18 of the
160 complaints about the 2008 Lexus RX350 are about the
engine — 11% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
110,000 miles.
MASSIVE CATASTROPHIC OIL LEAK. NOTICED HOT OIL SMELL. NO OIL ON DIPSTICK. OIL SPRAYING OUT AT BOTTOM OF ENGINE, RIGHT FRONT. CAR TOWED TO SHOP. OIL HOSE BETWEEN COOLER AND FILTER BURST. KNOWN PROBLEM. TOYOTA/LEXUS HAS MADE AN UPGRADED PART BUT NOT NOTIFIED MOST OWNERS AND WILL NOT REPLACE UNTIL IT FAILS. WHEN IT FAILS CAR CAN CATCH FIRE AND SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE RESULTS. MANY VIDEOS AND REPORTS ON THE INTERNET AS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11204461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesTijeras, NM
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE OIL COOLER LINE BURST AND ALL THE OIL LEAKED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME WHERE HE REPLACED THE OIL COOLER LINE HIMSELF. THE CONTACT FOUND THERE WAS INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE AND A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #11154797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 144,000 milesIndianapolis, IN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE ESP, OIL, AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (TOM WOOD LEXUS, 4610 E 96TH ST, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46240, (317)-580-6880) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL COOLING LINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
NHTSA complaint #11104099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 144,000 milesIndianapolis, IN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE ESP, OIL, AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (TOM WOOD LEXUS, 4610 E 96TH ST, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46240, (317)-580-6880) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL COOLING LINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
NHTSA complaint #11104099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 149,700 milesDayton, OH
ENGINE
THE RUBBER HOSE IN THE OIL LINE TO THE OIL COOLER FAILED, ALLOWING ALL ENGINE OIL TO QUICKLY LEAK OUT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE SEIZED AND POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WOULD HAVE BEEN INSTANTLY LOST... CREATING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING ON SURFACE ROADS AT 25-35 MPH WHEN MINE FAILED LEXUS KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM AND ELIMINATED THE RUBBER HOSE IN ITS 2011 MODELS BUT DID NOTHING TO WARN OWNERS OF THAT VEHICLE. NHTSA WAS ALSO AWARE AND ADDRESSED IN NHTSA ID 10056509 (POSSIBLY INCORRECT ID). I'M REALLY PISSED THAT IT IS GOING TO COST ME $500 TO FIX THIS LEXUS DEFECT, BUT I'M THANKFUL I HADN'T DRIVEN TO MY OFFICE THAT DAY USING INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS! ALL LEXUS VEHICLES HAVING THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY.
NHTSA complaint #11099205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,621 milesFayetteville, NC
ENGINE
THE OIL COOLER PIPE ASSEMBLY ON THE ENGINE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY CAUSING A SUDDEN LOST OF A LARGE VOLUME OF OIL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON A STREET AND WAS ONLY NOTICED WHILE PARKING (A CO-WORKER SAW THE OIL POURING OUT OF THE CAR). THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 10/10/2017
NHTSA complaint #11018815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesVirginia Beach, VAFire
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND STATED THAT THE OIL COOLANT COIL CONTAINED A HOLE, WHICH CAUSED OIL TO LEAK. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER RECALL; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE RECALL DETAILS WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #10986067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lincolnshire, IL
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. THE NOISE WAS ONLY PRESENT FOR A FEW SECONDS, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CAMSHAFT SENSORS WERE FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 05/09/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CAM GEARS. POSSIBLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP. UPDATED 7/6/18*JB
NHTSA complaint #10926202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesEGG Harbor, WI
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET IN MADISON WI,SEVERE OIL LOSS DUE TO HOSE TO OIL COOLER. PART WAS CHANGED BY MANUFACTURER FROM RUBBER HOSE TO METAL. THIS TELLS ME THEY KNOW IT IS A PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP IN MADISON WI SAYS THEY GET THIS REPAIR WEEKLY.
NHTSA complaint #10905950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150 milesLeander, TX
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AS I APPROACH A RED LIGHT, I NOTICED THE CAR WAS SMOKING. I PULLED INTO THE NEAREST AUTOMOTIVE FACILITY AND I NOTICE A TRAIL OF OIL WAS FOLLOWING ME. I LOOK UNDER THE MY HOOD AND I SAW AND OIL LEAK. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF OIL.
NHTSA complaint #10714550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 67,000 milesHuntington Beach, CA
ENGINE
TICKING NOISES WHEN COLD START FOR FIRST 15 MINUTES.
NHTSA complaint #10702033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,000 milesMidlothian, VA
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 LEXUS RX350 AT 35 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED LEAVING ME WITHOUT POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT WAS STUCK IN THE TRAFFIC LANE WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. FEARING THAT I WOULD BE HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC I CALLED 911 FOR SUPPORT WHILE THE TOW VEHICLE WAS DISPATCHED. I WAS UNABLE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE SAFELY UNTIL POLICE ARRIVED 20 MINUTES LATER, DUE TO THE POSITION OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TRAFFIC. THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALER HAS CONTACTED ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE ISSUE WAS A BROKEN VALVE SPRING CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE WHILE RUNNING. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS CONDITION MAY BE SOMEWHAT OF A KNOWN ISSUE WITH LEXUS AS I HAVE SEEN THAT THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH VALVE SPRINGS BREAKING IN THIS ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10662160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 97,730 milesEvans, GA
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK HEARD A FUNNY NOISE AND OIL LIGHT BEGIN TO BLINK. FOUND OUT ENGINE OIL COOLING TUBE BURST AND LEAKED ALL THE OIL OUT AND HAS CAUSED MOTOR DAMAGE. LEXUS SEND A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT LETTER JUST A FEW WEEKS BEFORE DESCRIBING A PROBLEM WITH THE TUBE AND THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT AND REPAIR. WAITING ON LEXUS CUSTOMER CARE TO ASSIST. SO FAR ONLY 25%. LOOKS LIKE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT MAY ENTAIL.
NHTSA complaint #10661968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 163,000 milesMedina, MN
ENGINE
WE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT A NOISE UPON STARTING THE CAR FOR THE PAST YEAR WHEN HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED. THIS WAS THE FIRST SERVICE VISIT WHERE DEALER WAS ABLE TO PINPOINT THE CODE AND THEY CAME BACK WITH THE CAM SHAFT VARIABLE VALVE TIMING (VVT) GEAR ISSUE. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE WAS $6830. I FOUND YOUR RECALL DATED SEPTEMBER 4, 2013 # 13V395000 FOR VVT ON LEXUS GS350, IS350 AND IS350C MODELS FOR THE SAME MODEL YEAR AND FIND IT SUSPICIOUS AS THE SAME ENGINE IS USED. I AM WONDERING IF OTHER RX 350S HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND THE RECALL SHOULD ACTUALLY BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE RX350 MODEL. AT THIS POINT, THE DEALER SAYS THEY NEED TO TEAR THE VEHICLE DOWN TO ACCURATELY ASSESS IF IT IS THE BOLTS OR ANOTHER ISSUE BUT THE EXPENSE IS VERY HIGH. I ALSO WAS WONDERING WHAT THE RANGE OF MILES WERE ON THE RECALLED VEHICLES? THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10548277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesSAN Diego, CAFire
ENGINE
AT 65,000 MILES VEHICLE HAD A MAJOR BREAKDOWN. SERPENTINE BELT RUPTURED CAUSING FIRE AND SMOKE INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND BOTH INSIDE THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE. GAS PEDAL BECAME INOPERATIVE AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. AS FURTHER DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE BELT RUPTURE IS THE A/C COMPRESSOR FREEZING STUCK. REPAIR IS EXTREMELY COSTLY. PARTS ALONE ARE CLOSE TO $1500. LEXUS IS NOT WILLING TO HELP IN ANY WAY AND ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE PER THE MAINTENANCE BOOKLET IS PERFORMED AND ON TIME. ADDITIONALLY THE MAINTENANCE BOOKLET DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY WORK OTHER THAN FILTERS, OIL CHANGES UNTIL 100,000 AT WHICH TIME ONLY SPARK PLUGS ARE MOSTLY DUE TO BE REPLACED. A/C COMPRESSOR SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT AT 65,000 MILES ON A 2008 LEXUS.
NHTSA complaint #10470640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 88,000 milesLivermore, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO STALL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER AND AFTER PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE CAMSHAFT TOWER CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 10/17/11
NHTSA complaint #10426490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orland Park, IL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2008 LEXUS RX350 ENGINE NOISE STARTED MAKING NOISE AT ABOUT 23,000 MILES. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. TOOK IT BACK IN FOR THE 30,000 MILE CHECK UP AND TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS GETTING LOUDER. THEY CHECKED IT OUT AGAIN AND SAID THAT IT MIGHT BE THE MECHANICAL FUEL PUMP,BUT THAT WAS NORMAL.THIS IS STARTING TO SOUND LIKE A DIESEL AND IS GETTING A LITTLE EMBARRASSING TO DRIVE AROUND SOUNDING THIS WAY. IF THIS IS NORMAL, THIS WILL BE MY FIRST AND LAST LEXUS....
NHTSA complaint #10342577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Upton, MA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2008 LEXUS RX350 MOTOR STARTED MAKING LOUD "RAPPING" NOISE AT 10,000 MILES, AFTER MANY COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER LEXUS FIELD REP. ADMITTED IT WAS AN ENGINE DEFECT CALLED "COLD ENGINE PISTON SLAP" LEXUS TELLS MOST OF THEIR COMPLAINING RX OWNERS THAT THE NOISE IS FUEL INJECTORS AND IT IS NORMAL! LEXUS REFUSES TO FIX UNDER THE WARRANTY. MY CAR IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO DRIVE, IT SOUNDS LOUDER THAN ANY DIESEL.
NHTSA complaint #10336296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.