NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Lexus GX. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
This 2008 Lexus GX 470 (VIN: [XXX] ) has paint primer adhesion failure exposing bare metal. Color code is 070 Blizzard Pearl. The peeling starts at the primer/E-coat substrate layer, not clear coat. This matches the documented failure mode in Lexus CSP ZLL / L-SB-0046-19. The exposed metal creates corrosion risk on the roof and body shell over time, which is a safety concern. Lexus refused goodwill correction because my VIN production date was slightly outside the cutoff, even though the failure is identical to affected units and repair was already estimated at $10,047.96 by a Lexus certified collision center. I am reporting this as a safety corrosion exposure issue due to primer adhesion defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS GX470. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND SWAYED BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOWSON LEXUS (1040 YORK RD, TOWSON, MD) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TAKATA RECALL CAR RIDE WAS LIKE RIDING A WILD BRONCO
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS GX470. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HERB CHAMBERS LEXUS OF HINGHAM (141 DERBY ST, HINGHAM, MA 02043 (781) 210-5200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVETRAIN AND DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
THIS IS A REPORT OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. ON JULY 30, 2016, THE LEXUS EXITED A CONVEYOR-BELT TYPE CARWASH AT 5203 KIRBY DRIVE, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77098. MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR WITH TWO CHILDREN (AGES 4 AND 2) IN CAR SEATS. AFTER RECEIVING THE GREEN LIGHT FROM THE CARWASH TO PROCEED, MY WIFE SHIFTED FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE AND THE LEXUS TOOK OFF TOWARDS KIRBY, A VERY BUSY FOUR-LANE STREET. MY WIFE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT WORK. THE LEXUS HIT A FLOWERBED ADJOINING KIRBY AND STRUCK A LARGE 3' DIAMETER DECORATIVE CONCRETE BALL WHICH SLOWED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED IT TO THE RIGHT. MY WIFE THEN TURNED OFF THE LEXUS AT THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED DAMAGES REQUIRING $9,166.58 IN REPAIRS. A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA FILMED THE INCIDENT. THE COPY IS TOO BIG TO ATTACH SO IT CAN BE FOUND AT HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/AH4WR0ZOJ-A. ALSO, THE FOOTAGE WAS MAGNIFIED AND REVEALS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON WHILE THE VEHICLE ROCKETED TOWARDS THE FLOWERBED AND THAT THEY THEN WENT OFF, DEMONSTRATING THAT THE DRIVER 'PUMPED' THE BRAKES IN AN EFFORT TO STOP THE CAR. THIS EDITED FOOTAGE IS AT HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/9QKMML4BI3K. THE INTERNET CONTAINS SUBSTANTIAL DISCUSSIONS OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION ASSOCIATED WITH CAR WASHES. IF THE FLOWERBED AND GIANT CONCRETE BALL HAD NOT BEEN THERE, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ENTERED KIRBY DRIVE AND A SUBSTANTIAL ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I HAVE RAISED THIS MATTER WITH LEXUS AND, NOTWITHSTANDING THE VIDEO, LEXUS HAS SAID THERE NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I FOUND LEXUS' RESPONSE TO BE VERY DISTURBING ESPECIALLY SINCE MY ENTIRE FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN LOST THAT DAY. IN MY OPINION, LEXUS COULD NOT CARE LESS ABOUT SAFETY OR MY FAMILY.
I WAS DRIVING AND MERGING FROM THE LOCAL LANES ON MARYLAND I-270 SB TO THE MAIN LANES. IN ORDER TO MOVE SLOWLY FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER, I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND MOVE TO THE LANE ON MY LEFT. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE, I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND AND THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE, THEREFORE I ATTEMPTED TO RE-APPLY THE BRAKES ONCE MORE. AT THIS POINT, THE BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE BEYOND MY CONTROL. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED USING THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE HIT SEVERAL CARS TO MY LEFT AND RIGHT. AFTERWARDS, MY VEHICLE HIT A LARGE TRACTOR TRAILER AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS, MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE DAMAGES BY MY INSURANCE, LIBERTY MUTUAL. *TR
I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE KEY IGNITION, I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HADN'T LOCKED IN PLACE. I TRIED TWO OTHER KEYS AND FINALLY THE IGNITION TURNED AND THE CAR STARTED. I DROVE TO MY DESTINATION AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND LOCKED THE DOORS. I WENT OUT TO RESTART THE CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AGAIN. I CALLED LEXUS OF CONCORD AND THEY ADVISED ME TO BRING IT IN. I FINALLY GOT IT STARTED AND DROVE IT THE 15 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP, AT THE END OF THE DAY I RECEIVED A CALL SAYING THAT I NEEDED A NEW IGNITION STARTER CYLINDER AND ALL THE KEYS NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED TO MATCH THE NEW CYLINDER THEY WOULD INSTALL. IT WOULD TAKE A DAYS LABOR AND COST OF THE CYLINDER AND REPROGRAMMING. COST WAS $616.00. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE WARRANTY WAS OUT AT 50,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS. I AM 4.5 YEARS AND 59,500 MILES. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A HISTORY OF THIS PART GOING OUT BUT USUALLY IT HAPPENED BEFORE THE WARRANTY WAS UP. MY QUESTION IS IF THERE IS A HISTORY, SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL ON THIS PART??!! I AM EXTREMELY UPSET WITH A LUXURY CAR HAVEN'T PROBLEMS AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. WHAT ELSE DO I LOOK FORWARD TO IN BREAKING AND HOW MUCH WILL IT BE? THIS DOES NOT MEET THE LEXUS STANDARDS I WAS EXPECTING WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR. *TR
FOR THE THIRD TIME, THE BRAKES ON OUR 2008 LEXUS GX FAILED. THIS TIME, WHEN PUT IN REVERSE IN THE GARAGE, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED MOVING--HITTING OUR GARAGE DOOR AS IT WAS GOING UP. THE CAR THEN CONTINUED ANOTHER 40 FEET, INTO A RETAINING WALL--REPEATED PRESSING OF THE BRAKES DID NOTHING--AS IN EARLIER TIMES. *TR
2008 LEXUS GX470. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- EMAIL TO THE SECRETARY FROM RE TOYOTA LEXUS PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HE SUDDENLY CAME UPON OTHER VEHICLES AHEAD OF HIM. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME, BUT SOMETHING MISFIRED IN THE ABS AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A BUCKING MODE. THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE WOULD SEIZE AND THEN RELEASE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD COAST FOR 2-3 SECONDS. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS SON RECEIVED A MILD WHIPLASH FROM THE SEVERE LURCHING OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SEIZING AND RELEASING OF THE BRAKES ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS GX470. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY SURGED FORWARD RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED LEXUS DEALER TO BE EXAMINED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
ON MARCH 22, 2010, WHILE BACKING OUT OF OUR GARAGE, OUR LEXUS GX470 EXPERIENCED A BRAKE FAILURE. THE DRIVER, [XXX], EVEN OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND PUT HER FOOT DOWN TO TRY TO STOP THE CAR. INSTEAD THE DOOR WAS ALSO DAMAGED WHEN THE CAR HIT A RETAINING WALL. LATER THAT SAME DAY, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN, BUT THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE STOPPED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I OWN A 2008 LEXUS GX 470, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE SHOP AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM WORKED ON TWO SEPARATE TIMES, BECAUSE THE BRAKES HAD WARPED. AT SPEEDS EXCEEDING 50 MILES AN HOUR THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD START SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. *TR
LEXUS GX 470 ONE OCCURRENCE A HESITANCE BETWEEN THE TIME THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND ACTUAL BRAKING OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CIRCUMSTANCES ON A CURVY ROAD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS GX 470. HE HAD TO USE GREAT FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, AN IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED. CONSEQUENTLY HE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. HE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000. THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE EXITED A PARKING LOT, HE REALIZED HE COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, SO HE MADE A SHARP TURN INTO A LANDSCAPE OF AN ESTABLISHMENT AND HIT A PARKED CAR. THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR INCIDENT SIX MONTHS PRIOR. UPDATED 04/23/10.*JB
I PURCHASED A NEW LEXUS GX 470 IN NOVEMBER 2007. IT ALWAYS SMELLED MUSTY. I TOOK IT TO DEALER TWO TIMES AND A 3RD PARTY MECHANIC ONCE. LEXUS TOLD ME IT WAS MOLD BUILD UP IN AC UNIT. THEY SAID IT OCCURRED BECAUSE I PUT THE AIR FLOW ON INTERIOR AIR FLOW ONLY. ME AND MY 2 CHILDREN HAVE HAD ASTHMA ATTACKS AND ALLERGIC REACTIONS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THEY HAVE HAD TO INCREASE THEIR ALLERGY MEDICATION AND I HAVE BEEN PUT ON A PRESCRIPTION. *TR
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026