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Lexus IS 350Model year report

2008 Lexus IS 350 Problems

Complaints
30filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
50,000miles, 23 complaints with mileage
Recalls
8campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
20 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl RWD · 18 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Lexus IS 350 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 30 consumer complaints for the 2008 Lexus IS 350. The part named most often is air bags, with 10 complaints (33% of the total), followed by body and structure (7) and vehicle speed control (5). 23 of the complaints include a mileage, and 48% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 50,000 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns and 182 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 3 recall campaigns covering the inflator module and 18 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Body and structure complaints overlap with 27 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Equipment (1), Seat belts (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “There has been an intermittent airbag warning light on my vehicle. When taken to the dealer for service, unfortunately the light went out, and no code was captured. It was returned to the dealer recently, and a fault code was recognized; a possible knee airbag issue. When talking with the service writer, their technicians had mentioned it was most likely a short in a wiring harness at a cost of $3500 to replace. I was told all of the airbags may be inoperative with the warning light on, but the dealership was not sure. …”

NHTSA complaint #11174298, filed 2019-02, 77,000 miles

Body and structure: “My 2008 Lexus is350 dashboard is melting, when the sun hit the dashboard it hard to see what in front of the road. Spoke with the Lexus dealer service, they told me my warranty is expired so they cannot do anything.”

NHTSA complaint #10619401, filed 2014-08

Vehicle speed control: “As I was parking my Lexus in a parking lot, the car suddenly shot forward, moving over the parking cement barrier and crashing into a wall. The car was repaired. After I received the recall notice from toyota relating to the floor mat issue, I made sure the floor mats were properly attached. This happened only once. I believe that the accident was caused by the floor mat sliding and pushing on the accelerator.”

NHTSA complaint #10319027, filed 2010-03, 3,894 miles

Electrical system: “Takata recall. After letting the Lexus dealership do the recall on my airbags, I received a airbag light shortly after and let them know I didn't have the issue until after they serviced the airbag. The issue is stated that they made the harness too short in my year car and Lexus is not taking responsibility for their error which is putting my life and my child's life in danger if we were to get in a accident with my car. The airbags are disabled due to this faulty harness. When contacting corporate they only offered to help with $500 of the cost while the dealership wants $3500 to fix. …”

NHTSA complaint #11084671, filed 2018-04, 170,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

48% of the 23 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 35,135 and 77,000 miles.

9%0–1013%10–2526%25–5017%50–7517%75–1009%100–1509%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (23 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 50,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

201020138201520172019
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2008 Lexus IS 350 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
IS 350 RWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic182520$4,100

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 8 recalls for the 2008 Lexus IS 350 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 182 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 182 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus IS 350

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20141434,0001522—Not enough data
2011555,5007—20—Not enough data
2010842,0008———Not enough data
20083050,0008—20Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Stable
20075370,0008—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20069380,0008—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Lexus IS 350 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Lexus IS 350 have?

NHTSA recorded 30 consumer complaints for the 2008 Lexus IS 350 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 Lexus IS 350 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 10 complaints (33% of the total), followed by body and structure with 7.

Has the 2008 Lexus IS 350 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Lexus IS 350 get?

The EPA rates the 2008 Lexus IS 350 (IS 350, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 18 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Lexus IS 350 reported?

Among the 23 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 50,000 miles and the middle half falls between 35,135 and 77,000 miles; 48% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.