2008 Lexus RX 350 Reliability
The 2008 Lexus RX 350 has 196 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about unknown or other and body structure. Compared with other RX 350 model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the RX 350's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
196
NHTSA owner complaints
0
Recall campaigns
16
Complaints citing a crash
6
Complaints citing a fire
2008 Lexus RX 350 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 model year, filed between 2007 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 33 | 17% |
| Body structure | 31 | 16% |
| Service brakes | 28 | 14% |
| Engine | 27 | 14% |
| Steering | 23 | 12% |
| Electrical system | 22 | 11% |
| Speed control / throttle | 19 | 10% |
| Exterior lighting | 13 | 7% |
2008 Lexus RX 350 recalls
No recall campaigns are listed for the 2008 Lexus RX 350 in NHTSA's recall database.
How the 2008 compares with nearby RX 350 years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year RX 350 analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 225 | 1 | Engine | Caution |
| 2008 (this page) | 196 | 0 | Unknown or other | Avoid |
| 2009 | 131 | 0 | Steering | Caution |
| 2010 | 171 | 1 | Speed control / throttle | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2008 Lexus RX 350 on the used market
- 64 of 308 2008 Lexus RX 350 listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2008 Lexus RX 350
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2008 Lexus RX 350 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2008 Lexus RX 350 reliability FAQ
Is the 2008 Lexus RX 350 reliable?
The 2008 Lexus RX 350 has 196 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about unknown or other and body structure. Compared with other RX 350 model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the RX 350's typical year.
What are the most common 2008 Lexus RX 350 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Lexus RX 350 are unknown or other (33), body structure (31), service brakes (28), engine (27). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2008 Lexus RX 350 have recalls?
No recall campaigns are listed for the 2008 Lexus RX 350 in NHTSA's recall database.
How does the 2008 Lexus RX 350 compare with the 2007 and 2009 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2007 has 225 complaints and 1 recall (caution); the 2009 has 131 complaints and 0 recalls (caution). The 2008 has 196 complaints and 0 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2008 Lexus RX 350?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Lexus RX 350 research
Other Lexus RX 350 model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2008 RX 350, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.