Is the 2008 Lexus ES 350 a bad year?
255 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other ES 350 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2008 Lexus ES 350 are in line with other ES 350 years. Air bags stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2008 ES 350 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 60,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 170 (67%) | 25k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 12 (5%) | 38k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 9 (4%) | 21k–69k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Visibility and wipers | 7 (3%) | 35k–69k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 6 (2%) | 16k–88k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Speed control | 39 (15%) | 8k–38k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 60,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 255 complaints: 27 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 16 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Dec 2022.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2008 Lexus ES 350: 5
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat. A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Certain all weather floor mats (Awfm) specifically sold as an optional accessory for use on the 2007 and 2008 model year Lexus ES350 and Toyota camry vehicles. The awfm includes two grommet holes and retaining hooks (Clips) to secure the mat to the vehicle's carpet. The accelerator pedal may temporarily become stuck in a partially depressed position when returning to the idle position. If this condition occurs, it may increase the possibility of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Lexus: 95
Repair instructions Lexus sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2008 Lexus ES 350. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components
The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic…
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues…
On certain vehicles equipped with a 2GR-FE (V6) engine, the rubber portion of the oil supply hose for the VVT-I actuator may degrade over time
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Unwanted acceleration, floor mat
Neighbouring years
2007 ES 350: 538 complaints, keep it · 2009 ES 350: 145 complaints, keep it.
Every Lexus ES 350 year
2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · All ES 350 years side by side
Other Lexus models: Lexus ES · Lexus ES 300 · Lexus ES 330 · Lexus GS 300 · Lexus GS 350 · Lexus GX · Lexus GX 470 · Lexus IS · Lexus IS 250 · Lexus IS 350 · Lexus LS · Lexus LS 430 · Lexus LS 460 · Lexus NX · Lexus RX · Lexus RX 300 · Lexus RX 330 · Lexus RX 350 · Lexus RX Hybrid. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2008 Lexus ES 350 a bad year?
255 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other ES 350 years. At 60,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Lexus ES 350?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (170), body structure (12), electrical system (9), visibility and wipers (7), engine (6).
How many recalls does the 2008 Lexus ES 350 have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-741), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-006), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-340), Speed control (NHTSA 09V-388) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.