IllustrationREAR LIFTGATE HANDLE MELTING WHEN CAR IS OPERATIONAL. HOT TO THE TOUCH. HAVE READ THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MULTIPLE LEXUS/TOYOTA MODELS.
2008 Lexus RX350
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most RX350 years
Owner complaints for the 2008 Lexus RX350 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 29.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RX350 years →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
150–25K
1525–50K
2550–75K
2075–100K
21100–150K
5150K+
101 reports with mileage · 25 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.
- Structure. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports4 fire reports7 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
17 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE BULBS WERE REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE BULBS WERE REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE STATUTE HAD EXPIRED TO RECEIVE A MANUFACTURER RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. THE NOISE WAS ONLY PRESENT FOR A FEW SECONDS, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CAMSHAFT SENSORS WERE FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. THE NOISE WAS ONLY PRESENT FOR A FEW SECONDS, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CAMSHAFT SENSORS WERE FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 05/09/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CAM GEARS. POSSIBLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP. UPDATED 7/6/18*JB *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE CONTACT DISENGAGED THE AIR CONDITION COMPRESSOR, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITION COMPRESSOR NE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE CONTACT DISENGAGED THE AIR CONDITION COMPRESSOR, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITION COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 08/05/16*LJ *CN
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WHITE GRANULES EMITTING FROM EVAPORATOR CORE THROUGH AIR VENTS WHEN HEAT/AC IS ON. CONCERN ABOUT HEALTH HAZARDS TO FAMILY FROM BREATHING PARTICLES.
HATCH HANDLE FOR REAR DOOR MELTED. REAR INTERIOR MODULE BUCKLING.
THE REAR SWITCH ON THE TAILGATE IS MELTED. WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE BUTTON IF FEELS STICKY AND COMES OFF ON YOUR HANDS. TO REPLACE THIS PART IT COST 100.00 FOR THE PART AND 200.00 TO INSTALL. WHEN I LOOKED ONLINE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE MAKING OF THIS PART. IT HAS FAILED.
MELTED RUBBER BOOT HANDLE COVER FOR THE REAR LATCH CAUSING REAR DOOR AUTOMATIC LIFT TO STOP FUNCTIONING ISSUE REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES ON HTTP://WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUMS WITH INCIDENT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE INVOLVED.
REAR LATCH MELTED, NOT DUE TO TEMPERATURES IN THE CITY AND STATE WHERE I LIVE BUT INSTEAD TO A ELECTRICAL COMPONENT OVERHEATING. LEXUS WILL NOT FIX WITHOUT A CHARGE OF OVER $200. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT
PART# 84840G 8484021010 SWITCH ASSEMBLY, BACK DOOR OPENER - RUBBER COVER OF SWITCH HOUSING DETERIORATES/DEPOLYMERIZES LEAVING BEHIND A HAZARDOUS GOO AND HINDERING OPERATION OF REAR HATCH RELEASE MECHANISM. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.