Most common 2008 Lexus IS F problems
Share of the 13 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus IS F complaints by model year
Best IS F years: 2012, 2013. Compare all years →
2008 Lexus IS F 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 F:
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 F owners say
Air bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Lexus IS f. The contact states that the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16V340000 (air bags) was received in May 2016. After contacting the dealer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be given. The failure mileage was 52,000. Updated 10/13/16 updated 08/15/2017
Plug for knee airbag becomes loose and triggers airbag light. Based on dealer feedback this IS a wire harness plug issue and will cause the knee airbag to not inflate. This IS a potential safety concern cause by a possible design/manufacturing defect.
Engine & cooling
Per the forums and used fb groups, all isfs year models 2008-2014 are affected the valley plate leak due to the fact that Toyota/Lexus utilized the improper sealant and used the improper amount, leading to the heat exchanger leaking coolant once the original, inadequate sealant begins to disintegrate. This could cause a condition where the engine could fail and someone could get hurt. Furthermore, all isfs will eventually have a cracked rh manifold on the #8 runner. This can cause a fire hazard in addition to carbon monoxide poisoning. I personally had this issue on my 2008 and know at least 100 owners who have also had this issue fixed. I am sure many more are out there.
Coolant leak from water pump. Steam show up towards engine bay's fire wall. Leak IS extremely close to accessory drive belt. Fairly common issue with models base don this chassis: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/IS-f/570931-water-pump-leaking.html please investigate warranty claims for this issue, and initiate a recall so that others who have paid out of pocket can be reimbursed.
2008 Lexus IS F engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Lexus IS F a good car?
Based on 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 IS F rates average: 4.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the IS F at the same age. 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 F?
The air bags — 8 complaints, 62% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (3) and speed control & acceleration (1).
How many recalls does the 2008 Lexus IS F have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2008 Lexus IS F, 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 F?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012 and 2013. See the full Lexus IS F years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Lexus IS F problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 52,000 miles; 43% 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.