There are 5 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2008 Lexus ESin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The front control arms, their bushings and ball joints are failing. My car only has 125k miles on it, but it drifts and bounces around as if there is no struts at all. It is very scary to drive, it feels like something terrible is about to happen like a wheel snapping off and causing accident. I took it to several mechanics. They say it will cost $1,700k to replace ONE control arm! $3,400k for both. The rubber bushings are completely deteriorated due to the rubber being bad. (My dashboard is also melting, and the rubber weather stripping on all of the doors/windows)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS ES350. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT AND ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A CURB ON THE LEFT, THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STEER TO THE LEFT, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND ROLLED OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LEG INJURIES AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.
GOING DOWNHILL ON STEEP GRADE AT 60 TO 70 MPH, SEVERE SHAKING OF STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKES APPLIED, REPAIRED BY LEXUS OF LAS VEGAS, THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE REPAIR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIAMTELY 60 MPH, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OCCURRED, AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE VEHICLE EXTERIOR BODY AND HEADLIGHTS SUSTAINED SEVERAL SCRATCHES. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED A THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
I BOUGHT ONE LEXUS (TOYOTA) ES 350 LAST NOVEMBER WITH ABOUT 3,500 MILES (CURRENTLY 8,200MILES). RECENTLY, I FOUND FRONT WHEEL ON THE RIGHT SIDE COULD NOT BE RECOVERED TO STRAIGHT POSITION (STEERING ALSO). I TOOK MY CAR TO LEXUS DEALER IN PEORIA, IL, BUT THEY TALKED ME THAT THE ISSUES HAPPEN BECAUSE YOUR CAR HIT HOLES OR CURBS. I WANT TO ASK WHO CAN TELL ME THAT THEIR CARS NEVER HIT HOLES OR CURBS, IF ISSUES HAPPEN AS LONG AS YOUR CAR HITS HOLES OR CURBS. I THINK ISSUES HAPPEN WHEN A STRONG OUTSIDE FORCE WAS ADDED TO THE OBJECTS SUCH TIRE OR RIM OR BODY, BUT THIS TIME NOT ANY DAMAGE IN TIRE, RIM OR BODY, HOW COME ONLY INSIDE DAMAGE HAPPEN FIRST. I HAVE VERY STRONG ENGINEERING BACKGROUND, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK LEXUS (TOYOTA) HOW BIG OUTSIDE FORCE WILL LED TO THIS DAMAGE, AND IF AND WHAT THE OUTSIDE DAMAGE HAPPEN WHEN SAME STRENGTH FORCE IS ADDED TIRE, RIM OR BODY. I THINK LEXUS (TOYOTA) SHRINK THEIR RESPONSIBILITY SUCH AS THEY HAVE DONE. MY WIFE DRIVES A NEW BMW ABOUT 4 YEARS, BUT NOTHING HAPPEN EVEN THOUGH HIT MANY HOLES OR CURBS. LEXUS IS LUXURY CAR, NOT A TOY. WE DEFINE A CAR AS A LUXURY CAR, NOT ONLY INTERIOR, BUT ALSO IN SAFETY, WHICH HAS ENOUGH STRENGTH TO BEAR OUTSIDE FORCE. IF CAR DAMAGED AS LONG AS IT HIT A HOLE OR CURB. IF YES, I CAN SAY LEXUS WAS MADE BY PAPER OR FLOUR. I THINK THIS IS A ISSUES OF DESIGN. *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 26, 2026