YearToAvoid

2008 Lexus IS 250 Engine Problems

NHTSA has 25 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2008 Lexus IS 250, 20% of all 125 complaints for this model year. That is #3 highest engine complaint count among 11 IS 250 model years. These complaints report 6 crashes and 1 injury. Median mileage at failure: 53,500 miles.

Engine complaints
25
20% of 125
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
53,500 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2008 Lexus IS 250 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 31, 2009, latest Nov 23, 2020.

2008 Lexus IS 250 engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Aug 2009Feb 2010May 2010Nov 2012Apr 2015Jul 2016Dec 2016Jun 2019
25 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2009 to Nov 2020; peak Mar 2010 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2008 Lexus IS 250

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by IS 250 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200646 (24%)
  2. 200736 (17%)
  3. 200825 (20%)
  4. 20097 (15%)
  5. 20105 (13%)
  6. 20113 (10%)
  7. 20125 (29%)
  8. 20132 (40%)
  9. 20145 (14%)
  10. 20151 (6%)
  11. 20160 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Lexus IS 250 have engine problems?
NHTSA has 25 owner complaints about the engine in the 2008 Lexus IS 250, 20% of all complaints for this model year, including 6 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 53,500 miles.
Which Lexus IS 250 year has the most engine complaints?
The 2006 Lexus IS 250 has the most engine complaints (46), compared with 25 for the 2008.
Is there a engine recall for the 2008 Lexus IS 250?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 Lexus IS 250 is classified under engine. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

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.