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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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104,000 miles · Jan 3, 2017
EngineVehicle Speed Control

IN AUGUST 2012 MY CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT AND VSC LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND MULTIPLE MISFIRES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE GASKET AND 3 PISTONS AND RING SETS UNDER WARRANTY. MY CAR ENGINE HAS CONTINUED TO INTERMITTENTLY SHUDDER WHEN MOVING AND WHEN IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS. TODAY (1/3/17) I WAS DRIVING ON…

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IN AUGUST 2012 MY CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT AND VSC LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND MULTIPLE MISFIRES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE GASKET AND 3 PISTONS AND RING SETS UNDER WARRANTY. MY CAR ENGINE HAS CONTINUED TO INTERMITTENTLY SHUDDER WHEN MOVING AND WHEN IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS. TODAY (1/3/17) I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEED AND ONCE AGAIN MY ENGINE LIGHT AND VSC LIGHT ARE LIT UP. I RECEIVED THE 9 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR CARBON BUILDUP, BUT IT ONLY COVERS ME THROUGH 3/8/17. IF I HAVE CARBON BUILDUP AGAIN AFTER THAT, IT WILL COST ME $2,000-$3,000 TO FIX. THE ENGINE FAILURE IN THESE IS250S (2006-2013) IS RAMPANT AND THE CAR MODEL NEEDS TO RECALLED AND REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10939530

74,000 miles · Aug 22, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE AT A RED LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE MISFIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE AT A RED LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE MISFIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ODI #10627574

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.