IllustrationTHE RUBBER COVER OF THE LIFTGATE SENSOR MELTED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IT CATCHING FIRE. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE BLACK RUBBER MELTS AND STICKS TO FINGERS. I ALSO CAUSES THE SENSOR TO MALFUNCTION SINCE THE RUBBER PIECE INTERFERES WITH THE SENSOR. *TR
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 reportsREAR SWITCH ASSEMBLY PART #84840 FAILED. CAR IS SUBJECT TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TEMPERATURES AND IS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. PLASTIC MELTED THE REAR DOOR MANUAL SWITCH/HANDLE AND PROVIDE A MELTED TAR LIKE SUBSTANCE BEHIND. NO ACCIDENT OR ANY MISUSE WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE. *TR
TRUNK HATCH HANDLE HAS MELTED COMPLETELY, LEAVING BLACK RUBBERY GOO. UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK TRUNK DUE THIS ISSUE. *TR
THE TRUNK HATCH HANDLE HAS MELTED, LEAVING BLACK RUBBERY GOO ON FINGERS IF OPENING USING THE HANDLE. RESIDUE IS HARD TO WASH OFF. CONCERNED THAT IT MELTED DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I'VE READ ALL COMPLAINTS AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
I NOTICED MY BACK DOOR OPENER SWITCH WAS STARTING TO MELT. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT ITS FROM THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER BUT THEN AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WE THOUGHT THAT WE'VE HAD THE CAR FOR 4 PREVIOUS SUMMERS WITH NO ISSUES WITH SAID BUTTON. WE THOUGHT THAT THERE MUST BE SOME ELECTRICAL COMPONENT INSIDE THE AUTOMATIC BUTTON THAT MUS…
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I NOTICED MY BACK DOOR OPENER SWITCH WAS STARTING TO MELT. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT ITS FROM THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER BUT THEN AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WE THOUGHT THAT WE'VE HAD THE CAR FOR 4 PREVIOUS SUMMERS WITH NO ISSUES WITH SAID BUTTON. WE THOUGHT THAT THERE MUST BE SOME ELECTRICAL COMPONENT INSIDE THE AUTOMATIC BUTTON THAT MUST BE GETTING TOO HOT THAT'S CAUSING THE HARD PLASTIC TO MELT. *TR
JUST WISH TO REPORT MELTED REAR DOOR LATCH... BEEN GETTING GOOEY FOR MONTHS AND FINALLY CAME OFF - SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL LEXUS AND TOYOTA VEHICLES. WASN'T SURE IF THIS IS HEAT RELATED OR ELECTRICAL. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 LEXUS RX350 ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH AND MY SON ROLLED DOWN HIS WINDOW AND INSTANTANEOUSLY THERE WAS AN EXTREME AND PAINFULL CABIN PRESSURE THAT LEXUS CALL "NORMAL CABIN PRESSURE". IT STARTLED ME, I ALMOST CRASHED WITH MY WIFE AND TWO KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME.IT MAKES YOUR EARS HUT, VERY PAINFULL. I BOUGHT A …
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I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 LEXUS RX350 ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH AND MY SON ROLLED DOWN HIS WINDOW AND INSTANTANEOUSLY THERE WAS AN EXTREME AND PAINFULL CABIN PRESSURE THAT LEXUS CALL "NORMAL CABIN PRESSURE". IT STARTLED ME, I ALMOST CRASHED WITH MY WIFE AND TWO KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME.IT MAKES YOUR EARS HUT, VERY PAINFULL. I BOUGHT A LEXUS BECAUSE OF T HE QUALITY AND LUXURY THAT THE LEXUS CORPORATION PORTAYS. I AM VEY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THIS IS NORMAL CABIN PRESSURE. THE CORPORATE OFFICE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND IS NO LONGER WANTING TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER ANY FURTHER WITH ME. THEY SAID THAT I WILL HAVE TO HIRE A LAWYER IF I WANT TO PURSUE THIS MATTER ANY FURTHER. I THINK THAT THE LEXUS CORPORATION IS PROMOTING FALSE ADVERTISEMENT BY CLAIMING THAT THEY ARE COMMITED TO HIGH QUALITY AND LUXURY WHILE STILL MASS PRODUCING THE LEXUS RX MODEL WITH THIS DEFFECT OF "NORMAL CABIN PRESSURE". THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING. I FINALLY BUY A LUXURY VEHICLE AND IT TURNS OUT TO BE DEFECTIVE WITH NO APPARENT SOLUTION. BASSICALLY I JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS EAR PEARCING ANNOYANCE. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT WITH LEXUS.I PAYED SO MUCH MONEY FOR A DISAPPOINTMENT! *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.