The Lemon Index
Lexus's 5.0 L naturally aspirated 90° V8 in the IS F, RC F, GS F, LC 500 and IS 500, model years 2008–2026. YouTube likes the 2016 best.
Liked, but check the recalls: YouTube owner tone 60/100, #7 of 165 engines with a YouTube study (in the top third); 3 engine-related recalls on record, 4 known issues listed below.
Everyday cars with this engine Tap a year for that car's full report.
Model years from EPA version lists. Only years we have a car page for.
Reliability by year
Why the car pages show more: the LC 500 page counts 14 complaints and 0 recall campaigns for 2018–2025, everything NHTSA files as "Lc 500", other engines included; the RC F page counts 27 complaints and 2 recall campaigns for 2015–2025, everything NHTSA files as "Rc F", other engines included. This page counts only the 31 complaints and 10 recalls we can tie to the Lexus 2UR-GSE 5.0 V8 by model name or the owner's own words.
YouTube videos are most positive about the 2016 (65) and least about the 2010 (52); neighboring years share many of the same videos, so small gaps mean little.
How we count: owner complaints only where the car's name and year leave no doubt; YouTube tone from videos that name this engine or its cars. How we count
Owner complaints (NHTSA) are filed by model and year, not engine. We count one for this engine only when the model name and year had no other engine (e.g. "488 GTB", "GT-R"), or when the owner's own words name a version that had only this engine that year (Z06, ZR1, Hellcat, GT500 ...). They cover the whole car (wheels, air bags, electrics ...), not only the engine, and none of them is a failure rate. We chart them only for engines with 30 or more, over 3 or more years. YouTube tone = how positive the videos are, 0–100, from titles and transcripts (praise vs trouble words, the title counts 3 times), weighted by views; a year needs at least 3 videos' worth. A video counts for this engine when its title names the engine or a car that only had this engine in the years it names; a video whose title names no model year counts toward every year of that car, so neighboring years share most of their videos.
All the numbers, year by year
| Year | Cars | Owner complaints | YouTube says | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | IS F | 13 | 61 (30 videos) | 5 |
| 2009 | IS F | 1 | 54 (27 videos) | 6 |
| 2010 | IS F | 2 | 52 (28 videos) | 5 |
| 2011 | IS F | 2 | 57 (28 videos) | 3 |
| 2012 | IS F | 0 | 54 (27 videos) | 2 |
| 2013 | IS F | 0 | 52 (28 videos) | 2 |
| 2014 | IS F | 1 | 54 (27 videos) | 2 |
| 2015 | RC F | 10 | not enough videos yet | 1 |
| 2016 | RC F, GS F | 1 | 65 (40 videos) | 1 |
| 2017 | RC F, GS F | 1 | 61 (38 videos) | 1 |
| 2018 | LC 500, GS F, RC F | 0 | 61 (74 videos) | 1 |
| 2019 | RC F, GS F, LC 500 | 0 | 62 (72 videos) | 0 |
| 2020 | RC F, LC 500, GS F | 0 | 63 (72 videos) | 1 |
| 2021 | LC 500, RC F | 0 | 65 (56 videos) | 1 |
| 2022 | RC F, IS 500, LC 500 | 0 | 62 (68 videos) | 1 |
| 2023 | IS 500, LC 500, RC F | 0 | 65 (67 videos) | 0 |
| 2024 | LC 500, RC F, IS 500 | 0 | 63 (72 videos) | 0 |
| 2025 | LC 500, RC F, IS 500 | 0 | 61 (66 videos) | 0 |
| 2026 | LC 500 | 0 | 60 (37 videos) | 0 |
Recalls on cars with this engine 10
3 of them are about the engine, fuel, cooling or powertrain. They come first.
20V012000 Fuel System, Gasoline · Lexus IS F 2014
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500,…
18V107000 Fuel System, Gasoline · Lexus GS F, Lexus RC F 2015–18
Specific operating conditions may result in damage to the pulsation damper in one of t.
14V647000 Fuel System, Gasoline · Lexus IS F 2008–10
22V615000 Tires · Lexus RC F 2020–22
The tire information label does not list the vehicle's weight capacity.
19V005000 Air Bags · Lexus IS F 2010–14
Show all 10
NHTSA recalls by model and year. A recall counts here when every confirmed version of that model-year had this engine, or the recall names it. Check a car's VIN for its own open recalls.
Engine problems Lexus told dealers about
Lexus sent dealers 37 repair notes about the engine on these cars, including:
- This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some…
- Some 2018 model year NX 300, NX 300h, RC F, RC 300, and RC 350 vehicles equipped with Enform?
- Special Service Tools: Injector Seal Tool Sets
NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins), matched by model name and year like the complaints, engine-related ones only. A repair note is not a recall: ask a seller whether it was done.
Known issues on record
- High-pressure fuel pump recall (Recall). On some 2018 LC 500s (and RC F, GS F), a damper in one of the two high-pressure fuel pumps could crack the pump cover and leak fuel. Fix: Dealer replaces the high-pressure fuel pumps for free (NHTSA 18V-107). 4 owner complaints to NHTSA mention it (USC10 RC F).
- In-tank fuel pump recall (Recall). The low-pressure fuel pump in the tank of some 2018–2020 LC 500 and LC 500h cars can fail, which can stall the engine while driving. Fix: Dealer fits an improved fuel pump for free (NHTSA 20V-012 and 20V-682). 9 owner complaints to NHTSA mention it (URZ100 LC 500, USC10 RC F).
- Water pump seepage vs. real leak (Maker bulletin). A Lexus bulletin covering 2018–2021 LC 500, LC 500 convertible and LC 500h says dry coolant residue at the pump is normal; wet residue or drips is a real leak. Fix: Replace the water pump only for an active, wet leak.
- Valley plate coolant leak (Owner-reported). Sealant under the valley plate can fail with heat cycles and leak coolant. Guides tie it mainly to older IS F engines past about 8 years and 80,000 miles, not the LC. Fix: Reseal the valley plate; Jalopnik puts it at about $1,500 to over $3,000.
Sources: NHTSA recall 18V-107: 2UR-GSE high-pressure fuel pumps (Feb 2018), NHTSA recall 20V-012: low-pressure fuel pump (Jan 2020), NHTSA recall 20V-682: low-pressure fuel pump, expansion (Nov 2020), Lexus service bulletin L-SB-0039-20: water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips (Oct 2020, NHTSA copy), 8020 Automotive: Ultimate Toyota 2UR-GSE engine guide (updated Jan 2024), Jalopnik: What makes the Lexus IS F and RC F 2UR-GSE V8 nearly indestructible? (Oct 2026), NHTSA recall 26V-222: low-pressure fuel pump, 2015-2022 RC (Apr 2026), Lexus owner letter for recall 26V-222 / 26LA05 naming 2015-2022 RC F (NHTSA copy). The same list as on the LC 500 page, the RC F page.
Every US version with this engine
| Car and versions | Years |
|---|---|
| Lexus IS F IS F · Lexus IS, every year | 2008–14 |
| Lexus RC F RC F | 2015–25 |
| Lexus GS F GS F | 2016–20 |
| Lexus LC 500 LC 500, LC 500 Convertible | 2018–26 |
| Lexus IS 500 IS 500 · Lexus IS, every year | 2022–25 |
Engine code: 2UR-GSE. Power: 416–475 hp, factory figures. Versions and years: EPA (fueleconomy.gov). Sources: Toyota UR engine.
Quick answers
What cars have the Lexus 2UR-GSE 5.0 V8 engine?
In the US: the Lexus IS F, Lexus RC F, Lexus GS F, Lexus LC 500, Lexus IS 500, model years 2008–2026. See the version table for each one.
Is the Lexus 2UR-GSE 5.0 V8 reliable?
Mostly, if the recalls were done. YouTube owner tone 60/100, #7 of 165 engines with a YouTube study (in the top third); 3 engine-related recalls on record, 4 known issues listed below. Owners filed 31 complaints we can tie to it, about any part of the car. Its cars had 10 recalls (3 about the engine, fuel or powertrain). Have any used car inspected.
How much horsepower does the Lexus 2UR-GSE 5.0 V8 make?
416–475 hp in factory figures, depending on the car.