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Lexus RXModel year report

2008 Lexus RX Problems

Compared with other Lexus RX years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

15/100 0.4× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
70filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
114,183miles, 38 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
25 mpgcombined, 3.3L 6-cyl · hybrid FWD · 27 city / 24 hwy

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

What owners report

Owners of the 2008 Lexus RX report two distinct clusters: brake-system problems that appear at higher mileage and involve the brake actuator or booster, and engine oil leaks traced to the oil cooler/VVT-i line, which several owners describe as appearing without warning and sometimes leading to engine damage. A separate, very common theme is interior trim and dashboard material breaking down with heat and age, reported even on low-mileage cars.

  1. Brakes

    Brake actuator/booster fault with dash warnings and hard

    • 15 complaints (21%)
    • median 138,000 mi at 12.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2019–2026

    Complaints describe brake, ABS, VSC and traction warning lights coming on together, sometimes with a buzzer, and the brake pedal going to the floor or requiring very heavy pressure. Owners say the brakes can behave inconsistently, releasing after a stop or locking up, and several report diagnosis as a failed brake actuator or brake booster. According to complaints, dealers acknowledged the fault but declined assistance because an extended warranty period had ended. Mostly reported between roughly 100,000 and 200,000 miles, though a few owners describe it on cars with very low indicated mileage.

    What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the brake actuator or booster has been replaced, and have a pre-purchase inspection check for stored ABS/VSC codes. A soft or long pedal and warning lights at start-up are reasons to walk away or budget for repair.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “When driving I would have all the lights on my dash come on with a dinging sound and when I go to press on my brakes vehicle will not stop unless I press down hard on the brake this is really dangerous will cause a deadly crash and to replace this will cost 3000 dollars that I do not have I reall believe RX 400h have a defeat with there braking system.”

    NHTSA complaint #11390804, filed 2021-01, 198,000 miles

    “The brake actuator has malfunctioned. Lexus has verified this has happened to my vehicle this week. They have declined any assistance, including replacement of the part and labor, providing me the part to replace myself (at no cost for the part), and even refuse to sell me the part at their manufactured cost basis. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11322809, filed 2020-04, 140,000 miles
  2. Engine

    Engine oil leak from cooler/VVT-i line

    • 11 complaints (16%)
    • median 114,366 mi at 11.8 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2016–2025

    Owners describe oil loss from a rubber section of the oil cooler or VVT-i line, sometimes as a pinhole leak or sudden rupture that empties the engine in minutes. Complaints mention oil under the car, smoke and burning smell while driving, and engines that began making grinding noises; some report engine damage or replacement. Several owners say the dealer would not act until the part actually failed, and complaints reference a limited service campaign that has since ended. Reported across a wide range, from around 70,000 to over 190,000 miles, often noticed after highway driving or a routine oil change.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Inspect the oil cooler/VVT-i line for the later all-metal design versus the older rubber-hose version, check for oil residue underneath, and ask whether the limited service campaign work was performed. Check the oil level yourself before and after a test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Vvt-I rubber oil line ruptured leaking all 6 quarts of oil out of engine, causing catastrophic engine damage while driving in 2008 Lexus rx350 toyota should have never put a rubber hose on an oil line with 80psi and they should have issued a recall. The Lexus dealer has never advised me of potential problem. They should have to repair my engine. Furious at toyota for cutting costs!”

    NHTSA complaint #11266912, filed 2019-10, 15 miles

    “I was told by an oil change service that I had an oil leak. I did not drive my vehicle and had to wait over the weekend to get it into a shop. The shop told me that my rubber oil cooler pipe was leaking and it was a bad leak. I cannot drive it. I had it towed to toyota to look at it since the closets Lexus dealer is 2 hours away. The toyota dealer informs me that the oil cooler pipe is leaking and needs to be replaced. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11325398, filed 2020-05, 149,000 miles
  3. Body and structure

    Cracking, sticky or melting dashboard

    • 13 complaints (19%)
    • median 25,000 mi at 8.9 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2014–2024

    Complaints describe dashboards cracking across the width of the car or turning shiny, sticky and tacky in heat, with some owners reporting glare on the inside of the windshield and pieces breaking off near the airbag and ignition areas. Owners say dealers most often declined coverage once a warranty enhancement period had passed. A service bulletin describes procedures for cracked and/or sticky dashboards said to result from heat and humidity. Appears on cars of all ages and mileages, with many reports framed around hot-weather use.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Look closely at the dash top, particularly around the passenger airbag cover and the ignition area, for cracks or a glossy sticky surface. Ask whether the dashboard warranty enhancement work was done.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My dash board cracked and this is a manufacter's issue. There are thousands w/ the same issue & Lexus does not want to be responsible. It cracks every where & melts because of the heat. Our cars are worth nothing w/ this issue. There are cracks where the air bag resides & this is a safety issue. Please help us!!!”

    NHTSA complaint #10573152, filed 2014-03, 46,000 miles

    “My cracked dashboard or a melted dashboard with glazed stickiness and shiny.I have a hard time seeing the road through the reflection on the windshield.”

    NHTSA complaint #11301436, filed 2020-01, 30 miles
  4. Steering

    Steering rack fluid leak

    Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

    Complaints describe power steering fluid leaking from the rack, often found during routine service rather than noticed by the driver, with quotes around the cost of a full rack and pinion replacement. Several owners say the shop characterized the leak as significant and something that should have been covered, but no assistance was offered. A few report the leak alongside other repairs such as a water pump. Mostly reported between about 70,000 and 85,000 miles, and usually found during scheduled maintenance.

    What to check: Check the power steering fluid level and look for wetness at the rack boots and under the front of the car. Ask whether the rack has been replaced and whether the steering feels tight and free of noise.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Lexus of bellevue service department (in bellevue, wa) completed a routine oil change on my 2008 Lexus RX 350 and then told me they discovered a gasket power steering fluid leakage on passenger side power steering rack and that this is a critical safety issue that would require a complete replacement of power steering rack and gaskets. This was completed and cost me $1,874.93 (after applying a Lexus service credit for $237.99) - so it actually cost me $2,112.92. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11268182, filed 2019-10, 71,604 miles

    “As of this date, there has not been an accident or failure to the steering rack on this car. However, when the car was in the Lexus dealership for a routine oil change, I was told by a representative of the service department there is a leakage of fluid from the steering rack boot and if left un-repaired it would be a significant problem. What caught my attention more was their statement that this should be/have been a recall as it is a problem on the Lexus rx350 spanning several model years. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10546269, filed 2013-09, 70,848 miles

Buying note. A 2008 RX with a documented brake actuator/booster service and the updated metal oil line is a much safer bet than one without records. Have any candidate inspected for dashboard and trim condition, steering rack leaks, and stored ABS codes before agreeing on a price.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 70 consumer complaints for the 2008 Lexus RX. 38 of the complaints include a mileage, and 18% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 114,183 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 60 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 11 Lexus RX model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 15 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

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: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (3), Seat belts (2), Electronic stability control (1), Engine cooling (1), Forward collision avoidance (1), Fuel system (1), Suspension (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “The brake pedal goes to the floor due to the ABS actuator defects. I have video of the sound and behaviors when the problem occurs. I have not been able to drive the vehicle and the dealer will not fix the problem. The brakes didn't work, didn't stop the vehicle upon my last use of the car. The vehicle dashboard gives warning and error codes related to the brakes, emergency brake, ABS, vsc, etc. I have written Lexus for any assistance. I purchased the vehicle in maryland from a used car dealer who cleared the codes before obtaining the safety inspection. …”

NHTSA complaint #11302915, filed 2020-01, 5 miles

Engine: “On june 3rd, 2020 I got my 2008 Lexus RX 350 serviced for 115,000 mile service at johnson Lexus of raleigh. I have had my car serviced religiously at the same dealer since I bought it brand new in 2008. It cost about $250, on june 13th I noticed large amount of engine oil under the car. The car had not been driven more than 50 miles after service. The engine had a strange sound. I checked the oil level in the engine and there was no oil at all.there were no warning lights on the dash. I had the car towed to the dealer at my own expense. …”

NHTSA complaint #11329818, filed 2020-06, 114,366 miles

Other or unknown: “My oil line burst on my Lexus RX 350 SUV and caused severe engine damage as a result. This is a very large leak which covers the ground, engine, and undercarriage. …”

NHTSA complaint #11152275, filed 2018-11, 77,000 miles

Body and structure: “Automatic rear door does not open in hotter weather. Vehicle is consistently garaged. Latch on rear door melts and black gooey tar rubs off on fingers and hands when opening door. Dealer said to replace this melted tar like door latch is $650. Automatic door does not open in heat. Lexus says there is no fix for this.”

NHTSA complaint #11030687, filed 2017-10, 80,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

18% of the 38 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 71,604 and 149,000 miles.

11%0–103%10–255%25–508%50–758%75–10042%100–15024%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (38 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 114,183 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’08’14’1711’2011’23’26
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 RX 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
RX 400h 2WD3.3L 6-cyl · hybridCVT272425$3,300
RX 400h 4WD3.3L 6-cyl · hybridCVT262425$3,300

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

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2008 Lexus RX in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by 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. 60 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 60 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus RX

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2026121,00034–525—Too new
20252211244–525—Too new
2024603,00044–525Too new to compareToo new
2023628,2503536100 · MoreToo new
20222931,600043068 · MoreRising
20217058,000143086 · MoreRising
20204731,50014–53087 · MoreRising
20193417,5001—3079 · MoreRising
20182642,5480—300 · FewerRising
20174732,7300—300 · FewerRising
20162867,5000—300 · FewerRising
20152045,0000—29—Rising
20141292,5450—29—Not enough data
201319105,6060—29—Rising
201212143,6820—29—Not enough data
201129125,0000—291 · FewerFalling
20107725,0000——96 · MoreFalling
20093473,5000——19 · FewerFalling
200870114,1830—2515 · FewerFalling
20075893,4260—26Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200632130,0001—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20052780,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20044066,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200212101,9300———Not enough data
20011995,0000———Rising
20002990,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199935107,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Lexus RX model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Lexus RX?

Owners of the 2008 Lexus RX report two distinct clusters: brake-system problems that appear at higher mileage and involve the brake actuator or booster, and engine oil leaks traced to the oil cooler/VVT-i line, which several owners describe as appearing without warning and sometimes leading to engine damage. The issues reported most often: Brake actuator/booster fault with dash warnings and hard; Engine oil leak from cooler/VVT-i line; Cracking, sticky or melting dashboard.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Lexus RX have?

NHTSA recorded 70 consumer complaints for the 2008 Lexus RX as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 Lexus RX is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 16 complaints (23% of the total), followed by engine with 15.

Has the 2008 Lexus RX been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Lexus RX get?

The EPA rates the 2008 Lexus RX (RX 400h 2WD, 3.3L 6-cyl · hybrid) at 25 mpg combined, 27 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Lexus RX reported?

Among the 38 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 114,183 miles and the middle half falls between 71,604 and 149,000 miles; 18% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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.