10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
80,165 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 RX 350 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2008 Lexus RX 350 Owner Comments

problem #19

Jan 212021

RX 350

  • 160,691 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, she saw smoke coming from the front passenger seat. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled into a parking lot and parked the vehicle until the smoke vanished. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they could not assist. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that an agent of the Federal Department of Agriculture would inspect the vehicle and would send them a report. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the same dealer and was inspected on February 10, 2021 by a Federal Department of Agriculture agent who also disconnected the heating system of the front passenger seat. The contact stated that the manufacturer had not followed up with her since then. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,691.

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

problem #18

Nov 182019

RX 350

  • 230,000 miles
This car is experiencing symptoms exactly as described in the inverter module recall, whereby after highway driving, the electric motor will fail randomly, tripping all dashboard failure lights, and putting the vehicle in "limp" mode, where it either slows significantly or stops, and then thus poses great safety risk with surrounding traffic.

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #17

Sep 062018

RX 350

  • 151,500 miles
Rear liftgate handle melting when car is operational. Hot to the touch. Have read this has happened to multiple Lexus/Toyota models.

- Hanover, PA, USA

problem #16

Dec 032013

RX 350

  • 115,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that the headlamps failed to illuminate. The bulbs were replaced by an independent mechanic, but the failure recurred. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the head lamp assemblies needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the statute had expired to receive a manufacturer recall repair. The manufacturer provided no solution other than having the vehicle repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.

- Lackawanna, NY, USA

problem #15

Nov 012015

RX 350 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Lexus RX350. While starting the vehicle, the contact heard a grinding noise under the hood. The noise was only present for a few seconds, especially in cold weather. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the camshaft sensors were failing. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. Updated 05/09/17 consumer stated this is an issue with the cam gears. Possibly causing the engine to lock up. Updated 7/6/18

- Lincolnshire, IL, USA

problem #14

Jun 032016

RX 350 6-cyl

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Lexus RX350. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was pushed to the side of the road. When the contact disengaged the air condition compressor, the vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the air condition compressor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000. Updated 08/05/16

- Palm Desert, CA, USA

problem #13

Feb 012016

RX 350

  • miles

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

Significant amount of white granules emitting from evaporator core through air vents when heat/ac is on. Concern about health hazards to family from breathing particles.

- Manchester, MD, USA

problem #12

Jan 012016

RX 350

  • 65,000 miles
Hatch handle for rear door melted. Rear interior module buckling.

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

problem #11

Sep 012015

RX 350

  • 108,000 miles
The rear switch on the tailgate is melted. When you push on the button if feels sticky and comes off on your hands. To replace this part it cost $100 for the part and $200 to install. When I looked online so many people are having this issue. Something is wrong with the making of this part. It has failed.

- Scotts Valley, CA, USA

problem #10

Aug 262015

RX 350

  • miles
Melted rubber boot handle cover for the rear latch causing rear door automatic lift to stop functioning issue reported multiple times on www.clublexus.com/forums with incident of electrical issue involved.

- Lompoc, CA, USA

problem #9

Dec 042012

RX 350

  • 95,000 miles

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

Rear latch melted, not due to temperatures in the city and state where I live but instead to a electrical component overheating. Lexus will not fix without a charge of over $200. This is clearly a defect

- Warner Robins, GA, USA

problem #8

Jan 012014

RX 350 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Part# 84840G 8484021010 switch assembly, back door opener - rubber cover of switch housing deteriorates/depolymerizes leaving behind a hazardous goo and hindering operation of rear hatch release mechanism.

- Levittown, PA, USA

problem #7

Dec 092014

RX 350

  • 104,000 miles
The rubber cover of the liftgate sensor melted. I am concerned about it catching fire. I have read multiple complaints online from owners with the same issue. The black rubber melts and sticks to fingers. I also causes the sensor to malfunction since the rubber piece interferes with the sensor.

- Springfield, VA, USA

problem #6

Aug 202014

RX 350

  • 43,350 miles
Rear switch assembly part #84840 failed. Car is subject to southern California temperatures and is parked in the garage. Plastic melted the rear door manual switch/handle and provide a melted tar like substance behind. No accident or any misuse was done to the vehicle.

- Garden Grove, CA, USA

problem #5

Jun 122014

RX 350 6-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
Trunk hatch handle has melted completely, leaving black rubbery goo. Unable to open the back trunk due this issue.

- Aliso Viejo, CA, USA

problem #4

Feb 192014

RX 350 6-cyl

  • 76,350 miles
The trunk hatch handle has melted, leaving black rubbery goo on fingers if opening using the handle. Residue is hard to wash off. Concerned that it melted due to electrical problem. I've read all complaints and have found numerous other owners experienced the same problem.

- Redondo Beach, CA, USA

problem #3

Jul 012013

RX 350 6-cyl

  • 50,250 miles
I noticed my back door opener switch was starting to melt. At first we thought its from the heat of the summer but then after careful consideration we thought that we've had the car for 4 previous summers with no issues with said button. We thought that there must be some electrical component inside the automatic button that must be getting too hot that's causing the hard plastic to melt.

- Mansfield , TX, USA

problem #2

Aug 012013

RX 350 6-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
Just wish to report melted rear door latch... been getting gooey for months and finally came off - seems to be an ongoing problem with several Lexus and Toyota vehicles. Wasn't sure if this is heat related or electrical.

- Black, AL, USA

problem #1

Jul 012011

RX 350 6-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
I was driving my 2008 Lexus RX350 on the freeway at 65mph and my son rolled down his window and instantaneously there was an extreme and painfull cabin pressure that Lexus call "normal cabin pressure". it startled me, I almost crashed with my wife and two kids in the car with me.it makes your ears hut, very painfull. I bought a Lexus because of T he quality and luxury that the Lexus corporation portays. I am vey disappointed because the Lexus dealership told me this is normal cabin pressure. The corporate office told me that this is normal and is no longer wanting to discuss this matter any further with me. They said that I will have to hire a lawyer if I want to pursue this matter any further. I think that the Lexus corporation is promoting false advertisement by claiming that they are commited to high quality and luxury while still mass producing the Lexus rx model with this deffect of "normal cabin pressure". this is so frustrating. I finally buy a luxury vehicle and it turns out to be defective with no apparent solution. Bassically I just have to live with this ear pearcing annoyance. What a disappointment with Lexus.I payed so much money for a disappointment!

- La Puente, CA, USA

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