Skip to content
Lexus RXModel year report

2006 Lexus RX Problems

Complaints
32filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
130,000miles, 13 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
27 mpgcombined, 3.3L 6-cyl · hybrid FWD · 28 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Lexus RX (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 32 consumer complaints for the 2006 Lexus RX. The part named most often is electrical system, with 10 complaints (31% of the total), followed by engine (8) and brakes (7). 13 of the complaints include a mileage, and 15% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 130,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 60 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 11 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Transmission and drivetrain (2), Forward collision avoidance (1), Hybrid propulsion system (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “From what I have been reading on that year and model, there seems to be major issues with the invertors. Like many I was driving on the highway and the vehicle just quits. This put me and many others in a very dangerous situation and I could have been hit at high rates of speed. If as many people are having these issues, then Lexus needs to step up and recall this part before someone gets killed”

NHTSA complaint #11648884, filed 2025-03

Engine: “Car dies after driving for a bit. We've spent over $3k fixing fuel pump, batteries, and others. From what I'm reading it sounds like my car should be on the inverter recall list, but it's not.”

NHTSA complaint #11374985, filed 2020-11, 130,000 miles

Brakes: “I bought a Lexus rx400h back in 2013-2014 and recently my car experience some serious issues. While driving on the highway to take my son to his football game my ABS system completely went out on me almost causing me to crash. I recently went to Lexus to find out the problem and was told it was my actuator. I ask Lexus about a recall I was informed of back in 2016-2017 for actuator and they stated it never was a recalled. …”

NHTSA complaint #11287245, filed 2019-12, 180,000 miles

Fuel system: “Hybrid propulsion system - inverter failure how do we get our VIN on the recall list? Our repair should be covered. Our issue is exactly the same problem encountered by the vehicles covered under the hybrid propulsion recall (2005-2008) and our 2006 vehicle is a year which is covered my wife was in a dangerous situation for 4 hours because of this faulty system which has a history of failing and has a known recall a vehicle which had no issues, within a few minutes, turned into a dangerous vehicle losing power on the turnpike, breaking down in the middle of the night, and is now inoperable…”

NHTSA complaint #11343528, filed 2020-08, 169,311 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

15% of the 13 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 75,000 and 169,311 miles.

0%0–100%10–2515%25–508%50–7523%75–1008%100–15046%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (13 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 130,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

201220162020520225202452026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2006 Lexus RX version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
RX 400h 2WD3.3L 6-cyl · hybridCVT282527$2,500
RX 400h 4WD3.3L 6-cyl · hybridCVT272526$2,600

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2006 Lexus RX → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 60 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 60 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus RX

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2026121,00034–525—Too new
20252211244–525—Too new
2024603,00044–525Too new to compareToo new
2023628,2503536100 · MoreToo new
20222931,600043068 · MoreRising
20217058,000143086 · MoreRising
20204731,50014–53087 · MoreRising
20193417,5001—3079 · MoreRising
20182642,5480—300 · FewerRising
20174732,7300—300 · FewerRising
20162867,5000—300 · FewerRising
20152045,0000—29—Rising
20141292,5450—29—Not enough data
201319105,6060—29—Rising
201212143,6820—29—Not enough data
201129125,0000—291 · FewerFalling
20107725,0000——96 · MoreFalling
20093473,5000——19 · FewerFalling
200870114,1830—2515 · FewerFalling
20075893,4260—26Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200632130,0001—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20052780,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20044066,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200212101,9300———Not enough data
20011995,0000———Rising
20002990,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199935107,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Lexus RX model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 Lexus RX have?

NHTSA recorded 32 consumer complaints for the 2006 Lexus RX as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 Lexus RX is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 10 complaints (31% of the total), followed by engine with 8.

Has the 2006 Lexus RX been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Lexus RX get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Lexus RX (RX 400h 2WD, 3.3L 6-cyl · hybrid) at 27 mpg combined, 28 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2006 Lexus RX reported?

Among the 13 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 130,000 miles and the middle half falls between 75,000 and 169,311 miles; 15% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.