KnownCarProblems2006 Lexus IS Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 143 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Lexus IS, most often about the body and structure (30% of complaints, typically around 67,500 miles). It is the most complained-about IS model year since 2000 and has 7 recalls.
Most common 2006 Lexus IS problems
Body and structure
43 complaints · 30%Half of these problems showed up before 67,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, interior panels.
Dashboard and side interior door panels appear to be melting and cracking. Lexus agreed to partially pay for replacement of the dashboard, to which I had to agree because of safety concerns. Dashboard would reflect light, causing problems seeing out of the windshield. Lexus also agreed to partially pay for door…
My dash and doors are melting. I took my car to Lexus last year and they offered to pay for half, but my half was too expensive for me to pay, 3,000.00. I also don't feel that I should pay for a melting car when I take excellent care of my car. It IS always in the garage when I am at home, and I keep a sun shield in…
Visibility and wipers
29 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 78,000 miles. Parts named most often: rearview mirrors/devices.
Bought a certified pre-owned 2006 Lexus is250 from hawaii dealer, noticed there was a massively blinding glare from the dashboard when driving during the morning and evening hours. Upon further inspection the dashboard and various other interior trim pieces felt soft/sticky and would easily scratch and gouge. This has…
The entire dashboard and top section of the front door panels in my 2006 Lexus is250 are basically melting. The consistency has deteriorated so drastically that the dash IS shiny, sticky and covered in small nicks and scratches. The dash IS so soft even the slightest touch leaves a permanent scar! Efforts to clean or…
Air bags
26 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 108,000 miles.
The airbag light IS now constantly displaying red on my dashboard. Nalley Lexus of smyrna ga stated that there IS a short in the wire harness and it needs to be repaired at a cost of $3300 or the airbags will not work in the event of a crash. From reading online in the Lexus owners blogs, this IS very common and I…
Airbag light indicator IS on and Lexus insisted they replace the entire wiring harness for over 2k due to safety issues. The price of this repair for an electrical fault IS obscene and IS a common issue with this model of Lexus according to owner forums.
Other or unspecified
24 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles.
Melting dashboard. Shortly after purchasing my Lexus is250, I was contacted by Lexus informing me that they would be repairing their melting interior panels. It has been over a year and despite several attempts to get the repair completed have been told that I am on the list to be contacted. I have still not been…
My dash board IS melting and the glare on the windshield IS really bad. It's hard to drive during the day and sometimes at night when the street lights reflect from the shinny melted dashboard. Ive called Lexus many times and was told to wait. Its been 3 years now and the dash IS getting worst with time and the glare…
Engine
16 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 115,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2006 Lexus IS. While driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost engine power and stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The contact was informed that the bolt used to secure the housing and sprocket of the variable valve timing system failed. The vehicle was included…
Extremely disappointed by a couple of issues Lexus refuses to fix. I bought this car with 84k on the odometer and less than a year after that all these problems arise. The steering IS safety issue that needs to be replaced asap. Driving anything over 50 MPH the steering starts to become notchy at the center and at…
Electrical
11 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 139,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument panel.
I was driving my car when all of a sudden the sensor advised me my coolant was low as I looked over to my left shoulder I notice smoke coming out before it caught fire. Looks like the main source of the fire was an electrical issue that generated the wheel cover and bumper to start ignoring faster
My navigation system screen stopped working while 1000 miles away from home. The biggest problem with the screen going out was the fact that all of the heating and air conditioning controls are ran through that same unit. Without being able to adjust my temperature in the vehicle I am not able to defrost the…
Steering
8 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 136,000 miles.
Electronic power steering locked up out of the blue while driving. Very dangerous. Almost seemed as if steering was fighting to turn the direction opposite of the direction I was turning.
Extremely disappointed by a couple of issues Lexus refuses to fix. I bought this car with 84k on the odometer and less than a year after that all these problems arise. The steering IS safety issue that needs to be replaced asap. Driving anything over 50 MPH the steering starts to become notchy at the center and at…
Transmission
7 complaints · 5%When driving the the vsc and check engine light comes on. When I'I was driving, my vehicle got stuck in 3rd gear on the freeway. I had to slow down abruptly because my RPM's were high due to the fact that it was stuck in 3rd gear. I didnt want to blow out my engine due to high RPM's and I slowed down suddenly. I…
The contact owns a 2006 Lexus IS 250. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from underneath the hood. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a transmission…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2006 Lexus IS recalls
Fuel system: delivery
Risk: Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect for fuel leakage from the threaded portion of the fuel pressure sensor and if a fuel leak is not confirmed, dealers will further tighten the fuel pressure sensor with the proper torque. If a fuel leak is confirmed, the gasket between the sensor and the fuel deliver pipe will be replaced with a new one, and the sensor will be tightened with the proper torque. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on march 7, 2011. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 lexus is and model year 2006-2007 lexus gs vehicles. Due to insufficient tightening of the fuel pressure sensor connected to an engine fuel delivery pipe with nickel phosphorus plating, there is a possibility that, over time, the pressure sensor could loosen. If loosening occurs, fuel could leak past a gasket used in the connection between the sensor and the pipe and through the threaded portion of the sensor.
Brakes: master cylinder
Risk: A leak of brake fluid could lead to a change in brake pedal feel and overtime a degradation in braking performance increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seal with a newly designed one. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on november 15, 2010. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331 and lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 avalon, model year 2004-2006 highlander, model year 2004-2006 lexus rx, and model year 2006 lexus gs and is vehicles. Brake fluid containing polymers is used that acts as lubricants for certain brake system components. If replacement brake fluid is used that does not contain such polymers, or that contains only small amounts, a part of the rubber seal located at the rear of the brake master cylinder may become dry, and the seal may curl during movement of the piston. If this occurs, a small amount of brake fluid could slowly leak from the seal into the brake booster.
Speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota filed an amended defect report on november 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal. These changes address the risk of pedal entrapment due to interference with the floor mat. Redesigned accelerator pedals will become available beginning in april 2010 and dealers will replace any modified pedal with the new pedal if desired. Also, dealers will replace any genuine toyota or lexus all-weather floor mats with redesigned all-weather mats, or repurchase the previous mats from owners who do
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: Over time, the corrosion may create a pinhole resulting in fuel leakage. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel delivery pipes free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during february 2009. Owners may contact toyota/lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling 214,570 my 2006-2008 lexus is, my 2006-2007 gs and my 2007-2008 ls passenger vehicles equipped with aluminum fuel delivery pipes (fuel rails). Ethanol fuels with a low moisture content will corrode the internal surface of the fuel rails. As this condition progresses, the engine malfunction indicator light may illuminate.
Fuel system: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the two involved fuel lines with newly designed lines free of charge. The recall began on december 15, 2007. Owners may contact lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Full defect summary
On certain vehicles, high stress areas may have been created in two specific fuel pipes located in the engine compartment. Combined with other factors such as the presence of corrosive agents in fuel, a crack may form over time leading to fuel leakage from the fuel line(s).
Seat belts: front
Risk: An occupant not properly wearing a seat belt may have an increased risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front seat belt assemblies. The recall began on april 21, 2006. Owners may contact lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, if the front seat belt retractors (both driver and front passenger) become locked, they may not release due to a component of the emergency locking system. If the seat belt is locked in this condition, the occupant may not be able to properly fasten the seat belt.
Air bags
Risk: This may increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the specific SRS air bag. The recall began on april 6, 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371, scion at 1-866-548-1851, or lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Full defect summary
On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment. In this condition, the expansion force of the gas may be insufficient to properly inflate the air bag when the SRS system is activated during a crash.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2006 Lexus IS
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Lexus IS?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: body and structure (43 complaints, typically around 67,500 miles); visibility and wipers (29 complaints, typically around 78,000 miles); air bags (26 complaints, typically around 108,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2006 Lexus IS have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 26, 2011 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2006 a bad year for the Lexus IS?
- It is the most complained-about IS model year since 2000, with 143 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.