2008 Lexus IS F Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Lexus IS F, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags857.1%
- Engine321.4%
- Driver assistance17.1%
- Powertrain (other)17.1%
- Visibility17.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
"TAKATA RECALL" - I RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM LEXUS IN EARLY 2017 STATING THAT MY VEHICLE WAS PART OF A RECALL DUE TO FAULTY TAKATA INFLATORS. THE STATEMENT SHOWED THAT MY VEHICLES AIRBAG REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE RECALL COULD BE DELAYED BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS WERE PUT INTO CATEGORIES BASED ON THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND STATING THE CHANCE OF DEGRADATION BY WHERE YOU LIVED. THE INFO STATED THEY WOULD BE IN TOUCH WITH ME AT A LATER DATE WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE MORE AT RISK. THIS WAS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I NOW LIVE IN FLORIDA WHERE IT IS VERY HOT, AND SINCE MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AN TAKEN INTO THE DEALER FOR ASSESSMENT AND/OR REPAIR, I CANNOT REGISTER IT FOR THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
AIRBAG RECALL IN INCOMPLETE AND ENGINE IS KNOCKING.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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. *TR
AIRBAG RECALL IN INCOMPLETE AND ENGINE IS KNOCKING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS-F. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A GARAGE DOOR AT A LOCAL SHOP. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THIS VEHICLE AND THEY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS REQUESTED THAT THE MANUFACTURER BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS OF THE VEHICLE AND THE GARAGE DOOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8900.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
I RECEIVED 2 RECALLS IN THE MAIL ONE WAS FOR FRONT WIPER NUT AND THE OTHER WAS TRUNK RELEASE LEVER. I CALLED LEXUS OF MOBILE TO SET UP APT TO HAVE THE RECALLS FIXED. I LIVE IN DESTIN, FL AND MOBILE IS THE CLOSEST LEXUS DEALERSHIP. I HAVE HAD ANOTHER RECALL ON MY LEXUS ISF AND THEY PICKED IT UP AND LEFT ANOTHER LEXUS UNTIL THEY WERE ABLE TO HAVE IT DONE. THIS LEXUS DEALERSHIP JUST DOESN'T MEET STANDARDS OF THE LEXUS EXPERIENCE I ACTUALLY FLEW TO LEXUS IN KNOXVILLE IN 2008 TO GET MY LEXUS ISF BECAUSE THE MOBILE LEXUS IS HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. WITH ALL THIS SAID THE LADY I TALKED TO TODAY[XXX] WAS ONE OF THE WORSE CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE. I ASKED IF THEY COULD PICK UP MY CAR 1. BECAUSE IT IS A 2HR DRIVE 2. I DO WORK LAND 3. I DIDN'T CAUSE THIS RECALL THE LETTER WAS SENT TO ME. SHE TOLD ME IT WAS NOTHING DANGEROUS (THE NUT ON THE WIPER) IT WAS ONLY IF YOU WERE DEALING WITH SNOW. THIS MAY BE TRUE I DON'T KNOW BUT I WOULD HATE TO BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT FALL OFF BECAUSE SHE SAYS IT IS NOTHING. THIS BEING SAID SHE SAID NO THEY WOULD NOT PICK UP THE CAR OF COURSE SHE WAS RUDE THE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE USUALLY ARE. I FEEL AS THOUGH I SHOULD STILL EXPERIENCE THE LEXUS EXPERIENCE I HAVE LOVED MY CAR AND WOULD LIKE TO BUY ANOTHER BUT NOT WITH THIS TYPE OF SERVICE. THE CONVERSATION ENDED WITH HER SAYING SHE WOULD CALL ME TOMORROW BECAUSE IT'S EXPENSIVE FOR THEM TO PAY DRIVERS TO COME HERE. REALLY? WOW! I THOUGHT THAT'S WHY YOU BUY EXPENSIVE CARS TO GET A LITTLE SERVICE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .