2006 Lexus LS: complaints, problems and recalls

PULLED CAR INTO LINED PARKING SPACE, PLACED CAR IN PARK, TURNED CAR OFF (KEYLESS IGNITION "SMART KEY" ON DASH TURNED TO LEFT/OFF POSITION, ABOUT TO GET OUT OF CAR, JUST STARTED TO TAKE SEAT BELT OFF WHEN CAR STARTED UP, WENT UNCONTROLLABLY FORWARD OVER CEMENT PARKING BARRIER AND CEMENT WALKWAY AND HIT PARKED VEHICLE ON OTHER SIDE OF LOT, ALL THE WHILE SHIFTER IN PARK POSITION AND FOOT ON BRAKE, TRIED TO KEEP CAR STRAIGHT, BUT WOULD NOT RESPOND AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT. AFTER THIS FIRST IMPACT SHIFTER SLIPPED FROM PARK TO REVERSE ON OWN AND CAR …

Owner-reported narrative. 4,880 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171086 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN FIRST DRIVING THE CAR AFTER DELIVERY MAY 22, 2006, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS WERE SET DANGEROUSLY LOW AND PROVIDED UNSAFE LIGHTING. THEY WERE IMMEDIATELY ADJUSTED UP TO A REASONABLE LEVEL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING OF THE ROAD FOR SAFE DRIVING ON LOW BEAM. CONSEQUENTLY THE HIGH BEAMS WERE PROJECTING UP IN THE AIR, AND PROVIDED ABSOLUTELY NO LIGHT ON THE ROAD SURFACE, AGAIN CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR RURAL ROADS AND OPEN HIGHWAY WHERE THE HIGH BEAMS ARE NECESSARY. I TRIED TO GET THE DEALER SERVICE TO ADJUST …

Owner-reported narrative. 17 miles reported. Look up ODI 10207802 at NHTSA ↗

LEXUS LS 430 BRAKES FAILED MOVING INTO A PARKING SPACE. PRESSED ON THE BREAKS THE SURGED FORWARD WENT OVER A BUMP, CURB, HANDICAP SIGN AND INTO THE BUILDING. WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR JUST TOOK OFF. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224424 at NHTSA ↗

ALL FOUR TIRES WERE WORN OUT AND AIR WAS KEEP OUT CONTINUOUSLY STARTING AROUND 25,000 MILES. COULDN'T FIND THE REASON UNTIL ALMOST 30,000 MILES EVEN TOOK A LOOK SEVERAL TIMES. FINALLY I FOUND ALL FOUR TIRES GOT SEVERE WEAR ON INSIDE TREAD WHICH EXPOSED WIRE THREAD. THE FACT I'D LIKE TO COMPLAINT IS WE,CONSUMER CAN NOT EASY TO FIND OUT THOSE PROBLEM UNTIL EITHER TIRE FLAT COMPLETELY OR BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING OR UNTIL LIFT-UP IN SERVICE SHOP OR UNTIL WE HAVE TRAGEDY ACCIDENT. I COMPLAINED TO LEXUS TO INSPECT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY BUT THEY SAYING THA…

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253251 at NHTSA ↗

ALL FOUR TIRES WERE WORN OUT AND AIR WAS KEEP OUT CONTINUOUSLY STARTING AROUND 25,000 MILES. COULDN'T FIND THE REASON UNTIL ALMOST 30,000 MILES EVEN TOOK A LOOK SEVERAL TIMES. FINALLY I FOUND ALL FOUR TIRES GOT SEVERE WEAR ON INSIDE TREAD WHICH EXPOSED WIRE THREAD. THE FACT I'D LIKE TO COMPLAINT IS WE,CONSUMER CAN NOT EASY TO FIND OUT THOSE PROBLEM UNTIL EITHER TIRE FLAT COMPLETELY OR BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING OR UNTIL LIFT-UP IN SERVICE SHOP OR UNTIL WE HAVE TRAGEDY ACCIDENT. I COMPLAINED TO LEXUS TO INSPECT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY BUT THEY SAYING THA…

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253252 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2006 LEXUS 430, INCLUDING 2 ADDITIONAL WARRANTIES, FROM LEXUS CHANDLER IN MAY 2009 UPON WHICH I EXPERIENCE AN INABILITY TO START AND UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL EIGHT TIMES WITHIN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS AND INTERMITTENTLY MONTHS AFTER. IF I SIT FOR AN HOUR THE SYSTEM WILL UNLOCK ITSELF AND WILL START. DEALER REFUSES TO INVOLVE ITSELF AND CLAIMS IT IS UNABLE TO REPAIR. I TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER WHICH STATED THEY COULD DISCONNECT THE ANTI-LOCK MECHANISM BUT THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT HAVE ANY SECURITY FUNCTIONS. I HAVE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10315391 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS LS 430. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND SWITCHING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND HIT A CEMENT PILLAR, BENCHES AND THEN A BUILDING. HE SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES TO HIS CHEST AND FRACTURED HIS NECK. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER CHEST AND BOTH WERE HOSPITALIZED. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8000. UPDATED 4/26/10 *CN UPDATED 06/…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10317242 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS LS430. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A NEARBY VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10336448 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-04-03 (April 3, 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 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.

Consequence: THIS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT IN THE INVOLVED SEATING POSITION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: 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.