2008 Lexus Rx Hybrid problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (19) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic (8) · Service Brakes (5)
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
49 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter 2013-09-04 · campaign 13V396000 · 133,081 vehicles
Defect: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured February 16, 2005, through July 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008 Lexus RX400h vehicles manufactured February 23, 2005, through December 2, 2008. The Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module may contain transistors that have higher operating temperatures than the solder can support and the transistors may be heat damaged by the solder. If this occurs, various warning lamps, including the
Risk: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. It is possible that the hybrid system will shut down while the vehicle is being driven, causing the vehicle to stall unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the IPM free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicles that had their IPM replaced under recall 11V-342 are not affected by this campaign.
Service bulletins (148)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2025-12-15 · L-SB-0030-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2005 – 2026 lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. the purpose of this service bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures
Structure:body 2024-07-29 · L-SB-0030-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2005 – 2024 lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. the purpose of this service bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures
Structure:body 2024-07-29 · L-SB-0030-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2005 – 2024 lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. the purpose of this service bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures
Structure:body 2024-06-21 · L-SB-0030-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2005 – 2024 lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. the purpose of this service bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures
Structure:body 2024-06-21 · L-SB-0030-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2005 – 2024 lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. the purpose of this service bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures
Structure:body 2024-04-19 · L-SB-0023-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Showing the 6 most recent of 148 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2022-06-13 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 138,140 mi“the contact owns a 2008 lexus rx400h. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound with the vsc message displayed and the abs and traction control warning lights illuminated. additionally, the vehicle made the same abnormal sound for 15 minutes after the vehicle was turned off. the vehicle was ta…”
2022-03-09 · Hybrid Propulsion System · 89,320 mi“the contact owns a 2008 lexus rx400h. the contact stated while driving approximately 75 mph, the vehicle stalled. the contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. the contact was able to restart the vehicle and the check engine and the hybrid system maintenance warning lights illuminated. the contact was able to continue dri…”
2021-11-02 · Service Brakes, Air:antilock:abs Warning Light · 75,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 lexus rx400h. the contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the abs warning light would illuminate, and a grinding noise was present while depressing the brake pedal. on multiple occasions while driving at very slow speeds the vehicle abruptly stopped. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the a…”
2021-08-23 · Hybrid Propulsion System · 268,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 lexus rx400h. the contact stated that while reversing out a parking space at a low rate of speed, the vehicle stalled as the hybrid system warning message illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact was able to walk to an automotive parts store and purchased a new battery which he replaced in his vehicle. the contact wa…”
2019-05-21 · Service Brakes“started noticing "burping" noise when i pressed on brakes from engine bay, then later i noticed continuous clicking sound coming from front passenger engine bay after i would turn off engine completely. as later time went by the clicking sound would get longer and consistent. i also experienced that the vehicle would "lunge" forward when i would st…”
2019-04-18 · Service Brakes · 111,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2008 lexus rx400h. while driving approximately 40 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and the contact felt an abnormal vibration in the brake pedal. the contact stated that the abs warning indicator illuminated and additional distance was needed to stop the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to rick hendrick toyota sandy springs (…”
2018-10-03 · Service Brakes · 78,068 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2008 lexus rx400h. while driving 60 mph, the vehicle stalled and the abs, brake system, and slip warning indicators illuminated. the vehicle was taken to carmax (3100 spur 482, irving, tx 75062, (972) 721-0500) where the contact was informed to ignore the failure and to bring the vehicle back in if the failure recurred. the v…”
2018-03-31 · Unknown Or Other · 87,000 mi · 💥 crash“my vehicle was in motion and failed to properly break which therefore ended hitting an older model bmw at approx 45mph. the airbags inflated sending some type of metal shards to my right lower abdomen that resulted in massive bleeding. *tt *js…”
2018-02-06 · Service Brakes · 239,995 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2008 lexus rx400 hybrid. while driving unknown speeds, the brake pedal was applied, but failed to fully depress. additionally, there was an abnormal popping noise. all the warning indicators illuminated and the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed that the brake actuator needed to …”
2017-05-30 · Unknown Or Other“while driving i got a message to check hybrid system - then the car died…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.