YearToAvoid

2008 Lexus GX470 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

75/100

#2 most-complained of 5 GX470 years

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

The 2008 Lexus GX470 has a complaint index of 75, the second-worst of 5 model years, with brakes the top problem area at 54% of complaints. It has no recalls, but owners reported brake failures around a median 32,500 miles.

Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
14 city / 18 hwy

Top 2008 Lexus GX470 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes7 (54%)
  2. Engine3 (23%)
  3. Airbags2 (15%)
  4. Electrical System1 (8%)
  5. Other1 (8%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (8%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain1 (8%)

What owners report

  • Owners report needing to press the brake pedal with great force before the vehicle would stop.
  • Some describe the vehicle surging forward unexpectedly while parking and applying the brakes, leading to a crash.
  • Drivers report a strange noise and violent jerking when braking, with the vehicle failing to decelerate normally.
  • Warped brakes led to uncontrollable steering wheel shaking at speeds above 50 miles an hour.
  • Owners describe a delay between pressing the brake pedal and the vehicle actually slowing down.
  • One owner reported the ignition key would not turn to start the vehicle despite trying multiple keys.
2008 Lexus GX470 complaints: complaints filed per month3May 2008Feb 2010Jun 2010May 2011Mar 2014Jun 2019
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2008 to Jun 2019; peak Mar 2014 (3).

2008 Lexus GX470 recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2008 Lexus GX470 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
18 MPG
Combined
15 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$5,300
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 GX470 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020052006200720082009
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Good2528115
2007Caution5027015
2008Avoid7513015
2009No verdict01015

All Lexus GX470 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Lexus GX470 a good year to buy?
It ranks 2nd worst out of 5 GX470 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 75 and a verdict of Avoid. Brakes account for 54% of its complaints.
What is the main problem with the 2008 Lexus GX470?
Brakes are the top problem area, making up 54% of complaints, including reports of hard pedal effort, warped rotors, and delayed braking response, with a median failure mileage of 32,500.
Does the 2008 Lexus GX470 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2008 Lexus GX470.
How does the 2008 GX470 compare to other years?
The 2008 model has a complaint index of 75, worse than 2006 (25, Good) and 2007 (50, Caution), but better than 2005 (100, Avoid).
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Lexus GX470?
The EPA rates it at 15 mpg combined (14 city/18 highway), with an annual fuel cost of $5,300.

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.