YearToAvoid

2008 Lexus GS 350 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2008 Lexus GS 350 has a complaint index of 83, ranks 3rd worst of 13 model years, and carries an Avoid verdict. NHTSA lists 19 complaints, 4 recalls, and 4 crashes, with Engine issues making up 47% of complaints.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
83/100
#3 of 13 GS 350 years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
19
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
4
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
4
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
4
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2009
lowest-risk (no Good/Best year)
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18.5 city / 26 hwy
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0

Top 2008 Lexus GS 350 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine9 (47%)
  2. Electrical System3 (16%)
  3. Structure & Body3 (16%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (16%)
  5. Other2 (11%)
  6. Airbags1 (5%)
  7. Brakes1 (5%)
  8. Fuel System1 (5%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain1 (5%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (5%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration or the car surging forward without pressing the gas pedal.
  • Some report the vehicle moving on its own at low speeds, around 15 to 30 mph, and not stopping when the brake pedal was pressed.
  • Front tires wear unevenly on the inside edge, reportedly from a lack of camber adjustment, sometimes wearing past the tread indicators by the time the car reaches 45,000 miles.
  • Electrical glitches include a flickering backup camera and an intermittent low-beam headlight failure.
  • Drivers report poor headlight visibility at night on highways, needing high beams to see clearly.
  • Airbags deployed on the driver side but not the passenger side during a low-speed crash.
2008 Lexus GS 350 complaints: complaints filed per month2Mar 2009Jan 2011May 2013Jul 2016Dec 2017Oct 2018
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2009 to Nov 2018; peak Jan 2011 (2).

2008 Lexus GS 350 recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V432000Jun 26, 2018Fuel System114,998 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Lexus GS350 and GS450h, 2006-2013 Lexus IS350 and 2010-2014 Lexus IS350C vehicles, equipped with 3.5L V6 2GR-FSE gasoline engines. The diaphragms in the fuel pulsation dampers may harden over time and develop cracks, possibly causing a fuel leak.

    Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery pipe with a new pipe that has improved pulsation dampers, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2018. Owners may contact Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's number for this recall is JLF.

  2. NHTSA 14V647000Oct 15, 2014Fuel System422,509 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Lexus LS vehicles manufactured May 9, 2006, to July 20, 2010, 2006-2011 Lexus GS vehicles manufactured January 6, 2005, to September 10, 2010, and 2006-2011 Lexus IS vehicles manufactured August 30, 2005, to September 10, 2010. Due to anti-corrosion plating remnants, fuel may leak from where the fuel pressure sensor is attached to the fuel delivery pipe.

    Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will clean and reseal the fuel pressure sensor mounting area, free of charge. The recall began March 3, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

  3. NHTSA 13V395000Sep 4, 2013Engine101,584 vehicles

    Engine

    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Lexus GS350 vehicles manufactured June 19, 2006, through July 12, 2011; and model year 2006-2011 Lexus IS350 vehicles manufactured May 27, 2005, through July 13, 2011; and model year 2010-2011 Lexus IS350c vehicles manufactured November 25, 2009, through July 19, 2011. These vehicles, equipped with the 2GR-FSE engine, use bolts to secure the housing and sprocket of the Variable-Valve Timing (VVT) system gear assembly. These bolts could become loose due to abnormal impacts generated within the gear assembly immediately after a cold start-up.

    Risk: The loose bolts could cause the VVT gear housing and sprocket to separate and result in the engine stopping while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and Lexus dealers will replace the VVT unit free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

See all 4 recalls for the 2008 Lexus GS 350 →

2008 Lexus GS 350 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18.5 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,825
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other GS 350 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’06’07’08’09’10’11’13’14’15’16’17’18’19
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006No verdict811—
2007Avoid10057521
2008Avoid8319421
2009Caution588321
2010Caution507321

All Lexus GS 350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Lexus GS 350 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 GS 350 carries an Avoid verdict, ranking 3rd worst among 13 model years with a complaint index of 83.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Lexus GS 350?
Engine problems are the top issue, making up 47% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 143,000 miles. Electrical, structure/body, and suspension issues each account for 16% of complaints.
Does the 2008 Lexus GS 350 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2008 GS 350, covering the fuel delivery pipe, fuel pressure sensor sealing, a VVT unit replacement, and valve spring material defects. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2008 GS 350 compare to other model years?
The 2008 model's complaint index of 83 is lower than the 2007 model's 100 but higher than 2009's 58 and 2010's 50, placing 2008 among the worse years for this model.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Lexus GS 350?
The EPA rates the 2008 GS 350 at 21 mpg combined (18.5 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,825.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.