There are 9 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2008 Lexus ESin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
VVTI oil line ruptured This was part of a Limited Service Campaign by Lexus and I believe my vehicle's VIN was incorrectly excluded.
2008 LEXUS 350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RADIATOR LEAK CAUSED BY TECHNICIANS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RADIATOR LEAK WAS CAUSED BY THE TECHNICIANS TAMPERING WITH IT IN ORDER TO INDUCE THE LEAK. THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG INFLATOR WAS NOT PROPERLY CORRECTED. UPDATED 11/06/2017*JS
MY WIFE HAS PARKED THE CAR IN FRONT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND FEW MINUTES LATER, THE CAR HAS HAS STARTED A FIRE FROM ENGINE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S TEMPERATURE RAN HOT AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. BUMPER TO BUMPER. THE CAR IN FRONT MOVED FORWARD AND I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL 2 SECONDS AND WENT BACK TO THE BRAKE. THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV UP OUT OF CONTROL. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE AND MANAGED TO SLOW THE CAR BUT NOT STOP IT. I PUT IT IN PARK BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ROAR. IT FINALLY WENT BACK TO NORMAL. LEXUS CHECKED THE CAR BUT SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THIS MODEL HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CLEARLY THE CAR MAY BE DANGEROUS. LEXUS DENIES ALL RESPONSIBILITY. THE INSPECTOR LEFT A THUMB DRIVE IN THE CAR BUT I CAN'T READ IT. I WOULD BE GLAD TO SEND IT TO YOU. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WAS AN OIL LEAK AND ADVISED HER THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. AFTER REPLACING THE COMPONENT IN THE RECALL THE MECHANIC ADVISED HER THAT THE OIL LEAK CAUSED DAMAGE TO HER DRIVE BELT AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE DRIVE BELT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,375. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,005.
ENGINE ICON WARNING ON. CHECK ENGINE. LEXUS REPAIR FOUND DEFECTIVE CAM SHAFT. PARTS REPLACED COUNT WAS 37. *TR
OCCASIONALLY AND RANDOMLY, MY CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS "STALLING" WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A STOP OR ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP. IT HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE TIMES TURNING LEFT BUT MOSTLY MAKING A RIGHT-TURN. I'VE BROUGHT THIS UP TO MY SERVICE ADVISOR AND WAS AT FIRST TOLD THAT THE ENGINE COULDN'T "STALL" AND SINCE THEN I'VE REPORTED IT DURING MY NORMAL SERVICES. THEY WOULD TAKE IT FOR A DRIVE AND COULDN'T REPLICATE IT. THE LAST TIME I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT THE DEALERSHIP SAID I COULD LEAVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS SO THEY COULD DRIVE IT AROUND MORE. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME BUT THEN MY HUSBAND HAD IT HAPPEN TO HIM TOO. IT IS SCARY AND UNSAFE WHEN IT HAPPENS. I BOUGHT MY CAR IN 2008 AND IT STILL CONTINUES TO HAPPEN TODAY. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2008 LEXUS ES 350 ON FEBRUARY 21, 2008. ON MAY 28, 2008, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, LEXUS OF JACKSONVILLE, FL, BECAUSE THE GAS PEDAL STUCK ON MAY 26, 2008. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE CAR ACCELERATED TO OVER 80 MPH AND I HAD TO INSERT MY FOOT UNDERNEATH THE PEDAL TO UNSTICK AND RAISE THE PEDAL TO DECREASE ACCELERATION. LEXUS OF JACKSONVILLE CHECKED THE PEDAL AND I WAS TOLD THE PEDAL HAD BEEN ADJUSTED. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. ON FEBRUARY 19, 2008, I WAS CONTACTED BY LEXUS OF JACKSONVILLE TO SCHEDULE THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE AS A RESULT OF THE RECALL OF THE GAS PEDAL STICKING AND AN ENGINE HOSE REPLACEMENT. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026