LexusRX3502008Overview/lexus/rx350/2008/base/

2008 Lexus RX350

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 RX350.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S5)

The 2008 Lexus RX350 is an SUV that uses 6.4 quarts of 5W-30 oil and achieves EPA ratings of 18 city, 23 highway, and 20 combined mpg with its five-speed automatic transmission. With 195 total owner complaints and zero recalls, this model year falls between the peak complaint year of 2007 (225 complaints) and the lowest year of 2014 (26 complaints), placing it in the early phase of the model’s 2004–2019 reliability history where complaints were still relatively high but trending downward.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182008

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy18/23/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 585 CCA battery, OE oil filter 9672335028. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24F · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnTAILOEM · verified
Tire size225-65R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.0-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9672335028 alt 9030179006
Engine air filter17801YZZ01
Fuel filter770240E030
Spark plug9091901247
Front wiper blades852120E010 alt 852220E010
Serpentine belt90916A2010
Thermostat90916A3002 alt 1632562010
Cabin air filter8713906030

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S5)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 23 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 75W-85 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 · SAE J1703 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0-30.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.7
Brake FluidDOT 3 · SAE J1703
Differential Gear Oil75W-85 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.9 Pints
Engine CoolantHOAT

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts184 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts61 ft-lbs
Main Bearings16
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0-30.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub217 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.21-1.43 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.11 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test17 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Residual Pressure21.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance3-100 Motor ohms
Engine Compression142-189 PSI. 15 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure11.6 @ Idle, 55.5 psi @ 6000 rpm psi
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle77 ft-lbs / 58 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.102 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.102 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.025 in / 0.335 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9030 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miActive Suspension System (drain & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (inspect)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 120,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2008 RX350 follows a dramatic federal-record inflection, with complaints surging from zero in 2004–2006 to 225 in 2007 before easing only slightly to 195 in 2008, while TSBs rose from 183 to 190. Unlike 2004 through 2007, which each carried one recall and one investigation, the 2008 model logged zero recalls and zero investigations—a clean-slate status shared only with 2009 and 2014 across the entire dataset—placing it in a uniquely quiet position amid an elevated complaint cycle. Complaint volumes trend downward immediately after 2008, falling to 131 in 2009 and remaining below 195 in every subsequent year, even as recall activity later intensifies to as many as three or four annually in 2016, 2017, and 2019. The leading 2008 complaint categories are Unknown Or Other, Structure, Engine, and Steering, though the data does not specify root causes, alongside 16 crash and 6 fire complaints. Because it avoids the recalls and investigations that characterize the 2004–2007 block and many later years while sitting just past the 2007 complaint peak, 2008 stands out as one of the more favorable years to buy in this generation, provided a pre-purchase inspection targets structural, engine, and steering systems.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
190
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
195
Owner complaints
16 involved a crash · 6 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 195 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Unknown Or Other22
Structure20
Engine18
Steering17
Service Brakes15
Vehicle Speed Control12
Exterior Lighting10
Air Bags9

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 190 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
L-SB-0030-24 Rev22025-12-15StructureSome 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
L-SB-0030-24 Rev12024-07-29StructureSome 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
L-SB-0030-24 Rev12024-07-29StructureSome 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
L-SB-0030-242024-06-21StructureSome 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
L-SB-0030-242024-06-21StructureSome 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific RX350. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 RX350 take?

6.4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2008 RX350 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the RX350 get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 23 highway / 20 combined mpg.