What are the most common Lexus ES problems?
According to Au7o's analysis of 3,200+ owner reports, the 2008 Lexus ES has 8 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: XV40 ES 350 (2GR-FE): Rubber VVT-i Oil Hose Ruptures Causing Sudden Total Oil Loss, XV40 ES 350: Takata Passenger Airbag Inflator Can Rupture on Deployment, XV40 ES 350: Accelerator Pedal Entrapment by Floor Mat (Unintended Acceleration). Of these, 3 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
Is the Lexus ES reliable?
The 2008 Lexus ES has 8 known issues documented across 3,200+ owner reports. 3 issues are rated critical: XV40 ES 350 (2GR-FE): Rubber VVT-i Oil Hose Ruptures Causing Sudden Total Oil Loss and XV40 ES 350: Takata Passenger Airbag Inflator Can Rupture on Deployment and XV40 ES 350: Accelerator Pedal Entrapment by Floor Mat (Unintended Acceleration). Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
How much does it cost to fix common Lexus ES problems?
Repair costs for known Lexus ES issues range from $0 to $6,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, XV40 ES 350 (2GR-FE): Rubber VVT-i Oil Hose Ruptures Causing Sudden Total Oil Loss, typically costs $150-$6,000 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
What is the 2007-2008 Lexus ES XV40 ES 350 (2GR-FE): Rubber VVT-i Oil Hose Ruptures Causing Sudden Total Oil Loss?
On 2007-2008 ES 350 models built with the 3.5L 2GR-FE V6 (engines produced before April 2008), the variable valve timing (VVT-i) oil supply line uses a short rubber hose section joining two metal pipes outside the block. It carries hot, high-pressure oil, and the rubber degrades… Repairs typically run $150-$6,000. Severity: high.
What is the 2007-2012 Lexus ES XV40 ES 350: Takata Passenger Airbag Inflator Can Rupture on Deployment?
The 2007-2012 ES 350 carries a Takata front passenger airbag inflator whose ammonium-nitrate propellant degrades after long exposure to high humidity and temperature cycling. A degraded inflator can over-pressurize and burst its metal housing during a crash, spraying fragments in… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
What is the 2007-2010 Lexus ES XV40 ES 350: Accelerator Pedal Entrapment by Floor Mat (Unintended Acceleration)?
The XV40 ES 350 was the vehicle that opened NHTSA's pedal-entrapment investigation: in March 2007 the agency began a preliminary investigation into the 2007 ES 350 after consumer complaints alleging crashes and injuries, with the accessory all-weather floor mat identified as the… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
What is the 2007-2017 Lexus ES Excessive Oil Consumption 2GR-FE Engine?
The 3.5L 2GR-FE V6 in the ES350 consumes excessive oil between changes, often burning 1 quart every 1,500-2,500 miles. The root cause is typically worn piston rings that allow oil past the ring lands into the combustion chamber. Toyota/Lexus issued a TSB acknowledging the issue a… Repairs typically run $300-$4,000. Severity: medium.
What is the 2007-2012 Lexus ES Dashboard Melting and Sticky Surface?
Lexus programs ZLD and ZLZ document cracked and/or sticky dashboard surfaces caused over time by heat, humidity and, in ZLZ, light intensity on covered ES 350 vehicles. ZLD covers certain 2007-2008 vehicles and ZLZ covers certain 2008-2012 vehicles, preserving the page’s 2007-201… Severity: medium.
What is the 2007-2012 Lexus ES XV40 ES 350: A/C Evaporator Core Leaks and Slow Loss of Cooling?
Lexus technicians and owners report that high-mileage 2007-2012 ES 350s commonly lose refrigerant through a leaking evaporator core buried in the HVAC case behind the dash. The symptom is gradual: air that is cool but not cold, worse in traffic, and a system that cools again brie… Repairs typically run $400-$2,000. Severity: medium.
What is the 2007-2009 Lexus ES XV40 ES 350: U660E 6-Speed Automatic 3-4 Shift Flare and Delayed Engagement?
The U660E six-speed automatic introduced on the 2007 ES 350 has a well-documented shift flare: on the first upshifts after a cold soak the engine speed rises 300-700 rpm before the gear engages, most commonly on the 3-4 upshift but also reported on 2-3, 4-5, and the 5-4 downshift… Repairs typically run $150-$4,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2007-2010 Lexus ES XV40 ES 350 (2GR-FE): Front Timing Chain Cover Oil Leak (FIPG Seal Failure)?
The 2GR-FE V6 seals its front timing chain cover to the block and heads with a formed-in-place sealant (FIPG) rather than a conventional gasket. On early 2007-2009 engines the seal breaks down and weeps oil from the front of the engine, dripping onto the subframe, front control a… Repairs typically run $2,400-$4,000. Severity: medium.
