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2008 Lexus GX470

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 8 of 13 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

13 reports
150,000 miles · Jun 13, 2019
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS GX470. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND SWAYED BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOWSON LEXUS (1040 YORK RD, TOWSON, MD) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS GX470. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND SWAYED BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOWSON LEXUS (1040 YORK RD, TOWSON, MD) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #11219784

158,000 miles · Jun 5, 2019
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL CAR RIDE WAS LIKE RIDING A WILD BRONCO

NHTSA ODI #11218139

85,000 miles · Nov 15, 2017
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS GX470. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HERB CHAMBERS LEXUS OF HINGHAM (141 DERBY ST, HINGHAM, MA 02043 (781) 210-5200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVETRAIN AND…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS GX470. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HERB CHAMBERS LEXUS OF HINGHAM (141 DERBY ST, HINGHAM, MA 02043 (781) 210-5200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVETRAIN AND DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #11046217

58,000 miles · Mar 23, 2014
Air BagsService BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

I WAS DRIVING AND MERGING FROM THE LOCAL LANES ON MARYLAND I-270 SB TO THE MAIN LANES. IN ORDER TO MOVE SLOWLY FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER, I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND MOVE TO THE LANE ON MY LEFT. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE, I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND AND THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE, THEREFOR…

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I WAS DRIVING AND MERGING FROM THE LOCAL LANES ON MARYLAND I-270 SB TO THE MAIN LANES. IN ORDER TO MOVE SLOWLY FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER, I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND MOVE TO THE LANE ON MY LEFT. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE, I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND AND THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE, THEREFORE I ATTEMPTED TO RE-APPLY THE BRAKES ONCE MORE. AT THIS POINT, THE BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE BEYOND MY CONTROL. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED USING THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE HIT SEVERAL CARS TO MY LEFT AND RIGHT. AFTERWARDS, MY VEHICLE HIT A LARGE TRACTOR TRAILER AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS, MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE DAMAGES BY MY INSURANCE, LIBERTY MUTUAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574289

59,475 miles · Apr 29, 2013
Electrical System

I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE KEY IGNITION, I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HADN'T LOCKED IN PLACE. I TRIED TWO OTHER KEYS AND FINALLY THE IGNITION TURNED AND THE CAR STARTED. I DROVE TO MY DESTINATION AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND LOCKED THE DOORS. I WENT OUT TO RESTART THE CAR AND THE KEY WOULD N…

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I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE KEY IGNITION, I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HADN'T LOCKED IN PLACE. I TRIED TWO OTHER KEYS AND FINALLY THE IGNITION TURNED AND THE CAR STARTED. I DROVE TO MY DESTINATION AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND LOCKED THE DOORS. I WENT OUT TO RESTART THE CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AGAIN. I CALLED LEXUS OF CONCORD AND THEY ADVISED ME TO BRING IT IN. I FINALLY GOT IT STARTED AND DROVE IT THE 15 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP, AT THE END OF THE DAY I RECEIVED A CALL SAYING THAT I NEEDED A NEW IGNITION STARTER CYLINDER AND ALL THE KEYS NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED TO MATCH THE NEW CYLINDER THEY WOULD INSTALL. IT WOULD TAKE A DAYS LABOR AND COST OF THE CYLINDER AND REPROGRAMMING. COST WAS $616.00. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE WARRANTY WAS OUT AT 50,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS. I AM 4.5 YEARS AND 59,500 MILES. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A HISTORY OF THIS PART GOING OUT BUT USUALLY IT HAPPENED BEFORE THE WARRANTY WAS UP. MY QUESTION IS IF THERE IS A HISTORY, SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL ON THIS PART??!! I AM EXTREMELY UPSET WITH A LUXURY CAR HAVEN'T PROBLEMS AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. WHAT ELSE DO I LOOK FORWARD TO IN BREAKING AND HOW MUCH WILL IT BE? THIS DOES NOT MEET THE LEXUS STANDARDS I WAS EXPECTING WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510010

35,000 miles · May 10, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FOR THE THIRD TIME, THE BRAKES ON OUR 2008 LEXUS GX FAILED. THIS TIME, WHEN PUT IN REVERSE IN THE GARAGE, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED MOVING--HITTING OUR GARAGE DOOR AS IT WAS GOING UP. THE CAR THEN CONTINUED ANOTHER 40 FEET, INTO A RETAINING WALL--REPEATED PRESSING OF THE BRAKES DID NOTHING--AS IN EARLIER TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10399751

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicInjury

2008 LEXUS GX470. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- EMAIL TO THE SECRETARY FROM RE TOYOTA LEXUS PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HE SUDDENLY CAME UPON OTHER VEHICLES AHEAD OF HIM. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME, BUT SOMETHING MISFIRED IN THE ABS AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A BUCKING MODE. THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE WOUL…

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2008 LEXUS GX470. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- EMAIL TO THE SECRETARY FROM RE TOYOTA LEXUS PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HE SUDDENLY CAME UPON OTHER VEHICLES AHEAD OF HIM. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME, BUT SOMETHING MISFIRED IN THE ABS AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A BUCKING MODE. THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE WOULD SEIZE AND THEN RELEASE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD COAST FOR 2-3 SECONDS. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS SON RECEIVED A MILD WHIPLASH FROM THE SEVERE LURCHING OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SEIZING AND RELEASING OF THE BRAKES ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10363314

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2010
Service Brakes, Electric

ON MARCH 22, 2010, WHILE BACKING OUT OF OUR GARAGE, OUR LEXUS GX470 EXPERIENCED A BRAKE FAILURE. THE DRIVER, [XXX], EVEN OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND PUT HER FOOT DOWN TO TRY TO STOP THE CAR. INSTEAD THE DOOR WAS ALSO DAMAGED WHEN THE CAR HIT A RETAINING WALL. LATER THAT SAME DAY, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN, BUT THE CAR W…

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ON MARCH 22, 2010, WHILE BACKING OUT OF OUR GARAGE, OUR LEXUS GX470 EXPERIENCED A BRAKE FAILURE. THE DRIVER, [XXX], EVEN OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND PUT HER FOOT DOWN TO TRY TO STOP THE CAR. INSTEAD THE DOOR WAS ALSO DAMAGED WHEN THE CAR HIT A RETAINING WALL. LATER THAT SAME DAY, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN, BUT THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE STOPPED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334139

Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS GX470. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY SURGED FORWARD RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED LEXUS DEALER TO BE EXAMINED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10327751

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2010
Service Brakes, Electric

LEXUS GX 470 ONE OCCURRENCE A HESITANCE BETWEEN THE TIME THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND ACTUAL BRAKING OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CIRCUMSTANCES ON A CURVY ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10313305

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.