LexusRX400H2008Overview/lexus/rx400h/2008/base/

2008 Lexus RX400H

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 RX400H.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2008 Lexus RX400H is an SUV running an automatic transmission with variable gear ratios, EPA-rated at 27/24/25 mpg and serviced with 5 quarts of 0W-20 or 5W-20 API engine oil. Within the 2005-2008 production span, this model year generated 126 total owner complaints, a figure that sits well below the 185 complaints that peaked in 2006 yet remains significantly above the 29 recorded for 2005. This positions the 2008 RX400H as a moderately reported vintage in the model's reliability trajectory, distinguished by service brakes as the dominant complaint area alongside a single recall campaign.

Model year200820072006

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20 / 5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy27/24/25 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 51R · 435 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZD1. 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 51R · 435 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnTAILOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235-55R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZD1
Engine air filter1780120050
Fuel filter233000A020
Spark plug9008091180
Battery2880020060
Front wiper blades852120E010 alt 852220E010
Thermostat90916A3003 alt 1632562010
Cabin air filter8713906030

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined27 / 24 / 25 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 5 qt of 0W-20 / 5W-20 API engine oil. 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

Engine Oil0W-20 · API · 5W-20
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs12 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts162 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts60.5 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0-30.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs10MM

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub217 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub217 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)900 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Timing8-12, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.21-1.43 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.20-4.80 oz
Standard BCI Group Number51R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance435 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test17 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief13 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Residual Pressure21.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance3-100 Motor ohms
Engine Compression107-142 PSI. 15 maximum variation PSI.

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs / 32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle78 ft-lbs / 58 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in / 0.0059 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.102 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.102 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.024 in / 0.335 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9018 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) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Hybrid Inverter (inspect coolant level) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Hybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)
Every 75,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 90,000 miTiming Belt (replace)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Hybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)
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 RX400H generation shows a clear arc: 2006 was the peak problem year with 185 complaints and 6 recalls, 2007 marked a decline to 117 complaints and 3 recalls, and the target 2008 model year sits at the tail end with 126 complaints but only 1 recall and 1 investigation — the lowest recall and investigation counts of the entire generation. This suggests Lexus had largely resolved the systemic issues that drove the 2006 spike, though complaints ticked back up slightly from 2007, and TSB volume held steady at 170, indicating ongoing technical service attention was still warranted. The 2008's top complaint areas — Service Brakes (17), Vehicle Speed Control (16), and Engine (10) — are safety-significant, and the 23 crash complaints plus 2 fire complaints are worth noting, though the data does not specify root causes for these. As a late-generation model with the fewest recalls in the lineup, the 2008 benefits from manufacturer maturation, but it is not a clean year — complaint volume remains comparable to the troubled 2007. Overall, the 2008 is a reasonable buy relative to earlier years in this generation, particularly versus 2006, but prospective buyers should prioritize a prepurchase inspection focused on braking and speed control systems.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
170
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
126
Owner complaints
23 involved a crash · 2 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 126 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes17
Vehicle Speed Control16
Engine10
Unknown Or Other7
Steering7
Service Brakes, Hydraulic7
Structure6
Electrical System4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

13V396000Hybrid Propulsion System: InverterReported 04/09/2013

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured February 16, 2005, through July 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008 Lexus RX400h vehicles manufactured February 23, 2005, through… Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the IPM free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicles that had their IPM replaced under recall 11V-342…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 170 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 RX400H. 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 RX400H take?

5 qt of 0W-20 API, 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2008 RX400H have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the RX400H get?

EPA figures are 27 city / 24 highway / 25 combined mpg.