There are 15 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2008 Lexus RXin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2008 Lexus RX350. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the passenger’s side air bag warning light remained illuminated, indicating that the passenger’s side air bag was deactivated. The contact stated that the air bag warning light remained illuminated with and without a front seat passenger seated in the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 215,000.
Complaint Details I had a recently cracked dashboard in my 2008 Lexus RX350. It was cracked over the entire dashboard. I knew of the warranty extension recall of this as to my letter I recieved in 2016. I took it in for service for this and of course at the time my dashboard was looked at had a tiny crack. And they pretty much said owell.. Of course now in 2023 it has been cracking for almost 2 years. I tolerated until I was told it's a safety issue if I were in a accident that the airbags deployed it could shatter all over in a million pieces. I'm disabled and elderly and don't need anymore problems. So I took it in to have it replaced and 2622.08 later to have it replaced. That's with a discount from the dealership. Are you kidding me Lexus??? I had it immediately replaced when I found out it was a big safety concern. Shame on Lexus saying it's a cosmetic problem and not covered. I spoke to Corporate and they told me they won't do anything for me and there's no higher ups and they won't refund my money. Shame on you. I'm demanding a full refund. This needs to be corrected for the cars out there that are still experiencing this problem. My dealership told me they had more cars coming in for the same repair. Sounds alot like Lexus is getting richer on an 800 dollar part. Don't even tell me it's labor intensified. My car was done is 2 hours. I will if I have to get a class action lawsuit if I don't get my refund. Just terrible to play around with people's safety!!! I have attached my letter and another attachment about safety. I also have my warranty paper they sent but can't upload it.
The contact owned a 2008 Lexus RX 350. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the contact was crashed into by another vehicle on the driver's side door. The contact stated that the driver's side air bags did not deploy. The driver's side door and the driver's side front wheel and axle were broken. The front fender was also crushed by the impact. The contact suffered a 7-inch laceration on the left side back of his scalp near his left ear and going across the back of his head. The contact's right leg was bruised around his kneecap. The contact was transported by ambulance to the emergency room. The contact stated that police were on the scene and filed a report. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The contact stated that the vehicle was declared a total loss. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 232,000.
UNKNOWN - The dashboard plastic is cracking and pieces have broken off. While it may be deemed to be a cosmetic issue, the front passenger side airbag sits underneath the dashboard where the cracking has occurred. The concern here is that when the airbag deploys, the dashboard will fragment, ejecting plastic shrapnel towards the vehicle occupants, exacerbating any potential injuries.
AIRBAG/SEATBELT PASSENGER LIGHT WARNING IS ON AND NOT FUNCTIONAL. TIRE LIGHT WARNING IS ALSO ON AND COULD NOT BE RESET.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000. *DT UPDATED 12/18/18*JB
SEAT BELT IN THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE NOT WORKING. CRACKED DASH BOARD.
* Our 2008 Lexus RX 350 dashboard is cracking: areas of safety concern are the cracks around the ignition switch, the air bags, and the instrument panel. * There are cracks all around the ignition switch which places it in jeopardy of malfunctioning to include releasing dangerous fumes and dangerous fragments (scrapnel), and/or falling out. * The air bags are a grave concern as they may not deploy due to the cracks in the dashboard. * The instrument panel has a backup camera that may also be negatively impacted. There was a safety recall on these dashboards, and Lexus claimed that they were waiting on parts and that we would be contacted. We were never contacted by Lexus, and when we contacted them on several occasions, Lexus told us that they were not going to replace the dashboard. The cracks in my dashboard are extremely serious concerns for my family's safety, which is why this vehicle is only used if there's an in an emergency due to the safety concerns. We live in south Georgia, and the dashboard began cracking / melting as a result of heat and humidity. Lexus has refused to honor the agreement that it made in accordance with its "Warranty Enhancement Program." Our last case number with Lexus is [XXX] on [XXX], and we have not heard back from Lexus' vehicle protection. The numbers that we contacted were 800-448-1505 and 800-255-3987. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
THE DRIVER SEATBELT GETTING TIGHT. IT IS HARD TO PULL OUT AND HARD TO WITHDRAW.
THE DASHBOARD ON MY LEXUS RX350 HAS CRACKED IN 4 PLACES. OF SERIOUS CONCERN IS THE MULTIPLE CRACKS ON THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT HOUSES THE AIRBAGS. I HAVE ADDRESSED THIS WITH LEXUS AND THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD. THEY OFFERED A 25% ON THE REPAIR. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM OCCURRING ALL OVER THE WORLD AND LEXUS/TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO ADDRESS IT BECAUSE DEFECTS ARE NOT REPAIRED AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN OF THE HIGHEST ORDER AND I AM REQUESTING THE NHTSA ORDER A RECALL ON ALL MAKES AND MODELS THAT HAVE CRACKED DASHBOARDS. THANK YOU. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT SHE TURN THE VEHICLE OVER TO HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 5/24/11 *CN UPDATED 06/24/11
MY DASH HAS SEVERAL MAJOR CRACKS. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN CRACKS APPEARED. IT IS UNKNOWN WHEN THIS HAPPENED AS I JUST BOUGHT THE LEXUS.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 LEXUS RS350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH INTO HIS DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS $12,000. THE INSPECTOR INFORMED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO OFFER HIM ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24980 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25000.
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS SAYING OFF AND DISPLAYING AN ICON ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR AT LEAST 6 TIMES OVER THE PAST 4-5 MONTHS. IT WAS LAST IN THE SHOP IN JANUARY 2010 WHERE THEY KEPT IT FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AND REPLACED THE SEAT AND THE SENSORS .... WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM... BUT THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN THIS EVENING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS INOPERATIVE. IN FEBRUARY OF 2008, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND READ "AIR BAG OFF". IN MAY OF 2009, THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH LEXUS REGARDING THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,790. UPDATED 07/08/09. *LJ THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD READ OFF, WHEN THE PASSENGER SIT WAS OCCUPIED. UPDATED 07/08/09.*JB
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