Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 13 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Lexus GX470, most frequently naming the brakes, driver assistance and airbags categories. 130 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| May 2008 | 1 | 1 |
| Nov 2009 | 1 | 2 |
| Feb 2010 | 2 | 4 |
| Apr 2010 | 1 | 5 |
| Jun 2010 | 1 | 6 |
| Oct 2010 | 1 | 7 |
| May 2011 | 1 | 8 |
| Apr 2013 | 1 | 9 |
| Mar 2014 | 1 | 10 |
| Nov 2017 | 1 | 11 |
| Jun 2019 | 2 | 13 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS GX470. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND SWAYED BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOWSON LEXUS (1040 YORK RD, TOWSON, MD) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TAKATA RECALL CAR RIDE WAS LIKE RIDING A WILD BRONCO
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS GX470. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HERB CHAMBERS LEXUS OF HINGHAM (141 DERBY ST, HINGHAM, MA 02043 (781) 210-5200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVETRAIN AND DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
I WAS DRIVING AND MERGING FROM THE LOCAL LANES ON MARYLAND I-270 SB TO THE MAIN LANES. IN ORDER TO MOVE SLOWLY FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER, I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND MOVE TO THE LANE ON MY LEFT. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE, I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND AND THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE, THEREFORE I ATTEMPTED TO RE-APPLY THE BRAKES ONCE MORE. AT THIS POINT, THE BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE BEYOND MY CONTROL. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED USING THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE HIT SEVERAL CARS TO MY LEFT AND RIGHT. AFTERWARDS, MY VEHICLE HIT A LARGE TRACTOR TRAILER AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS, MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE DAMAGES BY MY INSURANCE, LIBERTY MUTUAL. *TR
I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE KEY IGNITION, I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HADN'T LOCKED IN PLACE. I TRIED TWO OTHER KEYS AND FINALLY THE IGNITION TURNED AND THE CAR STARTED. I DROVE TO MY DESTINATION AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND LOCKED THE DOORS. I WENT OUT TO RESTART THE CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AGAIN. I CALLED LEXUS OF CONCORD AND THEY ADVISED ME TO BRING IT IN. I FINALLY GOT IT STARTED AND DROVE IT THE 15 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP, AT THE END OF THE DAY I RECEIVED A CALL SAYING THAT I NEEDED A NEW IGNITION STARTER CYLINDER AND ALL THE KEYS NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED TO MATCH THE NEW CYLINDER THEY WOULD INSTALL. IT WOULD TAKE A DAYS LABOR AND COST OF THE CYLINDER AND REPROGRAMMING. COST WAS $616.00. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE WARRANTY WAS OUT AT 50,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS. I AM 4.5 YEARS AND 59,500 MILES. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A HISTORY OF THIS PART GOING OUT BUT USUALLY IT HAPPENED BEFORE THE WARRANTY WAS UP. MY QUESTION IS IF THERE IS A HISTORY, SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL ON THIS PART??!! I AM EXTREMELY UPSET WITH A LUXURY CAR HAVEN'T PROBLEMS AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. WHAT ELSE DO I LOOK FORWARD TO IN BREAKING AND HOW MUCH WILL IT BE? THIS DOES NOT MEET THE LEXUS STANDARDS I WAS EXPECTING WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR. *TR
FOR THE THIRD TIME, THE BRAKES ON OUR 2008 LEXUS GX FAILED. THIS TIME, WHEN PUT IN REVERSE IN THE GARAGE, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED MOVING--HITTING OUR GARAGE DOOR AS IT WAS GOING UP. THE CAR THEN CONTINUED ANOTHER 40 FEET, INTO A RETAINING WALL--REPEATED PRESSING OF THE BRAKES DID NOTHING--AS IN EARLIER TIMES. *TR
2008 LEXUS GX470. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- EMAIL TO THE SECRETARY FROM RE TOYOTA LEXUS PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HE SUDDENLY CAME UPON OTHER VEHICLES AHEAD OF HIM. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME, BUT SOMETHING MISFIRED IN THE ABS AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A BUCKING MODE. THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE WOULD SEIZE AND THEN RELEASE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD COAST FOR 2-3 SECONDS. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS SON RECEIVED A MILD WHIPLASH FROM THE SEVERE LURCHING OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SEIZING AND RELEASING OF THE BRAKES ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
ON MARCH 22, 2010, WHILE BACKING OUT OF OUR GARAGE, OUR LEXUS GX470 EXPERIENCED A BRAKE FAILURE. THE DRIVER, [XXX], EVEN OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND PUT HER FOOT DOWN TO TRY TO STOP THE CAR. INSTEAD THE DOOR WAS ALSO DAMAGED WHEN THE CAR HIT A RETAINING WALL. LATER THAT SAME DAY, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN, BUT THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE STOPPED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EQUIPMENT
Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022
EQUIPMENT
TSB: This Service Bulletin includes procedures to replace damaged or loose front carpet floor retainer(s) without replacing the carpet assembly. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to replace the loose or damaged carpet floor retainer(s).
AIR BAGS
TSB: Some 2005 ? 2022 model year 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 for odor remediation. This service bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare the interior of the vehicle prior to an odor remediation being performed, as well as contact information for an approved vendor who will arrange the remediation, and instructions on how to prepare the interior of the vehicle for reassembly once the remediation has been completed. Refer to all model and model year specific Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines. This service bulletin is to provide a general overview and direction for the odor remediation process.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; TIRES; WHEELS
POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Lexus. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Lexus.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well.
STRUCTURE
DL: Lexus has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original factory-applied Blizzard Pearl paint color. These reports indicate that vehicles with this specific paint color, applied during the vehicle manufacturing process, may experience paint peeling on exterior metal body panels. Although the original factory paint is covered by Lexus? New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 4 years or 50,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Lexus care about the customers? ownership experience. Lexus is providing coverage for repairs related to the condition described above.
AIR BAGS
Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.