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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2024
EngineUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

I was driving approx. 60 entering on ramp of freeway when car suddenly loses power to accelerator not entire car, i almost was hit by other drivers i couldnt accelerate or anything. I panicked then started pumping accelerator then it finally catches and sped up. I immediately got off freeway. Then next day CEL, Check VSC light a…

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I was driving approx. 60 entering on ramp of freeway when car suddenly loses power to accelerator not entire car, i almost was hit by other drivers i couldnt accelerate or anything. I panicked then started pumping accelerator then it finally catches and sped up. I immediately got off freeway. Then next day CEL, Check VSC light and skid light all came on. This car is very dangerous. WHATCAN I DO??? I refuse to use the freeway until this problem is resolved.

NHTSA ODI #11579738

123,000 miles · Jul 31, 2019
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrash

I BOUGHT 2008 LEXUS IS250 WITH 123K MILES ON 05/18/19. I HAD INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC PRIOR TO PURCHASING IT. ON ONE OCASSION PROR TO ACCIDENT, I BACKED OUT OF A DRIVE WAY. WHEN I SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IT SUDDEN ACCELERATED FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, BUT IT WAS CLEAR IN FRONT OF ME AND I REMAIN IN CONT…

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I BOUGHT 2008 LEXUS IS250 WITH 123K MILES ON 05/18/19. I HAD INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC PRIOR TO PURCHASING IT. ON ONE OCASSION PROR TO ACCIDENT, I BACKED OUT OF A DRIVE WAY. WHEN I SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IT SUDDEN ACCELERATED FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, BUT IT WAS CLEAR IN FRONT OF ME AND I REMAIN IN CONTROL. IT ONLY HAPPENED TO ME THAT ONE TIME THAT WEEK AND I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. IN THE MORNING OF MAY 29, 2019 THE CAR WAS PARALLEL PARKED WITH A VEHICLE BOTH IN FRONT BEHIND IT. MY WIFE SLOWLY BACK UP THE CAR TO ALLOW ROOM TO PULL OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT. SHE TURN THE FRONT WHEELS TOWARDS THE CURB SO THAT THE FRONT OF THE CAR WOULD SLIGHTLY STICK OUT. WHEN SHE SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMP OVER THE CURB AND HIT THE CONCRETE WALL OF A SCHOOL. SHE PANICKED AT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND DOES NOT REMEMBER IF SHE STEP ON ANY PEDAL DURING THAT TIME. SHE ONLY KNOWS IT ACCELERATED AS SOON AS SHE SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND THEN THE CAR HIT THE WALL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO OTHER CAR WAS INVOLVED. WE MOVED THE CAR OFF THE SIDE WALK AND NOTIFIED THE INSURANCE AND THE SCHOOL ADMIN.THE INSURANCE DECLARED IT A TOTAL LOSS AND TOOK OWNERSHIP OF IT. A GASOLINE CAR ACCELERATE BY OPENING THE THROTTLE TO ALLOW MORE AIR INTO THE ENGINE. THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SUDDENLY OPEN DUE TO THE PHYSICAL ELECTRONICS AND/OR SOFTWARE CONTROLLING IT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFT BETWEEN REVERSE AND DRIVE. DR. RONALD A. BELT THEORY SEEMS PLAUSIBLE. IF TRUE YOU WOULD THINK JUST CHANGING THE SOFTWARE TO GET AN AVERAGE OF VOLTAGE SAMPLES WOULD PREVENT THE OVER COMPENSATION OF THE ECU THROTTLE CONTROLLER CAUSE BY LOW VOLTAGE SPIKES. HTTPS://WWW.AUTOSAFETY.ORG/DR-RONALD-A-BELTS-SUDDEN-ACCELERATION-PAPERS/

NHTSA ODI #11240965

104,000 miles · Jan 3, 2017
EngineVehicle Speed Control

IN AUGUST 2012 MY CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT AND VSC LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND MULTIPLE MISFIRES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE GASKET AND 3 PISTONS AND RING SETS UNDER WARRANTY. MY CAR ENGINE HAS CONTINUED TO INTERMITTENTLY SHUDDER WHEN MOVING AND WHEN IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS. TODAY (1/3/17) I WAS DRIVING ON…

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IN AUGUST 2012 MY CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT AND VSC LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND MULTIPLE MISFIRES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE GASKET AND 3 PISTONS AND RING SETS UNDER WARRANTY. MY CAR ENGINE HAS CONTINUED TO INTERMITTENTLY SHUDDER WHEN MOVING AND WHEN IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS. TODAY (1/3/17) I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEED AND ONCE AGAIN MY ENGINE LIGHT AND VSC LIGHT ARE LIT UP. I RECEIVED THE 9 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR CARBON BUILDUP, BUT IT ONLY COVERS ME THROUGH 3/8/17. IF I HAVE CARBON BUILDUP AGAIN AFTER THAT, IT WILL COST ME $2,000-$3,000 TO FIX. THE ENGINE FAILURE IN THESE IS250S (2006-2013) IS RAMPANT AND THE CAR MODEL NEEDS TO RECALLED AND REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10939530

5,000 miles · Nov 26, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control

IN EARLY 02/09 I WAS DRIVING HOME ON INTERSTATE 695 N IN MARYLAND. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 95 MPH THROUGH NO EFFORT OF MY OWN. I DID NOT ENGAGE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO INCREASE THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY ENGAGED THE FOOT BRAKE TO DECELERATE AND BUT T…

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IN EARLY 02/09 I WAS DRIVING HOME ON INTERSTATE 695 N IN MARYLAND. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 95 MPH THROUGH NO EFFORT OF MY OWN. I DID NOT ENGAGE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO INCREASE THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY ENGAGED THE FOOT BRAKE TO DECELERATE AND BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW. EVENTUALLY AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR WITH THE BRAKE BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO VIOLENTLY REV. AS I RELEASED THE FOOT BRAKE, THE CAR ONCE AGAIN ACCELERATED WITHOUT ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. EVEN AFTER ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, THE UNAIDED ACCELERATION AND MY ATTEMPT TO DECELERATE THE CAR CONTINUED. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR ENOUGH TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC AND OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND EVENTUALLY STOP THE MOTION OF THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV VIOLENTLY, THE BACK TIRES SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND THE BACK OF THE CAR STARTED TO FISH TAIL. I TRIED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TACTICS TO STOP THE CAR COMPLETELY INCLUDING, ATTEMPTING TO MANUALLY SHIFT GEARS, PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL ETC. FINALLY, AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE ORDEAL CAME TO AN END WITHOUT DAMAGING THE CAR AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WITHOUT INJURY TO ME OR OTHERS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP THAT NIGHT AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO THE SERVICE ORGANIZATION THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE SERVICE TEAM CONDUCTED MULTIPLE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE OR EXPLAIN THE CAUSE OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION TO MY SATISFACTION. ONE SERVICE REP SUGGESTED THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS THE CAUSE BUT I HAD CHECKED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ORDEAL THE NIGHT BEFORE TO ENSURE THAT THE FLOOR MAT HAD NOT BECOME LODGED UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. SINCE THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, I DECIDED THAT THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO RETURN THE CAR AND LEASE ANOTHER CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10293664

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.