2.5

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,969 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Lexus IS 250 engine problems

engine problem

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2008 Lexus IS 250 Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #15

May 012017

IS 250

  • 74,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus Is 250. Within less than two days of owning the vehicle, there was a failure with the radiator cap and catastrophic engine failure. The temperature gauge fluctuated highly. The dealer replaced the radiator cap and provided no solution for the engine failure. The vehicle was excluded from NHTSA campaign numbers: 10V309000 (engine and engine cooling) and 09V020000 (engine and engine cooling). An independent mechanic replaced the engine assembly due to the failure. The manufacturer was aware that they issued two recalls, but they provided no solution to repair the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.

- Jennings, LA, USA

problem #14

Aug 152008

IS 250

  • 26,000 miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Lexus Is 250. While driving various speeds, the vehicle hesitated when the accelerator pedal was depressed from a stop position. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with carbon build up. There was no repair solution. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer several years later and the motor was rebuilt. The vehicle had several top carbon clean outs, but the issue persisted. The contact also stated that the dashboard and the inner door panels were melting. The failures made it difficult to see out the widow due to a glare coming through the windshield. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V340000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.

- Marreto, LA, USA

problem #13

Sep 012014

IS 250 6-cyl

  • miles
"takata recall" the second day I bought my car it has been giving me problems. I have had to replace my engine/motor not long after I purchased my car. I'm still having the same problems with my car and new motor. It runs hot and I have brought it to 6 different mechanic as well as to the Lexus dealership multiple times and I have had to pay out of pocket for a lot of things. I also went on Lexus.com and found out that my car is a lemon buy back and was never told by the dealership I bought it from or the Lexus dealership in baton rouge Louisiana that it was a lemon. I had to fund out on my own. It very wrong that I bought a car and not told my anyone how the car is a lemon.

- Jennings, LA, USA

problem #12

Jan 032017

IS 250

  • 104,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #11

Feb 022016

IS 250

  • 68,184 miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Lexus Is 250. While attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The dealer diagnosed that there was buildup in the piston that needed to be cleaned. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V340000 (air bags). The part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 68,184. VIN tool confirms part not available.

- El Dorado Hill, CA, USA

problem #10

Nov 212016

IS 250

  • miles
It didn't start I think the ful line or fused, I take it to crown Lexus, Ontario California they wana charge me about $1000 with out turn on the car !!! oh jesus help me. They playing game

- Chino, CA, USA

problem #9

Jul 282016

IS 250

  • 106,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I took my 2008 Lexus IS250 to the dealer on 7/29/16 for a recall issue that it had I was told my car had a rattling noise coming from my motor I was told it the vvt cam gears I was quoted $3,000 to do this job on my car. I konw there is a recall for this for the Lexus IS350 (13V-395) I wanted now why they have a safety recall for only the IS350 and not the IS250 as well its the same safety issue.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #8

Jun 282016

IS 250

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Lexus Is 250. The contact stated that the engine would not idle and all the warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle made abnormal noises when shifted into gear. Prior to this failure, the vehicle was remedied per NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V647000 (fuel system, gasoline) and 13V030000(visibility/wiper). The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.

- Trinidad, CA, USA

problem #7

Feb 192016

IS 250

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Lexus Is 250. The contact stated that the vehicle was not experiencing any failure before being taken to the dealer for a manufacturer recall regarding the engine misfiring. The dealer had the vehicle for longer than a week. When the vehicle was driven by the contact after the repairs, it overheated and stalled. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The recall remedy did not repair the condition. The manufacturer was notified. The NHTSA campaign number was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.

- Alhambra, CA, USA

problem #6

Jan 012014

IS 250

  • 70,000 miles
Cam gear problems. When start the engine, there was a rattle sound for a second, this problem had been recall for Lexus IS350 but not IS250!!!!! and there are thousands of IS250 owners complaint the same problem as IS350, this problem may stop the engine while running, which is very dangerous. Here is the link for IS250 owners complaint: www.clublexus.com/forums/is-2nd-gen-2006-2013/654738-cam-gear-rattle.html

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #5

Feb 022015

IS 250 6-cyl

  • 89,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On my 2008 Lexus Is 250 at cold start it makes a rattling noise I was wondering why they only have the recall for this for the is 350 only. I know its the vvt actuator gear that is causing it.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #4

Jan 222014

IS 250 6-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
Cam gear noise while start up. Is 350 had a recall for that, but not for Is 250.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #3

Jun 042013

IS 250

  • 74,000 miles
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.

- Fremont, CA, USA

problem #2

Sep 032013

IS 250 6-cyl

  • 73,000 miles
September 20, 2012 I experienced my first misfire issue with my 2008 Lexus Is 250. As I accelerated to approx 65 mph to entire a busy highway on ramp, I lost all acceleration in my vehicle. As this happened, I had the check engine light flashing, my check vsc indicator displaying, and my traction control light illuminating. I called Lexus, they advised that the car needed be towed in and the began to run the codes that were tripped. It was determined that I had extreme carbon build up in the engine, which was causing my engine to misfire. They did the "cleaning repair" which involved taking the engine apart, and sending a bunch of parts to a machine shop where they cleaned the heads & pistons. In total, I was without my car for over a month! fast forward to September 3, 2013. I now have 73,000 miles on my car, and the same thing happened again this evening as I was accelerating to approx 40 mph. This time I was on a busy 5 lane road, and lost all acceleration and had to essentially "coast" across 5 lanes of rush hour traffic to get to safety on the shoulder of the road. I immediately called Lexus, and once again they advised me that my car needed to be towed in. Today my service advisor contacted me to inform me that once again I have carbon build up in my engine and that it is misfiring. Unfortunately now, my car is beyond the 70,000 mile drive train warranty. He is working with corporate to see what my next steps are, but I refuse to pay for these repairs, and I do not feel that I should have to since it is essentially a repeat malfunction of an existing issue! it should also be noted that my is has been into the dealership 3X for engine noise/rough start up since I had the repairs completed last year. Every time, I was told that they logged the issue, but were unable to replicate it.

- Oviedo, FL, USA

problem #1

Nov 042012

IS 250 6-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
As I was attempting to accelerate, the vsc light and check engine light came on, the car lost power, would not accelerate, and the engine started misfiring.

- Kailua Kona, HI, USA

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