207 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Lexus ES350 cite air bags, 64% of all 323 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.
“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 NHTSA·Filed Apr 1, 2025·Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11652052
“car was recalled for faulty air bags.i have tried numerous times to speak with someone,always with the same result-i am transferred 2 or 3 times and then i am promised a call back.i have not received a call back as of 6/20/2022.i think the first time i called was over a year ago.i am sure i called at least 4 times and spent many hours on hold being transferred.i have other things to do than sit on hold.i would like the problem fixed.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed Jun 20, 2022·Air bagsODI 11470060
“I KEEP GETTING MAIL ABOUT THE RECALL AND HAVE SPOKE TO LEXUS SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS ABOUT THE TAKATA AIRBAGS EACH TIMES SOMEONE TELLS ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT BUT THERE IS NO LEXUS DEALER IN MY CITY AND THE CLOSEST IS OVER 100 MILES AWAY IN WHICH I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO TAKE A TRIP. I'M WORRIED ABOUT THIS SITUATION BECAUSE NOW THEY SAY DON'T EVEN RIDE NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT'S A INCONVENIENT I USE THIS CAR TO TRANSPORT MY KIDS TO SCHOOL,MY JOB AND LEXUS ISN'T HELPING AND IT'S REALLY THEY FAULT THAT I'M IN THIS SITUATION. IF I COULD TAKE THE CAR TO A SHOP IN MY CITY WHERE I'M PURCHASING THE CAR I WOULD TAKE THE CAR TO THE SHOP BUT OVER 100 MILES OUT AND A 100 MILES BACK HOME I CAN'T AFFORD THAT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed Aug 10, 2018·Air bagsODI 11118983
“TAKATA RECALL: I WAS NOTIFIED NEARLY A YEAR AGO OF THE SAFETY RECALL REQUIRED ON MY LEXUS. I HAVE CALLED 4-5 TIMES OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS BUT HAVE YET TO BE CONTACTED BY MY DEALERSHIP REGARDING REPLACING THE AIRBAG. WHAT IS THE RECOURSE FOR HAVING THIS WORK DONE? IS THE DEALER MY ONLY RECOURSE? I HAVE LITTLE DOUBT THAT THEY ARE RESPONDING TO THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED THEIR VEHICLES FROM THE DEALERSHIP (A FRIEND OF MINE HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO). THIS IS AN EXTREME INCONVENIENCE AS I AM UNABLE TO USE THE PASSENGER SEAT OF MY VEHICLE, FOR NEARLY A YEAR. WHAT CAN I DO?”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed Apr 20, 2018·Air bagsODI 11089081
“THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS BEING DISABLED BY A DEFECTIVE SENSOR IN THE SEAT AND LEXUS IS INFORMING CUSTOMERS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THE ISSUE. THEREFORE, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ESSENTIALLY PERMANENTLY DISABLED. THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN SINCE ANY PERSON TRAVELING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WILL NO LONGER HAVE A WORKING AIRBAG.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed Apr 11, 2018·Air bagsODI 11084559
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED NORTH PARK LEXUS OF SAN ANTONIO AT (210) 308-8900 (611 LOCKHILL SELMA RD, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78216) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed Mar 28, 2018·Air bagsODI 11081828
Showing 6 of 207 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles.
These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A."
Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2009 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Yaris HB, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Lexus, ES350, IS250, IS350, and IS-F vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B."
Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and IS350, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350, Toyota Yaris, Yaris HB, and 2008 Lexus IS-F and Scion xB vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C, Lexus IS350C and Lexus GX460, 2011 Sienna, 2007-2011 Lexus ES350, and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A."
Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2007-2008 Toyota Yaris, 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350 and 2007-2008 Lexus ES350 vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B."
Vehicles of these model years and models that were not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.