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2008 Lexus Is

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

60 reports with mileage · 42 unknown

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.

  • Engine. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Steering complaints

4 reports
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95,000 miles · Dec 27, 2021
Air BagsSteeringCrashInjury

The contact owned a 2008 Lexus IS350. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 mph, the steering wheel began to turn to the left independently and crashed into a parked vehicle. The contact’s vehicle rolled over and landed on its roof before stopping. None of the air bags deploy upon impact. A bystander assisted the con…

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The contact owned a 2008 Lexus IS350. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 mph, the steering wheel began to turn to the left independently and crashed into a parked vehicle. The contact’s vehicle rolled over and landed on its roof before stopping. None of the air bags deploy upon impact. A bystander assisted the contact to exit the vehicle by breaking the front passenger side window with his foot. The contact was transported to the hospital by ambulance. The contact sustained bruising on her face and body. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the insurance company lot and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was serviced for the air bags recall however, the dealer only replaced the passenger’s side air bag inflator and used masking tape for the engine hoses. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000. Seat belt held the consumer upside down like a hammock. The black box did not say seat belt was in use. Prior to accident consumer was driving by construction site and heard loud screeching scraping under car. Car steering or linkage went out and car went to left. Consumer did not intentionally steer car left. Consumer was blamed for accident when car malfunctioned.

NHTSA ODI #11445082

62,846 miles · Feb 15, 2021
Air BagsSteering

GOT A AIRBAG LIGHT ON WHEN I STARTED MY CAR THIS MORNING. EVERYTHING IS INTACT. WAS READING FORUMS ABOUT IT. SAYS THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON. PLEASE LET ME KNOW I DID NOT TAKE A PICTURE. BUT IF NEEDED I CAN TAKE A PICTURE AND SEND IT TO YOU.

NHTSA ODI #11396356

147,000 miles · Sep 8, 2019
Steering

AFTER DRIVING THROUGH A DEEPER PUDDLE ON THE ROAD MY ELECTRON POWER STEERING STARTED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND AFTER STOPPING BRIEFLY TO BUY SOME SNACKS, MY ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING QUIT COMPLETELY. IT NOW NO LONGER WORKS AT ALL, AND THE ONLY WAY TO STEER IT IS WITH MANUAL (VERY HEAVY) STEERING. IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE DR…

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AFTER DRIVING THROUGH A DEEPER PUDDLE ON THE ROAD MY ELECTRON POWER STEERING STARTED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND AFTER STOPPING BRIEFLY TO BUY SOME SNACKS, MY ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING QUIT COMPLETELY. IT NOW NO LONGER WORKS AT ALL, AND THE ONLY WAY TO STEER IT IS WITH MANUAL (VERY HEAVY) STEERING. IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR THE PAST 3 WEEKS.

NHTSA ODI #11253961

59,998 miles · May 22, 2014
Steering

WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT LINE, MOST OF THE TIME WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A NORMAL CORRECTION IT WOULD FEEL LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS CAUGHT ON A MAGNET AND I NEEDED TO TUG THE STEERING LOOSE. THIS CAUSES ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR FOR FEW SECONDS TO CORRECT THE STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593530

Official recalls

3

11V029000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

Jan 26, 2011

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 LEXUS IS AND MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 LEXUS GS VEHICLES. DUE TO INSUFFICIENT TIGHTENING OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR CONNECTED TO AN ENGINE FUEL DELIVERY PIPE WITH NICKEL PHOSPHORUS PLATING, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT, OVER TIME, THE PRESSURE SENSOR COULD LOOSEN. IF LOOSENING OCCURS, FUEL COULD LEAK PAST A GASKET USED IN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SENSOR AND THE PIPE AND THROUGH THE THREADED PORTION OF THE SENSOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE THREADED PORTION OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR AND IF A FUEL LEAK IS NOT CONFIRMED, DEALERS WILL FURTHER TIGHTEN THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR WITH THE PROPER TORQUE. IF A FUEL LEAK IS CONFIRMED, THE GASKET BETWEEN THE SENSOR AND THE FUEL DELIVER PIPE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE, AND THE SENSOR WILL BE TIGHTENED WITH THE PROPER TORQUE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 7, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

09V388000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Oct 5, 2009

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: TOYOTA FILED AN AMENDED DEFECT REPORT ON NOVEMBER 25, 2009, STATING THAT DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND, ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ALTER THE SHAPE OF THE FLOOR SURFACE UNDER THE PEDAL. THESE CHANGES ADDRESS THE RISK OF PEDAL ENTRAPMENT DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLOOR MAT. REDESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDALS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BEGINNING IN APRIL 2010 AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY MODIFIED PEDAL WITH THE NEW PEDAL IF DESIRED. ALSO, DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY GENUINE TOYOTA OR LEXUS ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS WITH REDESIGNED ALL-WEATHER MATS, OR REPURCHASE THE PREVIOUS MATS FROM OWNERS WHO DO NOT WANT THE NEW ONES. ADDITIONALLY, SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS WILL BE INSTALLED ON CAMRY, AVALON AND LEXUS ES 350, IS 350 AND IS 250 MODELS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE OVERRIDES THE ACCELERATOR IN THE EVENT BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE APPLIED. TOYOTA WILL BEGIN MAILING LETTERS TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331, LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

09V020000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Jan 16, 2009

TOYOTA IS RECALLING 214,570 MY 2006-2008 LEXUS IS, MY 2006-2007 GS AND MY 2007-2008 LS PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM FUEL DELIVERY PIPES (FUEL RAILS). ETHANOL FUELS WITH A LOW MOISTURE CONTENT WILL CORRODE THE INTERNAL SURFACE OF THE FUEL RAILS. AS THIS CONDITION PROGRESSES, THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OVER TIME, THE CORROSION MAY CREATE A PINHOLE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FUEL DELIVERY PIPES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA/LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

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.