Most common 2008 Lexus IS 250 problems
Share of the 125 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus IS 250 complaints by model year
Best IS 250 years: 2013, 2012, 2015. Years to avoid: 2007, 2006, 2008. Compare all years →
2008 Lexus IS 250 recalls (5)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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,…
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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,…
Remedy: 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…
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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…
Remedy: 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…
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
Remedy: 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.
Visibility/wiper
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2008 Lexus IS 250:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2008 Lexus IS 250 owners say
Air bags all 38 →
As inspected by Lexus dealership in woodland hills ca, my car has airbag light on/off intermittently. Error code b1861 was found that IS tied to knee airbag on the driver side. There IS a problem with the squib circuit in the instrument cluster I believe. Car has around 99K miles but this safety concern IS serious. This airbag IS something that never gets used unless you're in an accident. I've never been in one. It IS just bad workmanship on Lexus to install such a wiring harness and squib circuit that'll go bad before 100,000 miles. As a customer this IS not something that IS visible to me nor something I would attempt to touch. It IS hidden behind the instrument cluster and dashboard. Dealership quoted $3000+ to fix something that wasn't caused due to customer negligence. It IS just bad workmanship from Lexus. …
My complaint IS in regard to the service bulletin no.: lsb-0167-08 component(s): air bags , electrical system. This service bulletin IS a solid proof that a certain models of Lexus vehicles have a defected airbag system components. Yet, for the unlucky owners of these models who experienced this problem only after the expiration of the dealer's warranty, they face $3500 repair bill the fix a manufacturing default. By googling this issue, I came to find out that many many Lexus owners had experienced the same problem. Some were able to have fixed under the warranty; while others found the repair too high and unfair to pay for. Since Lexus recognizes the problem and admits to the default, they must take full responsibility and repair it free of charge, with or without recall. I and many consumers like me are counting and waiting on NHTSA to make things right, as they always do at the end. …
Body & structure all 29 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Lexus IS 250. The contact stated that the dashboard was melting and produced a glare that impaired vision while driving. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Lexus of new orleans (8811 veterans memorial blvd, metairie, la 70003, [phone]) where the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The failure mileage was 95,000. * consumer stated recall on dashboard's warranty expired after 10years of first use. Updated 11/7/18
Dash cracking, sticky trunk button, door pan els discolored . First owner purchased new. Garage keep entire period since purchase in 08. I always wanted to have a Lexus and on my 50th bithday and purchased a new one. I wanted a Lexus because it meant quality. I understand Toyota /Lexus issued a notice to dealers but not a recall notice. I never recieved any notice from my local dealer or Lexus regarding this defect until the replacement plan had expired. Class action suit was dropped when Toyota/Lexus agreed to replace dash and door panels back 10 years and no milage cap on certain vehicles, mine included. I would like this replaced in a timely fashion at no charge. I can't even trade or sell my vehicle for real,value of a garage kept vehicle with these issues. Why IS it Lexus can't do better for its customers and not leave me in limbo? …
Engine & cooling
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Lexus IS 250. While driving various speeds, the vehicle hesitated when the accelerator pedal was depressed from a stop position. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with carbon build up. There was no repair solution. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer several years later and the motor was rebuilt. The vehicle had several top carbon clean outs, but the issue persisted. The contact also stated that the dashboard and the inner door panels were melting. The failures made it difficult to see out the widow due to a glare coming through the windshield. 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. …
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Lexus IS 250. While attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The dealer diagnosed that there was buildup in the piston that needed to be cleaned. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V340000 (air bags). The part needed for the repair was not available. 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 approximate failure mileage was 68,184. VIN tool confirms part not available.
2008 Lexus IS 250 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Lexus IS 250 a good car?
Based on 125 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 IS 250 rates avoid: 2.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the IS 250 at the same age. It is one of the IS 250 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Lexus IS 250?
The air bags — 38 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the body & structure (29) and engine & cooling (15).
How many recalls does the 2008 Lexus IS 250 have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2008 Lexus IS 250, the most recent from October 17, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus IS 250?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013, 2012 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2007, 2006 and 2008. See the full Lexus IS 250 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Lexus IS 250 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 66,000 miles; 34% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.