LexusGS3502018Overview/lexus/gs350/2018/base/

2018 Lexus GS350

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 GS350.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S8)

The 2018 Lexus GS350 is a midsize passenger car built on a rear‑wheel‑bias platform with a two‑wheel‑drive layout and an automatic S8 transmission, lubricated by 0W‑20 oil and delivering a respectable 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and a combined 23 mpg. Its modest ownership record—only one total complaint recorded for the model year, a single structure‑related issue and two recalls—places it near the low end of the GS’s 20112019 reliability span, which saw a peak of 41 complaints in 2013 and a trough of just one in 2012, indicating that the 2018 iteration benefits from the incremental refinements that have steadied the line’s overall durability.

Model year202020192018201720162015201420132011

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity2WDOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy20/28/23 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24 · 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 24 · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnBECUOEM · verified
Tire size225/50R17, 235/45R18, 235/40R19OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5-J, 8.0-J, 8.0-J; Optional: 9.0-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9672335028 alt 9030179006
Engine air filter1780131170
Spark plug9091901263
Battery2880038100
Front wiper blades8521230480 alt 8522230650
Serpentine belt90916A2026
Thermostat1632631050 alt 1603131071
Cabin air filter8713930100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 28 / 23 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume99 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 2WD of 0W-20 engine oil, SAE90 · SAE80W · 75W-85 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity2WD
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilSAE90 · SAE80W · 75W-85 · GL-5
Engine CoolantHOAT
Engine Coolant Capacity9.9
Engine Oil0W-20
Engine Oil Capacity2WD

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts192.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts61.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs81.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub217 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub214 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerLexus
Spark Plug Gap.028
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.10-1.38 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity2.37-2.88 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

RPM28.0-121.0 @ Idle rpm
Residual Pressure14.0.
Engine Compression142

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueRear: 20
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 100; Rear: 92
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.062; Rear: .650
Maximum Rotor Runout.002
Maximum Drum DiameterParking Brake: 7.520

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 2 stages
184.0 inch lbs.84 in
2144.0 inch lbs.144 in
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
130.0 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290.0
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
1Cap bolts45 ft. lbs
290.0

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 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.

At 5,000 miFloor Mat (inspect)
Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 10,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

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 2018 Lexus GS350 sits near the end of a generation that saw a clear decline in reported issues after a peak of 41 complaints and 383 TSBs in 2013. By 2018, complaints had dwindled to just a single report (related to structure), and TSBs had fallen to 115, continuing a steady downward trend from 2017’s 157. While recalls ticked up slightly to two in 2018 from one in 2017, this remains a low figure with no associated investigations, crash complaints, or fire complaints, suggesting they were likely minor or proactive. The data doesn’t specify the root cause of the structure complaint or the recalls, but the overall pattern indicates a well-sorted model year at the tail end of its lifecycle. This is a strong year to buy, offering the lowest complaint count of the generation aside from 2019, with only the two recalls to verify for completion.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
115
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Structure1

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 115 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
LSB0005232023-02-09Fuel System, GasolineTSB: Some 2013 ? 2020 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit a hard start and/or MIL ON…
23LE012023-02-09Fuel System, GasolineDL: On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was…
LSB0015222022-06-27WheelsTSB: Some 2013 ? 2022 model year Lexus vehicles equipped with a 2WD drivetrain and the F…
LSB0015222022-06-27Power TrainTSB: Some 2013 ? 2022 model year Lexus vehicles equipped with a 2WD drivetrain and the F…
LSB002121Rev12022-06-20Engine And Engine CoolingTSB: This Service Bulletin provides a procedure to properly perform the Techstream…

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 GS350. 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 2018 GS350 take?

2WD of 0W-20 STARBURST, per the factory manual.

Does the 2018 GS350 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the GS350 get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined mpg.