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2008 Lexus Rx

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Lexus Rx do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 29.

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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

38 reports with mileage · 32 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 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2026
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

Dear Sir or Madam. My name is [XXX], [XXX], [XXX] living in [XXX]. I bought my 2008 Lexus RX400h car, used, in 2014 at a non-Lexus dealership in the [XXX] where I used to live. My Lexus VIN is: [XXX]. I've been satisfied with the car..until today. The car had been running smoothly forever, and this morning while I was driving …

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Dear Sir or Madam. My name is [XXX], [XXX], [XXX] living in [XXX]. I bought my 2008 Lexus RX400h car, used, in 2014 at a non-Lexus dealership in the [XXX] where I used to live. My Lexus VIN is: [XXX]. I've been satisfied with the car..until today. The car had been running smoothly forever, and this morning while I was driving I came to a stop (red light) and the car suddenly shut down completely, including the loss of lights, and the whole dashboard went dark. Other cars behind me were honking their horns. I could not even turn on the hazard lights. After 1-2 minutes, all of the lights/warnings started coming on one after the other. I started the car again and run around three different errands without having further issues. I checked online to see if other owners had experienced a similar situation, which is the case. One person said that there had been two recalls in 2011 and 2013, both related to the inverter module inside the hybrid system. Although, I called today a Lexus dealership, [XXX], located in [XXX], and I was told there are no recalls for the VIN number that I provided. Another owner said she/he went to a Lexus dealer in [XXX] and she was told it was a defect in the gutter drainage design and that water gets into the hybrid system. This is a dangerous and potentially catastrophic situation if the vehicle suddenly shuts down on a freeway/highway putting passengers in risk of harm, injury, or death. This is a horrific defect which Lexus should correct immediately with a recall before one of us ends up at the cementery. I am glad to know that organizations such as the NHTSA exist, and I will appreciate very much that immediate action is taken on this matter. Sincerely, [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11743901

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2024
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

I put my 2008 Lexus in reverse and had my foot on the brakes the entire time as I was on an incline. Suddenly , without provocation, the car propelled backwards and as much as I pumped the brakes, the car continued to hurl backwards full speed. I crashed into another car in my driveway, and finally got the car to stop after su…

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I put my 2008 Lexus in reverse and had my foot on the brakes the entire time as I was on an incline. Suddenly , without provocation, the car propelled backwards and as much as I pumped the brakes, the car continued to hurl backwards full speed. I crashed into another car in my driveway, and finally got the car to stop after suffering a lot of damage. Thank you.

NHTSA ODI #11576347

50,000 miles · Oct 16, 2012
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE POLICE WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE POLICE WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THAT THE INVESTIGATION OF THE FAILURE WOULD TAKE THIRTY DAYS TO COMPLETE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS GIVEN BACK TO HER AFTER THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE MEMORY CARD THAT WAS RETRIEVED WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10480747

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2007
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN BY DENICA GORDON-MANDEL (WIFE). DRIVER WAS ON TOP FLOOR OF A PARKING GARAGE ADJOINING A DEPARTMENT STORE. DRIVER APPLIED GAS TO PULL INTO PARKING SPACE, THEN DRIVER APPLIED BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN, THEN DRIVER TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE. CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND SLAMMED INTO WALL OF PARKING STRUCTURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208812

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.