2008 Lexus RX engine problems

Filed Jun 13, 2026 · Acceleration, Electrical · FL

Dear Sir or Madam. My name is [XXX], [XXX], [XXX] living in [XXX]. I bought my 2008 Lexus RX400h car, used, in 2014 at a non-Lexus dealership in the [XXX] where I used to live. My Lexus VIN is: [XXX]. I've been satisfied with the car..until today. The car had been running smoothly forever, and this morning while I was driving I came to a stop (red light) and the car suddenly shut down completely, including the loss of lights, and the whole dashboard went dark. Other cars behind me were honking their horns. I could not even turn on the hazard lights. After 1-2 minutes, all of the lights/warnings started coming on one after the other. I started the car again and run around three different errands without having further issues. I checked online to see if other owners had experienced a similar situation, which is the case. One person said that there had been two recalls in 2011 and 2013, both related to the inverter module inside the hybrid system. Although, I called today a Lexus dealership, [XXX], located in [XXX], and I was told there are no recalls for the VIN number that I provided. Another owner said she/he went to a Lexus dealer in [XXX] and she was told it was a defect in the gutter drainage design and that water gets into the hybrid system. This is a dangerous and potentially catastrophic situation if the vehicle suddenly shuts down on a freeway/highway putting passengers in risk of harm, injury, or death. This is a horrific defect which Lexus should correct immediately with a recall before one of us ends up at the cementery. I am glad to know that organizations such as the federal safety agency exist, and I will appreciate very much that immediate action is taken on this matter. Sincerely, [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jan 14, 2025 · Engine · NY

Vvt-I oil line failure. Limited service campaign ended in Dec 2021. No notice sent, no repairs suggested at the dealership within the eligible period. Vvt-I failed and engine lost all oil in minutes while driving, coating the front passenger brake caliper and rendering the breaking dangerously difficult on the passenger side on the highway.

Filed Jul 2, 2021 · Engine · KY

2008 lexus 350 rx. Consumer writes in regards to a oil line defect. The consumer stated the dealer would not repair the vehicle until it exhibited a failure. The owner suspected the vehicle would fail in the future. The dealer advised the consumer to pay for the repairs.the consumer declined.

Filed Mar 7, 2021 · Engine · 103,000 miles · CA · fire

2008 lexus rx350 was parked in garage with engine hot. One minute after the engine stopped, it caught on fire and required the fire department to finally put it out. Engine compartment so completely destroyed that the immediate cause of the fire not detectable. Car is total loss, garage damaged but not destroyed.most recent servicing was by the lexus dealer three months previous.

Filed Aug 29, 2020 · Engine, Fuel system · OH

Dashboard check engine, car skid lines wont shut off. Engine stalls while driving when car is stopped tried to turn off lights. Would not go out. Not flashing lightss on dashboard. Stable light not going out.

Filed Jun 20, 2020 · Engine · 114,366 miles · NC

On june 3rd, 2020 I got my 2008 lexus rx 350 serviced for 115,000 mile service at johnson lexus of raleigh. I have had my car serviced religiously at the same dealer since I bought it brand new in 2008. It cost about $250, on june 13th I noticed large amount of engine oil under the car. The car had not been driven more than 50 miles after service. The engine had a strange sound. I checked the oil level in the engine and there was no oil at all.there were no warning lights on the dash. I had the car towed to the dealer at my own expense. The service advisor at the lexus dealer informed me that the "engine oil cooler pipe" had burst and it would cost around $500 for repairs. He emphasized that the defect was not related to the service. On further research on the internet, I found the "sb-10056509-3341" service bulletin which acknowledged the defect in the part and provided enhanced warranty. Unfortunately it did not apply to me since the car had been purchased more than 10 years ago even though it was well within the 150,000 mile limit. If the oil had leaked on the highway, the vehicle would have stalled on the highway risking a serious accident.

Filed May 21, 2020 · Engine · 149,000 miles · WI

I was told by an oil change service that I had an oil leak. I did not drive my vehicle and had to wait over the weekend to get it into a shop. The shop told me that my rubber oil cooler pipe was leaking and it was a bad leak. I cannot drive it. I had it towed to toyota to look at it since the closets lexus dealer is 2 hours away. The toyota dealer informs me that the oil cooler pipe is leaking and needs to be replaced. Through research and a tip from the first auto shop that there is a limited-service campaign for this defective part and lexus even extended the campaign through december 2021. I am relieved that it will be covered just as it should by lexus. I get a call from lexus they are not covering it, because my VIN is not included in the extension of the campaign, even though, my car has the defective part. My car is part of that manufacturing line that had the defective part put in. Please have lexus expand their vehicles to include all 07-08 lexus rx 350's for the limited-service campaign as it is still a problem in those vehicles regardless of the VIN. That is why they gave the extension of the limited-service-campaign because lexus and toyota know it is still a problem for lexus and toyota owners. If the rubber hose is not replaced it could cause the hose to break and cause engine failure and damage or cause the engine to cease and cause a major accident. This needs to be addressed immediately by lexus. Thus, I am requesting that lexus and toyota need to replace any rubber hoses with the metal ones at no cost to the customer. Thank you.

Filed Nov 19, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 230,000 miles · NC

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.

Filed Oct 7, 2019 · Engine · 15 miles · GA

Vvt-I rubber oil line ruptured leaking all 6 quarts of oil out of engine, causing catastrophic engine damage while driving in 2008 lexus rx350 toyota should have never put a rubber hose on an oil line with 80psi and they should have issued a recall. The lexus dealer has never advised me of potential problem. They should have to repair my engine. Furious at toyota for cutting costs!

Filed Aug 12, 2019 · Engine · 134,852 miles · GA

Oil leak while driving - engine oil cooling pipe technical service bulletin #l-sb-0154-11 technical service bulletin# zlc technical service bulletin # pol14-02