Model year guide

2008 Lexus IS 350

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2008 Lexus IS 350 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 26 on record.

2008 Lexus IS 350 — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2008 Lexus IS 350 at a glance

Safety recalls8
Combined20 mpg
Typical price$14,056

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2008 Lexus IS 350 recalls 8

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #19V741000 · manufacturer #J0A, J0B, J0C, JLI · 17/10/2019

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicl…

Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at…

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings NHTSA Campaign #18V432000 · manufacturer #JLF · 26/06/2018

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.

Fix: 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.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #17V006000 · 09/01/2017

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands …

Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 1, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota custome…

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #16V340000 · manufacturer #TG1P/G1R L:G2G/G2H · 23/05/2016

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C, Lexus IS350C and Lexus GX460, 2011 Sienna, 2007-2011 Lexus ES350, and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, …

Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer servi…

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings NHTSA Campaign #14V647000 · 15/10/2014

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 attach…

Fix: 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.

Engine NHTSA Campaign #13V395000 · 04/09/2013

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 th…

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

Visibility/wiper NHTSA Campaign #13V030000 · 30/01/2013

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 vehicles manufactured August 23, 2005, through October 5, 2011; 2010-2012 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles manufactured April 10, 2009, through October 6, 2011; and 2008-2011 Lexus IS-F vehicles manufactured December 14, 2007, through July 10, 2011. The nuts that fasten the wiper arms may be insufficiently torqued such that if the wiper arms are …

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and Lexus dealers will install new wiper arm nuts, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on April 4, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine NHTSA Campaign #10V309000 · manufacturer #ALE · 06/07/2010

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2008 LEXUS PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 26, 2005 THROUGH AUGUST 4, 2008. MICRO-FOREIGN OBJECTS IN THE MATERIAL OF THE VALVE SPRING MAY DEGRADE THE STRENGTH OF THE VALVE SPRING, POSSIBLY CAUSING THE SPRING TO BREAK.

Fix: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 14 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2008 Lexus IS 350 MPG & running costs

Combined20 mpg
City18 mpg
Highway25 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$4,100
EPA size classSubcompact Cars
TransmissionAutomatic (S6)
Passenger volume88 cu ft
Cargo volume11 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$8,500 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

What's a 2008 Lexus IS 350 worth?

Low
$11,400
Typical price
$14,056
High
$16,750

From 24 comparable 2008 Lexus IS 350 listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2008 Lexus IS 350 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$20,500
Fuel only$20,500
Per mile$0.27

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
180.3 in
Width
70.9 in
Height
56.3 in
Wheelbase
107.5 in
Curb weight
3,527 lb
Front track
59.4 in
Rear track
59.8 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2008 Lexus IS 350. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Canadian recalls 8

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2008 Lexus IS 350. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Airbag

On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, could eventually degrade the propellant contained in the passenger frontal airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. As a result, if the vehicle were involved in a collision that warrants airbag deployment, fragments could b…

Transport Canada #2017007 · Jan 2017

Fuel System

On certain vehicles, the fuel delivery pipes in the engine compartment may have been produced with particles from the anti-corrosion plating on the gasket seating surface where the fuel pressure sensor is installed. This could affect the sealing properties of the gasket seated between the pressure sensor and the pipe, potentially resulting in a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the pre…

Transport Canada #2014458 · Oct 2014

Engine

On certain vehicles, the bolts used to secure the housing and sprocket of the intake-side Variable-Valve Timing (VVT) gear assembly could loosen. If this occurs, the VVT gear will not control the intake valves correctly. In some instances, the VVT gear housing and sprocket could separate, causing the engine to stall. Engine stalling would result in a loss of vehicle propulsion…

Transport Canada #2013297 · Sep 2013

Visual System

On certain vehicles, the wiper arm securing nuts could have been insufficiently tightened during assembly. If the movement of the wipers is restricted by an external load, such as heavy snow on the windshield, the wiper arms could slip and one or both wipers could become inoperative. If this occurs, driver visibility could be reduced, which could increase the risk of a crash ca…

Transport Canada #2013031 · Jan 2013

Fuel System

On certain GS 300, GS 300 AWD, GS 350, IS 250, IS 250 AWD and IS 350 vehicles, the fuel pressure sensor connected to the engine fuel delivery pipe may not have been sufficiently tightened during vehicle assembly. Should the pressure sensor loosen, fuel could leak past a gasket used in the connection between the sensor and pipe, and through the threaded portion of the sensor. Fu…

Transport Canada #2011037 · Jan 2011

Engine

On certain vehicles, the material composition of the engine valve springs may include micro-foreign objects, which may compromise the strength of the valve spring, causing the spring to degrade and break. If a valve springs breaks, abnormal noise and rough engine performance will be noticed and, in the worst case, the engine could fail and stop suddenly while the vehicle is in…

Transport Canada #2010221 · Jul 2010

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Lexus IS 350

The Lexus IS is a compact executive car sold by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota, since 1998. The IS was originally sold under the Toyota Altezza nameplate in Japan from 1998 until 2005. The IS was introduced as an entry-level sport model positioned below the ES in the Lexus lineup. It was the smallest car in the Lexus lineup until the introduction of the CT in 2011.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2008 Lexus IS 350 trims & engines on record

Trims
Base · 350
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl

2008 Lexus IS 350 vehicles on record

Other Lexus IS 350 model years

2008 Lexus IS 350 — frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Lexus IS 350 have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2008 Lexus IS 350. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Lexus IS 350 get?

The 2008 Lexus IS 350 has a U.S. EPA estimate of 20 mpg combined (18 city / 25 highway).

How much is a 2008 Lexus IS 350 worth?

Comparable 2008 Lexus IS 350 listings run roughly $11,400–$16,750, typically around $14,056 (from 24 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.