2006 Lexus IS 350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
93 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 64 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 93 complaints (19.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 9.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 8.6% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 8.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure | 18 |
| Air Bags | 16 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 13 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Structure:Body | 11 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
Structure: 18; Air Bags: 16; Visibility/Wiper: 13; Engine: 11; Structure:Body: 11; Steering: 8; Electrical System: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 7
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 29 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 29 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 6 |
2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 7; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 6; 2014: 29; 2015: 7; 2016: 8; 2017: 13; 2018: 7; 2019: 6
Pattern summary
Structure leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10267630 · 2009-05-04 (May 4, 2009)
WHEN BRAKING OCCASSIONALLY, BRAKE MAKES SQUEAKY NOISES. THIS EVEN AFTER PAYING DEALERSHIP TO CHANGE FRONT BRAKES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10267630 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10306777 · 2010-02-05 (February 5, 2010)
2006 LEXUS IS 350 VIBRATED WHEN APPLYING BRAKES FROM HIGHWAY SPEED, AT 44K MILES I TOOK TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, I FINALLY TOOK IT TO MY PRIVATE MECHANIC AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE REAR ROTORS WERE WARPED, ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED WITH NEW OEM PARTS AND THE PROBLEM WAS ABATED. AT 56K MILES IT BEGAN VIBRATING AGAIN FROM THE REAR ROTORS, CURRENTLY (59K MILES) IT IS GETTING WORSE. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT, I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH REAR ROTORS WARPING LIKE THIS IN 32 YEARS OF DRIVING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10306777 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10375708 · 2011-01-05 (January 5, 2011)
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING - COPY OF LETTER SENT TO LEXUS CORPORATION FROM RE TO PROBLEMS WITH HER 2006 LEXUS IS350. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING GRINDING SOUNDS UPON START-UP. THREE DAYS LATER, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE GRINDING SOUND WAS DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAMSHAFT GEAR ASSEMBLY. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, THE CONSUMER SMELLED A FAINT BURNT ODOR, BUT ASSUMED THE AIR FILTER MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER A WHILE, THE SMELL BECAME WORSE AND THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE EXHAUST AND FROM UNDERNEATH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10375708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10584641 · 2014-04-24 (April 24, 2014)
THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE 2006-2008 WIRING HARNESS RESULTING IN A FAULT WITH THE AIRBAGS. LEXUS HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN FOR THIS ISSUE (L-SB-0167-08) HOWEVER NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. THIS FAULT CAUSES THE AIRBAGS TO FAIL AND NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR.....UPDATED 12/03/15 *BF UPDATED 8/23/2017*CN
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10584641 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10241152 · 2008-09-06 (September 6, 2008)
LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE THERE WAS AN INTERNAL POWER STEERING FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 14,681 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241152 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10314252 · 2010-02-25 (February 25, 2010)
HAD SSC 9LC (ELECTRIC POWER STEERING LINK ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT) PERFORMED AND THE STEERING FEEL HAS BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED, WHERE THE ON-CENTER STEERING FEEL AT FREEWAY SPEEDS IS VAGUE. FURTHERMORE, WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL ON GRADUAL TURNS, I FEEL A NON-LINEAR RESISTANCE MOVING FROM THE ON-CENTER POSITION TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. THE SENSATION MAKES THE STEERING FEEL DISCONNECTED WITH THE WHEELS, WHERE I'LL TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AN AMOUNT THAT I FEEL IS APPROPRIATE TO NEGOTIATE THE GRADUAL TURN, YET THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK ON ITS …
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10314252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10749185 · 2015-08-17 (August 17, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS IS 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT VARIABLE TIMING GEAR, THE TIMING CHAIN, AND THE TIMING COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10749185 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10957850 · 2017-03-01 (March 1, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS IS 350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR DRIVING, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UPPER FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT ALONG WITH THE INJECTOR SEALS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT WANTED A SECOND OPINION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V020000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNK…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10957850 at NHTSA ↗