Carlexica

2008 Lexus ES: problems, recalls and reliability

0 recalls and 68 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (62% of complaints); the 2009 model year looks more trouble-free.

Data updated weekly

0
recalls
68
owner complaints
0
fire reports
67,000
typical failure mileage, mi

All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.

No fire reportsNo recall campaignsWeak spot: air bags (62%)

Common problems

Computed from 68 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

Air Bags (airbags and crash sensors)62% · 37 complaints
Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)7% · 4 complaints
Engine (engine mechanics)7% · 4 complaints
Structure (body, frame, doors, rust)7% · 4 complaints
Visibility/Wiper (windshield, wipers, defroster, mirrors)5% · 3 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control (unintended acceleration, cruise control)3% · 2 complaints
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 Lexus ES 350. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 153,000. However, a subsequent Carfax report revealed that the actual mileage was 245,000.Owner report · Electrical System · Nov 2025
The front control arms, their bushings and ball joints are failing. My car only has 125k miles on it, but it drifts and bounces around as if there is no struts at all. It is very scary to drive, it feels like something terrible is about to happen like a wheel snapping off and causing accident. I took it to several mechanics. They say it will cost $1,700k to replace ONE control arm! $3,400k for both. The rubber bushings are completely deteriorated due to the rubber being bad. (My dashboard is also melting, and the rubber weather stripping on all of the doors/windows)Owner report · Steering · Apr 2025
VVTI oil line ruptured This was part of a Limited Service Campaign by Lexus and I believe my vehicle's VIN was incorrectly excluded.Owner report · Engine · Feb 2024
Show 7 more owner reports
I am not writing about my car. I am writing about many other cars coming toward me at night with VERY BRIGHT headlights. There ought to be a law against multiple headlights, very bright headlights, headlights that shine directly into the eyes of oncoming vehicles. What is being done about this? I would like a reply to my concern. I live on an island with one two lane road north to south. There is no way to avoid oncoming traffic. [XXX] , [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Dec 2023
car was recalled for faulty air bags.i have tried numerous times to speak with someone,always with the same result-i am transferred 2 or 3 times and then i am promised a call back.i have not received a call back as of 6/20/2022.i think the first time i called was over a year ago.i am sure i called at least 4 times and spent many hours on hold being transferred.i have other things to do than sit on hold.i would like the problem fixed.Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2021
My vehicle dashboard is melting and i have tried to contact the dealer and they have told me that the recall has been expired on my vehicles and for me it is becoming a safety issue because whenever sun reflects on the dashboard and because its melting it makes a glare on my windshield and it effects on my visibility while driving the car.Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jan 2021
Driving to work (I'm a registered nurse), the car (on the highway) just started to slow down. It was a blessing that I was coming up on a rest stop. By the time I was able to get over to the exit lane, the steering wheel froze and the brakes stopped working. Pressing as hard as I possibly could, I was able to pull to the side when smoke started coming from under the hood. There was no warning at all that there was trouble with the engine prior to this happening. That same week, my mechanic had 3 other lexus with blown engines and no pre-warning. *trOwner report · Unknown Or Other · May 2020
Quality of seat leather is poor. I looked same year model with another brand, that car seats are looks good and better than lexus es350. I looked and compared wirh another es350 2009 also seats was cracked.Owner report · Seats · Dec 2019
My 2008 Lexus ES350 has been repaired at Northtown Lexus since 10/18/2019. The dealer and manufacturer indicated the door lock actuators are defective as original equipment. The dealer replaced only two door locks and referred me to Lexus Customer Service. Since 10/18/2019, I have NOT been able to obtain any relief from Northtown Lexus or Lexus Customer Service for these defective, factory original, door locks.Owner report · Electrical System · Oct 2019
The dealership Northtown Lexus, in Amherst New York, repaired the door actuators on my 2008 Lexus ES350 without my authorization. They claimed the door actuators were a factory defect however, they repaired two out of the four door actuators. The dealership Northtown Lexus completed this repair without my written or verbal authorization. The two driver's side door locks continues to malfunction. The dealership refuses to repair the problem.Owner report · Electrical System · Oct 2019

When filing, owners marked a crash in 7 of these complaints and injuries in 8 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.

Specifications

Factory options offered for the 2008 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.

Engines3.5L
Cylinders6
FuelGasoline
Drive type4x2
Body stylesSedan/Saloon

How other years compare

Check your exact ES by VIN

Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.

Open VIN decoder

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Lexus ES reliable?

NHTSA has 68 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record for the 2008 Lexus ES. The most complained-about area is air bags (62% of complaints).

At what mileage do 2008 Lexus ES problems usually appear?

Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 67,000 miles or less.

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.