The Lemon Index
2005
20072nd generation
32 owner complaints, first 3 years 21–24 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2006 BMW 3 Series 1102006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class2006 Cadillac CTS 130
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
What breaks most on the 2006 Lexus IS
- Airbag light / sensor30 complaintsmostly at 89,000–123,000 miles (143,000–198,000 km)
- Steering rack / power steering12 complaintsmostly at 40,000–154,000 miles (64,000–248,000 km)
- Engine stalling9 complaintsmostly at 60,000–129,000 miles (96,000–208,000 km)
Specific parts named in the 426 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Lexus IS (all dates). Miles = the odometer owners typed in (middle half); cost = the repair bills owners wrote in those same complaints, in U.S. dollars. Owners' reports, not confirmed defects.
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 1,400 and 31,000 miles (2,300–50,000 km) (the middle half of the 27 complaints, of all 32 filed so far, that listed a mileage).
- At 60K, 100K and 150K miles (97K, 161K and 241K km) Past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most.
This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not the odds that one car will have it.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 19V741000 (airbags), 17V006000 (airbags) and 16V340000 (airbags) done? It has 13 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- NHTSA has an open investigation into desiccated air bag inflator rupture. Has this car had that problem?
- Does it accelerate and hold speed smoothly, with no surging or stalling?
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
- Any rust or damage underneath, or doors and hatches that don't close right?
- Lexus sent dealers 225 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Special Service Tools: Injector Seal Tool Sets”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Lexus's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 32 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 1K to 31K miles (2K to 50K km) on the car (27 of all 32 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
When braking occassionally, brake makes squeaky noises. This even after paying dealership to change front brakes.
2006 Lexus IS owner · NHTSA complaint 10267630
Problems Lexus told dealers about
Lexus sent dealers 225 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Special Service Tools: Injector Seal Tool Sets
- Condition where the dashboard/instrument panel and/or
- Condition where the dashboard/instrument panel and/or
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 13
- Airbags · recall issued 2019
These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design.
- Airbags · recall issued 2017
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Airbags · recall issued 2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Show all 13 recalls
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2014
Due to anti-corrosion plating remnants, fuel may leak from where the fuel pressure sensor is attached to the fuel delivery pipe.
- Wipers & visibility · recall issued 2013
The nuts that fasten the wiper arms may be insufficiently torqued such that if the wiper arms are restricted by an external load, such as a buildup of heavy snow, one or both of the wipers may become inoperative.
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2011
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 LEXUS IS AND MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 LEXUS GS VEHICLES.
- Brakes · recall issued 2010
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.
- Speed control · recall issued 2009
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES.
- Engine · recall issued 2009
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).
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2007
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, HIGH STRESS AREAS MAY HAVE BEEN CREATED IN TWO SPECIFIC FUEL PIPES LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
- Seat belts · recall issued 2006
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.
- Airbags · recall issued 2006
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 AMOUN…
- Speed control · recall issued 2005
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN THE PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION DUE TO INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL LINKAGE AND A PL…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front — · side — · rollover —
Fuel cost and engines
About $3,150–$3,600 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.5L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
Every Lexus IS year. 2006 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score.
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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/lexus-is/?y=2006" title="Lexus IS reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="445" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/lexus-is/2006/">Lemon Index</a> (2006 Lexus IS reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2006 Lexus IS reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 93; 100 is average, lower is better). The Lexus IS year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2012.
What are the most common 2006 Lexus IS problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are speed control (25%), brakes (19%) and body structure (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2006 Lexus IS have?
13 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Lexus IS get?
21 to 24 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2006 Lexus IS problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 1,400 and 31,000 miles (2,300–50,000 km) (the middle half of the 27 complaints, of all 32 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2006 is past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most. This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not a prediction for one car.
Does the 2006 Lexus IS have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2006 Lexus IS cost in fuel a year?
About $3,150 to $3,600 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2006 Lexus IS have?
2.5L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Lexus IS year is better than the 2006?
Nearby, the 2008 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (a bit over half as many complaints as the average car). Across every year, 2012 drew the fewest.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works