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2008 Lexus Is

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

60 reports with mileage · 42 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Engine complaints

22 reports
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50,000 miles · Apr 24, 2020
Engine

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. WITHIN THE IS-F(2008-2014). MEMBERS ARE EXPERIENCING CRACKED HEADERS MANIFOLD. MEMBERS REPORT SMELLING BAD EGGY PRE-CAT FUMES ODOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE FOR PEOPLE WITH MID TO HIGH MILEAGE. THE OTHER ISSUE EVERY MEMBER IS EXPERIENCING ARE LEAKING VALLEY PLATE SEAL. PINK COOLANT CAN BE OBSERVED DRIPPI…

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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. WITHIN THE IS-F(2008-2014). MEMBERS ARE EXPERIENCING CRACKED HEADERS MANIFOLD. MEMBERS REPORT SMELLING BAD EGGY PRE-CAT FUMES ODOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE FOR PEOPLE WITH MID TO HIGH MILEAGE. THE OTHER ISSUE EVERY MEMBER IS EXPERIENCING ARE LEAKING VALLEY PLATE SEAL. PINK COOLANT CAN BE OBSERVED DRIPPING IN MINOR CASES AND LEAKING IN MAJOR CASES. CASES OF A POOL OF COOLANT ON OWNERS DRIVEWAY/GARAGES. THIS CAN EASILY CAUSE A FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #11322156

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2020
Engine

LEXUS ISF, YEAR MODELS 2008-2014, ARE AFFECTED BY A VALLEY PLATE LEAK DUE TO THE FACT THAT TOYOTA/LEXUS UTILIZED THE IMPROPER SEALANT AND USED THE IMPROPER AMOUNT, LEADING TO THE HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKING COOLANT ONCE THE ORIGINAL, INADEQUATE SEALANT BEGINS TO DISINTEGRATE. THIS COULD CAUSE A CONDITION WHERE THE ENGINE COULD FAIL A…

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LEXUS ISF, YEAR MODELS 2008-2014, ARE AFFECTED BY A VALLEY PLATE LEAK DUE TO THE FACT THAT TOYOTA/LEXUS UTILIZED THE IMPROPER SEALANT AND USED THE IMPROPER AMOUNT, LEADING TO THE HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKING COOLANT ONCE THE ORIGINAL, INADEQUATE SEALANT BEGINS TO DISINTEGRATE. THIS COULD CAUSE A CONDITION WHERE THE ENGINE COULD FAIL AND SOMEONE COULD GET HURT. THIS ISSUE IS VERY PROMINENT IN THE COMMUNITY (EVERY LEXUS FACEBOOK GROUP AND FORUM HAS DOCUMENTED THIS INFORMATION) - MOST ISFS DEVELOP THIS UNDER 100K MILES. FURTHERMORE, ALL ISFS WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A CRACKED RH MANIFOLD ON THE #8 RUNNER. THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD IN ADDITION TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. MY 2008 ISF HAS BEEN LEAKING COOLANT FOR ABOUT 15K MILES, PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE (INSPECTED EVERY OIL CHANGE). IN ADDITION, I HAVE TO START TOPPING OF THE COOLANT EVERY WEEK. LEXUS DEALER QUOTED THIS REPAIR AT ALMOST $2000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11321391

110,200 miles · Apr 8, 2020
Engine

MY LEXUS ISF HAS A CRACKED PASSENGER SIDE MANIFOLD WHICH IS VERY AUDIBLE ON STARTUP AND BEGINNING SIGNS OF A VALLEY PLATE COOLANT LEAK, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLYLEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE. THESE CARS WERE MADE IN VERY LOW NUMBERS, HOWEVER OUR CAR ENTHUSIAST COMMUNITY IS EXPERIENCING THESE FAILURES IN A HIGHER THAN ACCEPTABLE NUMBERS OF…

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MY LEXUS ISF HAS A CRACKED PASSENGER SIDE MANIFOLD WHICH IS VERY AUDIBLE ON STARTUP AND BEGINNING SIGNS OF A VALLEY PLATE COOLANT LEAK, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLYLEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE. THESE CARS WERE MADE IN VERY LOW NUMBERS, HOWEVER OUR CAR ENTHUSIAST COMMUNITY IS EXPERIENCING THESE FAILURES IN A HIGHER THAN ACCEPTABLE NUMBERS OF THIS RARE VEHICLE. EACH REPAIR IS MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND (VALLEY PLATE 2K-5K) (MANIFOLD QUOTED AT 22 HOURS LABOR AND 1400 FOR THE PART FROM LEXUS) TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE LOW PRODUCTION NUMBER AND HIGH RATE OF FAILURE, THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED. LEXUS HAS FAILED TO WORK WITH ME SHARING THE BILL.

NHTSA ODI #11320597

86,500 miles · Apr 8, 2020
Engine

ISFS YEAR MODELS 2008-2014 ARE AFFECTED THE VALLEY PLATE LEAK DUE TO THE FACT THAT TOYOTA/LEXUS UTILIZED THE IMPROPER SEALANT AND USED THE IMPROPER AMOUNT, LEADING TO THE HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKING COOLANT ONCE THE ORIGINAL, INADEQUATE SEALANT BEGINS TO DISENTEGRATE. THIS COULD CAUSE A CONDITION WHERE THE ENGINE COULD FAIL AND SOMEO…

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ISFS YEAR MODELS 2008-2014 ARE AFFECTED THE VALLEY PLATE LEAK DUE TO THE FACT THAT TOYOTA/LEXUS UTILIZED THE IMPROPER SEALANT AND USED THE IMPROPER AMOUNT, LEADING TO THE HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKING COOLANT ONCE THE ORIGINAL, INADEQUATE SEALANT BEGINS TO DISENTEGRATE. THIS COULD CAUSE A CONDITION WHERE THE ENGINE COULD FAIL AND SOMEONE COULD GET HURT. FURTHERMORE, ALL ISFS WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A CRACKED RH MANIFOLD ON THE #8 RUNNER. THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD IN ADDITION TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

NHTSA ODI #11320481

100,021 miles · Apr 7, 2020
Engine

IT IS KNOWN AS THE VALLEY PLATE LEAK. AND IT'S RADIATOR FLUID LEAKING OUT WHICH CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE COMPRESSION AND ALSO CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO OVER HEAT EASILY. IT HAPPENED WHEN I LET THE CAR SIT AND STARTED IT AND I NOTICED THE VALLEY PLATE STARTED LEAKING.

NHTSA ODI #11320463

15,000 miles · Feb 11, 2020
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS250/350. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND SHUT OFF WITH AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS250/350. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND SHUT OFF WITH AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ODI #11308516

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2019
Engine

2008 LEXUS IS 250 EXHIBITS A BRIEF RATTLE NOISE (APPROXIMATELY 1-3 SECONDS) AT START-UP. THE ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A LEXUS DEALERSHIP WHICH RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE CAM GEAR ASSEMBLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING (VVT) SYSTEM. THE VVT GEAR HOUSING AND SPROCKET COULD SEPARATE AND RESULT IN THE ENGINE STOPPING WHIL…

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2008 LEXUS IS 250 EXHIBITS A BRIEF RATTLE NOISE (APPROXIMATELY 1-3 SECONDS) AT START-UP. THE ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A LEXUS DEALERSHIP WHICH RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE CAM GEAR ASSEMBLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING (VVT) SYSTEM. THE VVT GEAR HOUSING AND SPROCKET COULD SEPARATE AND RESULT IN THE ENGINE STOPPING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE SAME SYMPTOMS, DIAGNOSIS, AND RECOMMENDED REPAIR WERE SUBJECT OF THE TOYOTA SAFETY RECALL 13V-395. THE RECALL EXCLUDED THE 2008 LEXUS IS 250, HOWEVER INCLUDED THE 2006-2011 LEXUS IS 350, 2010-2011 LEXUS IS 350C, AND THE 2006-2011 GS 350 MODELS. THE SAME DIAGNOSIS AND RECOMMENDED REPAIR WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE IN THE MODELS ABOVE, BUT IS NOT IN THE 2008 LEXUS IS 250?

NHTSA ODI #11253448

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2019
Engine

WHY IS THERE A RECALL FOR THE IS350 VVT CAM GEARS AND NOT THE IS250 ???

NHTSA ODI #11186151

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2018
EngineSeatsVisibility/wiper

THE DRIVER SEAT MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN MOVING BACK AND FORTH TO ADJUST THE POSITION. VIBRATATION IS STRONG WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP AND IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR WILL DIE OUT. AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON A SUNNY DAY BECAUSE OF THE GLARE FROM THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE CALLED DEALERSHIP WITH NO LUCK

NHTSA ODI #11083541

104,000 miles · Nov 28, 2017
Engine

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR THE CARBON BUILDUP RECALL IN THE MOTOR. THEY REBUILT PARTS OF THE INTERNAL MOTOR. AFTER THEY REBUILT THE MOTOR FOR CARBON BUILD UP, MY ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO LIGHT UP FOR BAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I TOLD THEM THAT THE LIGHT NEVER SHOWED UP BEFORE AND COULD'VE WENT BAD FROM ALL OF THE MILES…

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I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR THE CARBON BUILDUP RECALL IN THE MOTOR. THEY REBUILT PARTS OF THE INTERNAL MOTOR. AFTER THEY REBUILT THE MOTOR FOR CARBON BUILD UP, MY ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO LIGHT UP FOR BAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I TOLD THEM THAT THE LIGHT NEVER SHOWED UP BEFORE AND COULD'VE WENT BAD FROM ALL OF THE MILES OF CARBON BUILD UP THAT DAMAGED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THEY COULDN'T REPAIR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD.

NHTSA ODI #11051082

Official recalls

3

11V029000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

Jan 26, 2011

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 LEXUS IS AND MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 LEXUS GS VEHICLES. DUE TO INSUFFICIENT TIGHTENING OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR CONNECTED TO AN ENGINE FUEL DELIVERY PIPE WITH NICKEL PHOSPHORUS PLATING, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT, OVER TIME, THE PRESSURE SENSOR COULD LOOSEN. IF LOOSENING OCCURS, FUEL COULD LEAK PAST A GASKET USED IN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SENSOR AND THE PIPE AND THROUGH THE THREADED PORTION OF THE SENSOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE THREADED PORTION OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR AND IF A FUEL LEAK IS NOT CONFIRMED, DEALERS WILL FURTHER TIGHTEN THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR WITH THE PROPER TORQUE. IF A FUEL LEAK IS CONFIRMED, THE GASKET BETWEEN THE SENSOR AND THE FUEL DELIVER PIPE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE, AND THE SENSOR WILL BE TIGHTENED WITH THE PROPER TORQUE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 7, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

09V388000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Oct 5, 2009

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES. 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: TOYOTA FILED AN AMENDED DEFECT REPORT ON NOVEMBER 25, 2009, STATING THAT DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND, ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ALTER THE SHAPE OF THE FLOOR SURFACE UNDER THE PEDAL. THESE CHANGES ADDRESS THE RISK OF PEDAL ENTRAPMENT DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLOOR MAT. REDESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDALS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BEGINNING IN APRIL 2010 AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY MODIFIED PEDAL WITH THE NEW PEDAL IF DESIRED. ALSO, DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY GENUINE TOYOTA OR LEXUS ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS WITH REDESIGNED ALL-WEATHER MATS, OR REPURCHASE THE PREVIOUS MATS FROM OWNERS WHO DO NOT WANT THE NEW ONES. ADDITIONALLY, SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS WILL BE INSTALLED ON CAMRY, AVALON AND LEXUS ES 350, IS 350 AND IS 250 MODELS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE OVERRIDES THE ACCELERATOR IN THE EVENT BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE APPLIED. TOYOTA WILL BEGIN MAILING LETTERS TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331, LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

09V020000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Jan 16, 2009

TOYOTA IS RECALLING 214,570 MY 2006-2008 LEXUS IS, MY 2006-2007 GS AND MY 2007-2008 LS PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM FUEL DELIVERY PIPES (FUEL RAILS). ETHANOL FUELS WITH A LOW MOISTURE CONTENT WILL CORRODE THE INTERNAL SURFACE OF THE FUEL RAILS. AS THIS CONDITION PROGRESSES, THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OVER TIME, THE CORROSION MAY CREATE A PINHOLE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FUEL DELIVERY PIPES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA/LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.