Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Lexus ES350 problems

Owners filed 323 complaints about the 2008 Lexus ES350 with NHTSA between Feb 2008 and May 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (207).

Complaints
323
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
34
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
30
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags207
  2. Vehicle speed control41
  3. Structure19
  4. Electrical system13
  5. Engine8
  6. Visibility6
  7. Visibility/wiper5
  8. Steering5
  9. Engine and engine cooling3
  10. Service brakes3
  11. Power train3
  12. Service brakes, hydraulic3
  13. Exterior lighting3
  14. Suspension2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20087
20099
201037
20113
20123
20135
201413
201510
201678
2017120
201812
20198
20202
20211
20225
20233
20243
20253
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

207 reports15 crashes3 related recalls
“The contact owned a 2008 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 - 40 MPH, the air bags suddenly deployed independently. The contact stated that his view was obstructed due to the air bag deployment, and he briefly lost control the vehicle and the vehicle came to a complete stop after crashing into a light pole. The remaining air bags did deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and was deemed a total loss by the Insurance provider. A Police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The contact was transported by air to an area shock trauma center and treated for a broken neck, a broken right shoulder, loss of four teeth, a laceration requiring 40 stitches, and later required reconstructive surgery on both his right leg and right foot. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2025Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11652052

Vehicle speed control

41 reports17 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2008 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that the TPMS warning light showed that the tire pressure was low. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer to be repaired. While attempting to reverse out of a parking lot, the vehicle independently accelerated forward at 60 MPH. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle out of the parking lot to avoid a crash. The vehicle decelerated independently. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. After waiting for a while, the contact drove the vehicle home at slow speeds. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000. The contact deemed the vehicle unsafe to drive and decided to sell it. The vehicle was sold to Carmax instead of to the dealership because they offered more money. But the contact still suffered a significant financial loss so they are requesting a reimbursement for the remainder of the value at which they purchased the vehicle.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 23, 2022Vehicle speed controlODI 11498702

Structure

19 reports1 crash
“URGENT: MY DASH HAS MELTED ON MY-2008 LEXUS ES 350- I CANNOT SEE TO DRIVE, MY VISIBILTY IT TOTALLY OBSTRUCTED w MY 2008 LEXUS ES 350 WITH ACTUAL 35, 000 MILES, THAT I CANNOT DRIVE ((EVER)) IT SITS IN THE GARAGE. BECAUSE TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE MELTING DASH IT TOTALLY BLOCKS MY VIEW OF ANY ROAD, DUE TO SHINING REFLECTION OF MELTING DASH IS ALL YOU CAN SEE IN MY WINDSHIELD WHEN YOU GET IN THE CAR TO DRIVE-SO INSTEAD OF AN ACCIDENT FOR ME OR OTHERS ON ROAD UNTIL THIS DASH IS REPLACED IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN. BECAUSE THE SHINY-MELTING-STICKY DASH (((REFLECTS ONTO MY WINDSHIELD; OF THE 2008 LEXUS ES 350AND MAKES IT TOO DANGEROUS & IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE, TO DRIVE ANYWHERE & IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANYTHING WHEN DRIVING MY VIEW IS OBSTRUCTED ALL I CAN SEE IS (((A REFLECTION IN WINDSHIELD ONLY))) OF (((MY : SHINY MELTING DASH -2008 LEXUS ES 350-I CANNOT DRIVE W 35, 000 MILES THE DASH NEEDS REPLACED ASAP BEFORE AN ACCIDENT DID or ALMOST DID OCCUR. NO, I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS CAR MELTING DASH -NEVER. THIS ISSUE IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH OTHER TOYOTA AND LEXUS OWNERS HAVING THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. This car was built in Georgetown KY and was purchased BRAND NEW at…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 29, 2023Unknown or other, Visibility/wiper, StructureODI 11524285

Electrical system

13 reports1 crash
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 Lexus ES 350. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 153,000. However, a subsequent Carfax report revealed that the actual mileage was 245,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 3, 2025Electrical systemODI 11697165

Engine

8 reports2 crashes1 fire
“WHILE ENTERING MY GARAGE, MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND SMASHED INTO THE REAR WALL DESTROYING A CABINET AND REFRIDGERATOR AND WENT THROUGH THE WALL. I COULDN'T STOP THE CAR AS EVIDENCED BY BRAKE SKID MARKS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. LEXUS LATER INSPECTED THE CAR AND CLAIMED THEY COULD FIND NO DEFECT. FORTUNATELY MY WIFE AND I WERE ONLY SHAKEN UP FROM THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. MY HOME AND AUTO INSURANCE COVERED PART OF THE DAMAGE AND LEXUS HAS DISAVOWED ANY RESPONSIBILITY, BUT THEY NEVER INSPECTED THE DAMAGE TO OUR HOME OR THE EVIDENCE THAT I WAS TRYING TO STOP THE CAR ALMOST FROM THE INSTANT IT ENTERED THE GARAGE. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES BY EMAIL, BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO RETRIEVE THEM FOR THIS DOCUMENT. T”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2015Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, EngineCrash reportedODI 10786456

Visibility

6 reports
“THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW GLASS POPPED OUT WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THIS CAR TO SCHOOL TO DROP OFF OUR KIDS. IT DID STARTLE HER BECAUSE OF THE NOISE. SHE WAS ALERT ENOUGH AND ANY ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED. I GOT THE CAR CHECKED OUT BY A LEXUS DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY PLASTIC TAB THAT BROKE AND THE ENTIRE GLASS ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED (EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE GLASS ITSELF) THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN LEXUS AS ACKNOWLEDGED BY A TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) L-SB-0003-09 ISSUED BY THEM ON JANUARY 26, 2009. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME, BUT THEY FAILED TO INFORM ME ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2014Visibility, StructureODI 10561347
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.