2008 Lexus ES350 Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Frontal
  2
• Side/window
  2
• On-off switch assembly
  1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  429%
• 25k–50k
  214%
• 50k–75k
  429%
• 75k–100k
  17%
• 100k–150k
  214%
• 150k+
  17%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Lexus ES350 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Lexus ES350. While accelerating from a stop light and attempting to avoid a curb on the left, the contact veered to the right and crashed into the driver side of another vehicle. When the contact attempted to steer to the left, the vehicle independently accelerated and rolled over. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained leg injuries and the rear driver side passenger sustained head injuries. Medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V340000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 189,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Lexus ES350. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V340000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact experienced the failure during a crash. While at a stop light, the contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained back injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and repaired. The failure mileage was 64,000.

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Lexus ES350. While driving at 25 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle independently accelerated and crashed into a ditch. The air bags did not deploy. The contact experienced a concussion and stomach contusion. The contact had to receive medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The failure mileage was 66,000. .....updated 05-27-15

Takata recall. I am filing this complaint because the amount of time taken by Takata and Lexus is in excess of the amount of time that should be allowed for this kind of safety matter. I submitted a written request to the dealer, westside Lexus, houston, tx. And have made several phone calls, including one today, in October, 2016 I was informed that the replacement might be available in December, 2016 or January, 2017. Today, I was told that they could not give me a date and it was in the government's hands as to when Takata would send the parts to them for the replacement. I live in a hot and humid area of the U.S. Where an earlier safety incident is likely to occur. I am requesting governmental assistance to rectify this matter as soon as possible. The problem was not due to any fault on my part it was a manufacturing mistake with fatal consequences. …

Takata inflators: I was involved in a serious accident on 05/25/2017. The veh I was in was a 2008 Lexus es 350. The airbags deployed but failed to inflate. As a result I have to undergo surgery due to severe injuries sustained in the accident. Both the side and front airbags appeared to be just some white sheets that popped out. The notification of the recall on the vehicle's airbags was received about almost 2 months after the car accident. By then the incident had already occurred and the damage was done. Very unfortunate situation. This took place in miami, florida, on kendall drive. The Lexus was at a standstill facing north in the middle median awaiting the make a left turn to be able to head west and turn into the west bound lanes. The opposite party that struck the Lexus was heading east in the 2nd to 3rd lane heading east bound. …

Tl contact owns a 2008 Lexus ES350. While driving 40 MPH, the contact's vehicle was struck on the driver's side by another vehicle. The side air bags failed to deploy. The front driver's side door was severely damaged, which should have activated the air bags. The contact sustained a black eye and head injury due to striking the exterior side mirror. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a shop for repairs. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 1,300.

My son-in-law, mark kuhar, was driving my (robert lehman's) 2008 Lexus ES350 with permission, when it went off the road down an appx. 100 foot hill, rolling end over end, appx. 8 times. None of the air bags were activated. He received serious injuries which he is now recovering from. The car is beyond repairs. Insurance companies for mark and myself have been notified and are active. A police report was filed.

T bone by a 4 runner, driver side door was severely damaged by the impact. 4runner front bumper came off from the impact. Broken glass every where causing minor cuts to the driver and passengers of the Lexus 08 ES350. Side and curtain airbags did not deploy. Minor injuries sustained on the driver and passengers on the Lexus 08 ES350.

Takata recall. Almost a year has passed and nothing has happened but I can't carry passengers in the front seat, meanwhile more and more cars are being recalled. Dealer claims to have no information when or if this will be resolved.

I have been involved in two separate collisions this year with my 2008 Lexus ES350 and neither time did my air bags deploy. The first time was in May/June of 2010 and I hit a curb avoiding a collision with a vehicle that cut my off. I was alone in my vehicle traveling at about 30-40 miles an hour and the airbags did not deploy. Exactly two months ago, I was involved in another collision with a Hyundai accent in which I rear ended that vehicle at a speed of approximately 45 MPH and again the airbags did not deploy causing me to hit my face on the steering wheel, having a nose and facial contusion, then being whipped back from the seat belt. Progressive insurance refused to total the vehicle despite the extensive damage and they still can't figure out the computer related issues. …

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other ES350 years