED IT COULD CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE LATER IN THE FUTURE IF I DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM TOLD ME THE CAR WAS GOOD WITH NO ISSUE SO I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED AFTER SEEING THIS. BELOW I SENT A SCREENSHOT OF THE ISSUE I SAW AND JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT DO I DO ABOUT IT.
May 15, 2019 · 110,252 miles
Air bags
THERE HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON MY VEHICLE. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, UNFORTUNATELY THE LIGHT WENT OUT, AND NO CODE WAS CAPTURED. IT WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER RECENTLY, AND A FAULT CODE WAS RECOGNIZED; A POSSIBLE KNEE AIRBAG ISSUE. WHEN TALKING WITH THE SERVICE WRITER, THEIR TECHNICIANS HAD MENTIONED IT WAS MOST LIKELY A SHORT IN A WIRING HARNESS AT A COST OF $3500 TO REPLACE. I WAS TOLD ALL OF THE AIRBAGS MAY BE INOPERATIVE WITH THE WARNING LIGHT ON, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT SURE. A NUMBER OF ONLINE LEXUS BLOGS TALK ABOUT SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES AND STRUGGLING WHY A FAULTY (DEFECTIVE) WIRING HARNESS THAT DISABLES ALL AIRBAGS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL. IT…
Feb 4, 2019 · 77,000 miles
Air bags
AFTER HITTING A HARD BUMP, THE VEHICLE THREW A B1866 CODE INDICATING AN OPEN CIRCUIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER KNEE AIRBAG. THE CONNECTOR HAS BECOME LOOSE AND AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN FREQUENTLY WITH THIS CONNECTOR OR ON THE DRIVER SIDE KNEE AIRBAG CONNECTOR.
Jan 11, 2019 · 153,000 miles
Air bags › Knee bolster
TAKATA RECALL. AFTER LETTING THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP DO THE RECALL ON MY AIRBAGS, I RECEIVED A AIRBAG LIGHT SHORTLY AFTER AND LET THEM KNOW I DIDN'T HAVE THE ISSUE UNTIL AFTER THEY SERVICED THE AIRBAG. THE ISSUE IS STATED THAT THEY MADE THE HARNESS TOO SHORT IN MY YEAR CAR AND LEXUS IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ERROR WHICH IS PUTTING MY LIFE AND MY CHILD'S LIFE IN DANGER IF WE WERE TO GET IN A ACCIDENT WITH MY CAR. THE AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED DUE TO THIS FAULTY HARNESS. WHEN CONTACTING CORPORATE THEY ONLY OFFERED TO HELP WITH $500 OF THE COST WHILE THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $3500 TO FIX. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR A ISSUE THAT LEXUS KNOWS WAS THERE MISTAKE.…
Jun 2, 2017 · 170,000 miles
Air bagsCrash1 injury
ON NOVEMBER 8, 2017, I WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN SANTA MONICA, CA AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM AN ALLEY ONTO A TWO-LANE RESIDENTIAL STREET. THE OTHER VEHICLE STRUCK ME ON THE LEFT FRONT CORNER OF MY CAR. WHILE THE AIRBAGS OF THE OTHER CAR WERE DEPLOYED , NONE OF MY AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. FURTHER, MY SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN ME AND THE TOP OF MY HEAD STRUCK THE LEFT 'A-PILLAR'. SOON AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I REQUESTED THAT LEXUS DOWNLOAD MY CAR'S EDR( AKA "BLACK BOX" ). THE INJURY TO THE TOP OF MY HEAD DID NOT TURN OUT TO BE SERIOUS. HOWEVER, ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, I STARTED HAVING PAIN IN MY LOWER RIGHT ABDOMEN. THIS WAS SOON THEREAFTER…
Nov 8, 2017 · 50,000 miles
Visibility/wiper
I HAVE A 2008 LEXUS IS 350 IN WHICH THE INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR HAS BECOME HAZY AND FILLED WITH BLACK LINES LIMITING REAR VISIBILITY. I HAVE READ SEVERAL BLOGS AND BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THIS SEEMS TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOLLOWING SAFETY GUIDELINES, HOWEVER LEXUS DOES NOT FEEL THE NEED TO REPLACE THE MIRROR WITHOUT $1000 OUT OF OWNERS POCKET. < 571.110 571.112 > SUBPART B - FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS 571.111 STANDARD NO. 111; REARVIEW MIRRORS. S1. SCOPE. THIS STANDARD SPECIFIES REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PERFORMANCE AND LOCATION OF REARVIEW MIRRORS. S2. PURPOSE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS STANDARD IS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AND INJURIES THAT…
Nov 20, 2017 · 104,000 miles
Steering
WHILE STATIONARY AND IN MOTION, WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, IT PRODUCES A GRINDING NOISE. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING HAS THE TENDENCY TO LOCK UP/CREATE RESISTANCE FOR A FEW SECONDS AS A RESULT THE CAR WANDERS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR INTO THE OTHER LANE/SHOULDER OF THE ROAD UNTIL IT BREAKS FREE WHICH THEN CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE OUT OF CONTROL AND I REGAIN CONTROL. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC FOR AN ESTIMATE. THE FAULT IDENTIFIED WAS THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MOTOR AND RACK AND PINION SYSTEM WAS NO GOOD. THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A YEAR BECAUSE IT IS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Jul 13, 2016 · 75,000 miles
Air bags
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS 350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Jan 10, 2017

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled…
EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021