2006 Lexus IS Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year center on the interior: owners describe dashboard and door panel material that turns sticky and shiny, producing glare across the windshield in sun and heat. A smaller but consistent set of complaints covers an illuminated airbag light traced to the wiring harness, fuel odors traced to the fuel rail and pressure sensor, and steering that becomes notchy or intermittently loses power assist. Many reports arrive at moderate mileage, and several involve vehicles past 120,000 miles.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Melting, sticky dashboard and door panels

   • 59 complaints (41%)
   • median 74,430 mi at 7.9 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners describe the dashboard top and upper door panels becoming soft, sticky and shiny, with material smearing or cracking and leaving residue on clothing. Complaints say the shine reflects off the windshield in daylight and can obscure the view of the road ahead, and some report the problem worsening in summer heat and humidity. Dealers are described as confirming the condition, sometimes replacing the dash as a goodwill or partially covered repair, while door panels were frequently declined or quoted at high cost. Several owners mention a service bulletin covering the interior panels but say coverage had expired. Reported from roughly 22,000 to 120,000 miles, most often in hot, sunny climates and during summer months.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the dash top and door panel uppers on a warm day for stickiness, shine, cracks or residue, and ask whether the dash or panels were ever replaced under a goodwill or service program.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 contacted to have this repair completed. It makes it extremely difficult to see during daylight.”

   NHTSA complaint #10905640, filed 2016-09, 80,000 miles

   “The dashboard of my 2006 Lexus is250 IS slowly melting and becoming sticky. Unfortunately as it has, deteriorated the dashboard really reflects the light, so much so that it becomes blinding at times. I have not treated my dash with any chemicals or cleaners this IS a known problem among Lexus owners, it just at times becomes very worrisome since the glare from the dash onto my windshield becomes blinding at times if the light hits it right.”

   NHTSA complaint #10652439, filed 2014-11, 130,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on (wiring harness)

   • 11 complaints (8%)
   • median 101,500 mi at 10.3 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2014–2024

   Owners report the SRS or passenger airbag warning light staying on or coming on intermittently. Complaints describe dealers diagnosing a fault in the airbag wiring harness and quoting replacement of the harness, in some cases over $2,000. Some owners link the light to movement of the seat or to work done during an airbag inflator recall, and note the harness was described as too short or as a known issue. Runs from about 47,000 to 155,000 miles, sometimes appearing intermittently after the seat is moved.

   Recall 06V0960001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Confirm the airbag light comes on at startup and then goes out, and ask for any repair history involving the airbag wiring harness or inflator recall work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The passenger side airbag warning light on my vehicle turned on. When I took my vehicle to Lexus for a recall I had them check why the light was on. They told me the air bag wiring harness needs to be replaced at a cost of $2546. They also said this IS a common issue that Lexus IS well aware of and issued a TSB for it in 2008 but would only cover the repair under the initial warranty period because they had not received enough complaints to make a recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10595561, filed 2014-06, 146,000 miles

   “The vehicle had the front airbags replaced under a national recall. After having the recall done, I received, by usps mail, a customer support program notification - zlj sent to me from the manufacturer describing an extended warranty, as issues have occurred with the new drivers side knee airbag inflator triggering the srs light to come on after the work was done based on faulty crimping. This vehicle IS a second vehicle and does not get driven very often. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11353205, filed 2020-09, 59,700 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering feel: notchiness or loss of power assist

   • 8 complaints (6%)
   • median 136,000 mi at 10.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2022

   Owners describe the steering becoming notchy or vague near center, wandering between lanes with little feedback, or the power assist dropping out suddenly so the wheel becomes very hard to turn. Some complaints mention a whine when turning and dealer quotes around $3,000 to replace the electric power steering assembly; one owner points to a prior service campaign for the steering link assembly. Reports vary in whether the assist failed completely or the problem was a change in steering feel. Mostly reported from about 85,000 to 160,000 miles, sometimes appearing without warning while driving.

   What to check: Drive at highway speed and check that steering stays on center without constant correction, and ask whether the electric power steering assembly or link has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving and my steering wheel power went in and out with no warnings & my power steering fluid IS full..I was turning at the end of my road and thought I was going to crash because of it..I called my husband to come get the car and get it home , we haven't drove it since.”

   NHTSA complaint #11308025, filed 2020-02, 3 miles

   “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 times difficult to keep in a straight line. The steering wheel whines as I turn almost as if something IS about to break. Lexus quoted me $3000 to replace the electric power steering which IS absolutely ridiculous. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10680937, filed 2015-02, 85,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Fuel smell and leak at the fuel rail

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe gasoline odor under the hood or inside the cabin, often noticed after the car is shut off or when starting. Complaints say mechanics traced the smell to a leak at the fuel rail near the pressure sensor, and one report describes flames from the engine compartment after a fuel odor. Some owners say the fuel delivery pipe recall work had already been done or that their vehicle was not covered, and they paid for the repair themselves. Mostly reported between about 100,000 and 180,000 miles, with the smell often noticed on startup or shortly after parking.

   Recall 11V029000Recall 09V020000Recall 07V545000

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel delivery pipe and pressure sensor recalls were completed, and check for a gasoline smell around the engine bay after the engine is switched off.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car was leaking gas and has fuel vapor smells inside the cabin. Strong smell of gas and when I started my car gas would leak alot. The recall number was (11v029000) and I was told I wasn't eligible for this. I had to bring my car to a local shop to get this checked out and they charged me $300 labor and $300 for the part. I am really frustrated about this situation. Please help”

   NHTSA complaint #11364245, filed 2020-10, 140,000 miles

   “Vehicle just turned over 100,000 miles. 6-2020 upon a morning start, the vehicle had trouble starting up almost as if it had fuel starvation. I cranked the vehicle up a few more times it was ok it turned on. Upon driving the vehicle had extremely unreliable acceleration , very had sputtering from and to stop lights this was from my commute to work. The vehicle had become unpredictable, some days it would act like that some days it wouldn't. This started to bother me as I rarely worry about situations unless they're dangerous. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11354201, filed 2020-09, 101,161 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Rear view mirror discoloring and spotting

   • 9 complaints (6%)
   • median 62,500 mi at 8.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2013–2019

   Owners report the interior rear view mirror darkening, discoloring or developing black spots and lines inside the glass, which reduces or blocks the view behind the car. Complaints describe the change as progressive rather than from damage, and note replacement is expensive. Some owners say the condition was treated as covered only during warranty. Reported from about 48,000 to 140,000 miles, with several owners noting the problem started years earlier and worsened gradually.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Look through the interior mirror at a bright background for dark spots, lines or a brown tint, since this appears to develop slowly with age.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Inside rear view mirror IS discolored and IS difficult to see from. The mirror has not been damaged or subjected to extreme conditions. The vehicle has been garaged 80% of the time. This IS not normal wear and tear, as I have had vehicles older than this one and have not experienced deterioration of the mirror. The problem started in 2010 and IS getting worse. I can barely see out of the mirror. The fix IS to replace the mirror at a cost of nearly $1300.00. It appears as this IS a common complaint for owners of this vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10959614, filed 2017-03, 48,000 miles

   “Inside rear view mirror has become discolored and unable to see clearly from. Known issue by manufacture but only replaced under warranty. All regulations part 571 < 571.110 571.112 > subpart b - federal motor vehicle safety standards 571.111 standard no. 111; rearview mirrors. S1. Scope. This standard specifies requirements for the performance and location of rearview mirrors. S2. Purpose. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10509321, filed 2013-04, 65,000 miles

Buying note. These complaints point to inspecting the interior surfaces and the airbag and steering systems carefully on a warm-day test drive, and asking for recall and service-bulletin paperwork on the fuel system. Mileage on many reports is moderate, so a pre-purchase inspection focused on these areas is worthwhile.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.