2008 Lexus Is Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Lexus Is.

20072009
Complaints
143
per 10K Sold
28.9
US Sales
49,432
Crashes
7
Fires
0
Injuries
5
Fatalities
Recalls
1

Worst 2008 Lexus Is Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#122 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:101,060 mi
#220 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:101,834 mi
Crash-related:2
#313 complaints

Structural Problems

Avg mileage:60,770 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Lexus Is.

Engine Problems
22
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
101,060
Airbags
20
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
101,834
Structural Problems
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
60,770
Wipers & Visibility
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
63,714
Body Structure
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
77,000
Electrical Faults
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
95,333
Fuel System
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
141,012
Transmission / Drivetrain
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
88,447
Steering Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Electric
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Door
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Interior Panels:Dashboard
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Interior Panels:Door
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Interior
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Lexus Is. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2008 Lexus Is

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~244,779 vehicles.

11V029000Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
~244,779 affected

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 LEXUS IS AND MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 LEXUS GS VEHICLES. DUE TO INSUFFICIENT TIGHTENING OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR CONNECTED TO AN ENGINE FUEL DELIVERY PIPE WITH NICKEL PHOSPHORUS PLATING, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT, OVER TIME, THE PRESSURE SENSOR COULD LOOSEN. IF LOOSENING OCCURS, FUEL COULD LEAK PAST A GASKET USED IN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SENSOR AND THE PIPE AND THROUGH THE THREADED PORTION OF THE SENSOR.

Other Lexus Is Years

2008 Lexus Is — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2008 Lexus Is reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2008 Lexus Is has 143 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 22 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2008 Lexus Is?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (22 complaints, avg 101,060 mi); Airbags (20 complaints, avg 101,834 mi); Structural Problems (13 complaints, avg 60,770 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2008 Lexus Is?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 90,557 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2008 Lexus Is?
NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Lexus Is include 7 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2008 Lexus Is have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 244,779 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2008 Lexus Is?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2008 Lexus Is shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Lexus Is reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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