2008 Lexus RX350 recalls & problems

Safety recalls

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.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

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

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

Recent owner complaints

• Structure › Body › Trunk lid

  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 RICHMOND (703 MIDLOTHIAN TURNPIKE, RICHMOND, VA 23235, (804) 323-8000). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

  Dec 18, 2019 · 109,000 miles
• Vehicle speed controlCrash

  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 WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, BUT A REPORT WAS FILED 3 DAYS LATER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED COMPONENTS WERE WORKING PROPERLY AND…

  Sep 29, 2019 · 103,000 miles
• Structure › Body

  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 WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED FOR FREE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

  Jun 5, 2018 · 80,000 miles
• Structure

  2008 LEXUS RX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DETERIORATING DASH BOARD. *LD *JS

  Feb 1, 2019
• Engine

  MASSIVE CATASTROPHIC OIL LEAK. NOTICED HOT OIL SMELL. NO OIL ON DIPSTICK. OIL SPRAYING OUT AT BOTTOM OF ENGINE, RIGHT FRONT. CAR TOWED TO SHOP. OIL HOSE BETWEEN COOLER AND FILTER BURST. KNOWN PROBLEM. TOYOTA/LEXUS HAS MADE AN UPGRADED PART BUT NOT NOTIFIED MOST OWNERS AND WILL NOT REPLACE UNTIL IT FAILS. WHEN IT FAILS CAR CAN CATCH FIRE AND SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE RESULTS. MANY VIDEOS AND REPORTS ON THE INTERNET AS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM.

  Apr 23, 2019 · 185,000 miles
• Steering

  I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW RACK & PINON DUE TO LEAKAGE WITH LESS THAN 92,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED JUST 2 YEARS AGO AND HAD ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE RECORDS FROM PREVIOUS OWNER & DEALER SERVICE. HAVE HAD REGULAR SERVICE SINCE PURCHASING IT - WHICH IS HOW ISSUE WAS DISCOVERED. WILL COST OVER $1500 TO REPAIR. UPON DOING SOME INVESTIGATION ON-LINE, I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER EXPERIENCING THIS IN UNDER 100,000 MILEAGES.

  Nov 14, 2018 · 89,000 miles
• Engine

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE OIL COOLER LINE BURST AND ALL THE OIL LEAKED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME WHERE HE REPLACED THE OIL COOLER LINE HIMSELF. THE CONTACT FOUND THERE WAS INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE AND A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

  Sep 29, 2018 · 80,000 miles
• Power train

  THERE WAS A WINING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I STARTED MY SUV UP IN THE MORNING THERE WAS A LOUD WINING SOUND. THE SOUND LOWERED AS THE CAR WARMED UP, NUT WHEN I PUT THE CARE IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATED THE NOUS BECAME LOUDER. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT HAS THE POWER STEERING SO I HAD THEM REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. BUT BEFORE THEY RETURNED THE CAR TO ME THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE AND THAT I NOW NEEDED A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL. AT 120,000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD CLEAN THE TRANSMISSION OIL MOTOR PAN AND THAT COULD STOP THE NOISE FOR NOW. THE DEALER CLEANED OIL PAN AND THE NOISE STOPPED. I AND TOLD…

  Sep 19, 2018 · 120,300 miles

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