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2008 Lexus Rx Hybrid

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

49 reports with mileage · 8 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports0 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

57 reports
60,000 miles · Dec 29, 2014
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 16 MPH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 16 MPH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 04/14/15*LJ UPDATED 6/29/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10668650

70,000 miles · Dec 18, 2014
SteeringWheels

WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME FROM A ROAD TRIP I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE AND I HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-60MPH. I SLOWED DOWN AND TRIED TO PULL OVER BUT BEFORE I COULD DO SO, MY FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL (THE ENTIRE RIM AND TIRE) BROKE OFF OF THE CAR. LUCKILY I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM AND…

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WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME FROM A ROAD TRIP I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE AND I HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-60MPH. I SLOWED DOWN AND TRIED TO PULL OVER BUT BEFORE I COULD DO SO, MY FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL (THE ENTIRE RIM AND TIRE) BROKE OFF OF THE CAR. LUCKILY I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER SAFELY TO THE GRASSY SHOULDER. I PURCHASED MY CAR USED BACK IN 2012 AND IT ONLY HAD 28,000 MILES ON IT. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED AT A LEXUS DEALERSHIP (BY THE PREVIOUS OWNERS AND BY MYSELF SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE). I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW ANYTHING LIKE THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED. LUCKILY NO ONE IN MY VEHICLE WAS INJURED AND THAT THE OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD WERE ABLE TO MANEUVER AROUND MY CAR AND THE TIRE THAT FLEW ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY I WAS DRIVING ON. THE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY $4,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667044

65,000 miles · Nov 26, 2014
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A ROCK WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A ROCK WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10661091

79,000 miles · Nov 24, 2014
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 01/20/15*LJ THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FENCE. DAMAGING THE FENCE AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/9/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10660438

65,000 miles · Oct 3, 2014
StructureVehicle Speed ControlCrash

CAR WAS BEING PULLED INTO SPACE IN RESTAURANT PARKING LOT -- SPACE WAS ON GRASS UP A SLIGHT INCLINE (APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES) -- AS CAR WAS MOVING UP THE INCLINE A SMALL BUMP WAS FELT UNDER THE CAR AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE -- BRAKES WERE APPLIED IMMEDIATELY BUT WERE UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR -- …

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CAR WAS BEING PULLED INTO SPACE IN RESTAURANT PARKING LOT -- SPACE WAS ON GRASS UP A SLIGHT INCLINE (APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES) -- AS CAR WAS MOVING UP THE INCLINE A SMALL BUMP WAS FELT UNDER THE CAR AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE -- BRAKES WERE APPLIED IMMEDIATELY BUT WERE UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR -- THE CAR SWERVED AND HIT A TREE APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET FROM THE PARKING SPOT -- BELIEVE THE "BUMP" FELT UNDER THE CAR CAUSED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION -- ABOVE ACCOUNT CAN BE VERIFIED BY THE OTHER PERSON IN THE CAR WHO HAD THE SAME DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641292

89,000 miles · Jul 6, 2013
Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY COLLECTS MOISTURE ON THE INSIDE AND FAILS. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO LEXUS/TOYOTA AND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO DEALERS ON THE RX330, RX350 AND RX400H MODELS. THE SAME ASSEMBLY IS USED FROM 2003-2009 FOR THE RX MODELS AND LEXUS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN JANUARY 2010 ( L-SB-0008-10)…

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THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY COLLECTS MOISTURE ON THE INSIDE AND FAILS. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO LEXUS/TOYOTA AND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO DEALERS ON THE RX330, RX350 AND RX400H MODELS. THE SAME ASSEMBLY IS USED FROM 2003-2009 FOR THE RX MODELS AND LEXUS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN JANUARY 2010 ( L-SB-0008-10) TO DEALERS TO REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY IF OWNERS COMPLAINED ABOUT IT WHILE THE VEHICLES WERE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT HAVE DECIDED TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT ON MINE BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE LEXUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINT REPRESENTATIVE WHO ADDRESSED MY CLAIM ALSO ADVISED ME THAT CUSTOMER LOYALTY IS ONE OF THE FACTORS THEY USED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE COMPANY WILL PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. DRIVER SAFTEY SHOULD BE THE CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523451

89,000 miles · Jul 6, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

A MOMENT OF TERROR IN MY LEXUS 2008 RX400H ON MAY 01 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. ON BUSY ROUTE 111 IN NH. IN HEAVY TRAFFIC I LOST ALL POWER. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT ON. IT WAS ALMOST A MULTICAR PILEUP. WITH SCREECHING TIRES AND CARS MAKING PANIC STOPS IT WAS A WONDER THAT NOBODY WAS HURT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523446

60,000 miles · May 27, 2013
Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY COLLECTS MOISTURE ON THE INSIDE AND FAILS. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO LEXUS/TOYOTA AND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO DEALERS ON THE RX330, RX350 AND RX400H MODELS. THE SAME ASSEMBLY IS USED FROM 2003-2009 FOR THE RX MODELS AND LEXUS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN JANUARY 2010 ( L-SB-0008-10)…

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THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY COLLECTS MOISTURE ON THE INSIDE AND FAILS. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO LEXUS/TOYOTA AND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO DEALERS ON THE RX330, RX350 AND RX400H MODELS. THE SAME ASSEMBLY IS USED FROM 2003-2009 FOR THE RX MODELS AND LEXUS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN JANUARY 2010 ( L-SB-0008-10) TO DEALERS TO REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY IF OWNERS COMPLAINED ABOUT IT WHILE THE VEHICLES WERE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT HAVE DECIDED TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT ON MINE BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY ONE YEAR. THE LEXUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINT REPRESENTATIVE WHO ADDRESSED MY CLAIM ALSO ADVISED ME THAT CUSTOMER LOYALTY IS ONE OF THE FACTORS THEY USED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE COMPANY WILL PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. IT IS MY FIRST LEXUS VEHICLE AND IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. COST OF REPLACEMENT IS $1560.00. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513643

49,246 miles · Aug 18, 2012
Service Brakes

I RECENTLY PURCHASED (07/17/12) A 2008 USED RX400H, I QUICKLY NOTICED THAT WHILE BRAKING IF THE ROAD HAS ANY BUMPS OR UNEVENNESS THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD DURING THE BRAKING PROCESS AND THEN RESUMES BRAKING AFTER THE SURGE. THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY WHEN THERE ARE ANY BUMPS IN THE PAVEMENT. THIS IS VERY FRIGHTENING AS IT COUL…

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I RECENTLY PURCHASED (07/17/12) A 2008 USED RX400H, I QUICKLY NOTICED THAT WHILE BRAKING IF THE ROAD HAS ANY BUMPS OR UNEVENNESS THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD DURING THE BRAKING PROCESS AND THEN RESUMES BRAKING AFTER THE SURGE. THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY WHEN THERE ARE ANY BUMPS IN THE PAVEMENT. THIS IS VERY FRIGHTENING AS IT COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE BRAKING IS INTERRUPTED AND THE CAR ACTUALLY ACCELERATES WHEN IT SHOULD BE SLOWING DOWN! I HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT IN THE WINTER YET BUT I AM ALREADY CONCERNED AND UPSET THAT THIS CAR THAT I PURCHASED BECAUSE OF THE HIGH SAFETY RATINGS ON THE NHTSA SITE NOW TURNS OUT TO BE POTENTIALLY VERY UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471404

56,380 miles · Aug 9, 2012
StructureVisibility/wiper

FOR NO KNOWN REASON, FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED. NO VISIBLE MARKS THAT GLASS COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY ROCK OR ANY HARD PARTICLE. CRACK STARTS 8 INCHES FROM TOP PASSENGER SIDE AND PROPAGATES ACROSS CENTER OF WINDSHIELD TOWARD DRIVERS SIDE. MANUFACTURER DENIED CLAIM FOR REPLACEMENT STATING MILEAGE BEYOND WARRANTY PERIOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470037

Official recalls

1

13V396000 · Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter

Sep 4, 2013

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured February 16, 2005, through July 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008 Lexus RX400h vehicles manufactured February 23, 2005, through December 2, 2008. The Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module may contain transistors that have higher operating temperatures than the solder can support and the transistors may be heat damaged by the solder. If this occurs, various warning lamps, including the malfunction indicator lamp, slip indicator light, brake system warning light, and master warning light, will be illuminated on the instrument panel.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. It is possible that the hybrid system will shut down while the vehicle is being driven, causing the vehicle to stall unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the IPM free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicles that had their IPM replaced under recall 11V-342 are not affected by this campaign.

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

1

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.