RoadVitals

2006 Lexus IS 250 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
189
Latest Feb 22, 2023
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
13
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Dec 11, 2005

What this page shows

Our database holds 189 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Lexus IS 250. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 189 · page 1 of 8

Steering
Filed Feb 22, 2023

The contact owns a 2006 Lexus IS250. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH and following the road around a left turn, the steering wheel became loosened as if the steering wheel had detached from the column. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and no longer driven. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

NHTSA ID
11508496
Incident
Feb 21, 2023
Mileage
135,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 16, 2022

The contact owns a 2006 Lexus IS250. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light activated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the air bag sensor on the driver's side needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.

NHTSA ID
11484833
Incident
Jul 16, 2021
Mileage
155,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 13, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS IS250. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

NHTSA ID
11407939
Incident
Apr 6, 2021
Mileage
145,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 24, 2019

MELTING DASH AND ALL DOORS PEELING OF IN PLACES AND DASH IS ALMOST COMPLETELY MELTED IN PLACES . EVERY WHEEL SENSOR WENT OUT ON THE SAME DAY AND AIR LIGHT STUCK ON NOW..

NHTSA ID
11234600
Incident
Apr 11, 2018
Filed Jul 3, 2019

PURCHASED CAR A YEAR AGO NOTICED THAT WHEN IT GETS REALLY HOT THE DASH BOARD AND THE DOOR PANELS COMES OFF IF SCRAPED WITH FINGER NAILS AND THE DASH IS VERY STICKY.

NHTSA ID
11229387
Incident
Jan 19, 2018
Mileage
167,000 mi
Body & structureFuel system
Filed Jun 22, 2019

I WAS INFORM BY OTHER LEXUS THAT THERE ARE RECALL FOR 2006-2013 LEXUS ON SERVERAL PARTS. I MADE A CALL TO LEXUS DEALERSHIP OF SACRAMENTO AND SPOKE TO REPRESENTATIVE SHE HAD ALSO CONFIRM THE RECAL ON MY CAR AND BOOKED ME AN APPOINTMENT SEVERAL DAYS LATER. I WENT TO MY APPOINTMENT AND WAS DENIED MY SERVICES, THEY TOLD ME IT HAD EXPIRED AND THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR ALL MY REPAIRS. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT ANY RECALLS. I FEEL LIKE I WAS RIP OFF FOR BEING 17YEARS OLD KID. I FELT CHEATED.

NHTSA ID
11221915
Incident
May 15, 2019
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jun 11, 2019

SOLENOIDS IN MY CAR IS CAUSING MY CAR TO GO INTO LIMP MODE DUE TO THE FACT THAT LEXUS STATES TRANSMISSION FLUID NEVER NEEDS TO BE CHANGED IS NOW HAVING ME BUYING A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE SOLENOIDS ARE BAD AND IS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR.

NHTSA ID
11219165
Incident
Jun 2, 2019
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Apr 22, 2019

TAKATA RECALL: THE RECALL SHOULD MOST DEFINITELY INCLUDED THE AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS, I HAD NO ISSUES WITH MY AIRBAG LIGHT UNTIL I PLACE MY CAR BACK IN THE SHOP TO GET THE RECALL A DAY LATER THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OUT. I TOOK IT BACK TO LEXUS AND THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT THE IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PART THEY JUST REPLACED. HOWEVER IT WAS NOT ON PRIOR TOO. THE ARE GETTING A DIAGNOSTIC MYSELF I WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS BAD AND MY AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY, IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN, AND A WELL KNOWN ISSUE TO HAPPEN TO THE LEXUS IS 250, THIS IS A DIRECT LINK WITH THE TAKATA RECALL AND SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE COVER BY LEXUS. FAULTY AIR BAGS ARE NOT A CUSTOMERS FAULT. AIR BAGS WHERE PLACED IN CARS FOR LIFE SAVING PROTECTION, TO NOT INCLUDE THIS IS THE RECALL IS A DEATH SENTENCE FOR THE DRIVERS AND THERE FAMILY WHO ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11202828
Incident
Apr 1, 2018
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 15, 2019

CHECK VSC LIGHT. CAR WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY PAST 3RD GEAR.. SOLENOID OR BAD TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID
11196180
Incident
Mar 2, 2018
Steering
Filed Mar 8, 2019

CAR WAS DRIVING FINE ALL DAY. AT 7PM WENT TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND THE P/S LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE STEERING WHEEL IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE, VERY HARD.

NHTSA ID
11185426
Incident
Mar 7, 2019
Mileage
138,220 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Feb 20, 2019

HI WHEN I AM DRIVING A STRONG ODOR COMES INTO CAB SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN EGGS AND FUEL ITS VERY OVER POWERING WHILE DRIVING I HAVE TALKED TO MECHANICS AND THEY CANT FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS OR WHERE IT COMES FROM. I HAVE READ ON FORUMS AND IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL

NHTSA ID
11181440
Incident
Feb 16, 2019
Mileage
135,000 mi
EngineFuel systemSteering
Filed Jan 13, 2019

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR HAS ISSUES JERKING WHEN IN GEAR AND STOPPING WHEN IN USE. I TOOK MY CAR TO A CERTIFIED LEXUS DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT. I'M SURE BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION MACHANIC AND I BOUGHT A 2006 IS250 USED TRANSMISSION FROM A CAR THAT WAS TOTALED THAT HAD LESS MILES AND WAS TOTALED BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS BENT BECAUSE IT WAS REAR ENDED. IN LESS THAN A YEAR SAME PROBLEM TRANSMISSION AGAIN! I SPENT $4500 THE FIRST GO AROUND I COULDN'T AFFORD THAT AGAIN. I HAD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR FOR WHAT I PAID TO REPAIR THE LEXUS. I'VE CHECKED FOR RECALLS YEAH MY DASH HAS MELTED AND ALL OF THE OTHER RECALLS! I CAN'T GET THOSE CORRECTED!! I'M STARTING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT!!! I'VE SPENT TO MUCH MONEY ON A HIGH CLASS TOYOTA THAT HAS MORE PROBLEMS THAN ITS WORTH!!!!

NHTSA ID
11166771
Incident
Aug 13, 2016
Filed Dec 31, 2018

STICKY DASH AND DOOR PANELS

NHTSA ID
11164301
Incident
Apr 23, 2017
Mileage
120,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 16, 2018

THE HARNESS IN THE DASH IS FAULTY, AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR YEARS

NHTSA ID
11140563
Incident
Jan 1, 2014
Mileage
120,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Aug 30, 2018

LEXUS HAS A WIDE KNOW ISSUE WITH MELTING DASHBOARDS AND DOOR PANELS. MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. IT CREATES A GLARE WHEN DRIVING, IT HOUSES CRITICAL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS THAT CAN POSE A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. I DRIVE THIS CAR DAILY AND FREQUENTLY TRANSPORT PASSENGERS SUCH AS FAMILY AND FRIENDS. LEXUS REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. CAR INTERIOR REPAIR SHOPS HAVE NO SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. LEXUS ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD BUT IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO PREVENT TRAGEDY FROM OCCURRING. THE CONDITION CONTINUES TO GET WORSE TO THE POINT THAT MECHANICS ARE REFUSING TO WORK ON ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES HAVE TO LAY HANDS ON THE DASHBOARD BECAUSE IT IS LITERALLY MELTING AND FALLING APART. THEY DON'T WANT TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FURTHER DAMAGE. THIS POSES ANOTHER SAFETY RISK AS I CAN NOT FIX ANY PROBLEMS BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AT ALL IF MECHANICS ARE REFUSING TO DO WORK ON IT. I HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL SEARCH EFFORTS LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION. I AM GENUINELY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND OTHERS. LEXUS HAS MANUFACTURED THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES AND THEY CONTINUE TO BE DRIVEN ON THE PUBLIC ROADS. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID
11123430
Incident
Aug 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Aug 28, 2018

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. LEXUS OF ALBUQUERQUE NEW MEXICO (4821 PAN AMERICAN FWY, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87109, (505) 341-1600) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE WARNING INDICATOR WAS NOT RELATED TO THE TAKATA RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE AIR BAG SENSOR, WHICH WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $3,000 TO REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CASE NUMBER: 1808280653 WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS PROMISED A CALL BACK WITHIN 24 HOURS FROM A CASE MANAGER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000.

NHTSA ID
11122950
Incident
Aug 14, 2018
Mileage
176,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 4, 2018

WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY BACK HOME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT SAID VSC. WHEN I GOT HOME I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND WENT BACK TO MY VEHICLE AND CHECKED THE GAS COVER TO SEE IF IT COULD OFF BEEN THAT BUT IT STILL HAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON

NHTSA ID
11115771
Incident
Aug 4, 2018
Mileage
86,200 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 14, 2018

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP OR ANYTIME (EVERYTIME) THE CAR NEEDS TO AUTO DOWNSHIFT FROM 2ND TO 1ST THE CAR HARD SHIFTS AND THE ENTIRE CAR JERKS REALLY HARD CAUSING ALMOST WHIPLASH. THIS IS A WIDELY DISCUSSED ISSUE WITH IS AND GS MODELS ON MANY FORUMS. NEW ECU UNITS NEEDED EACH TIME COSTING THOUSANDS.

NHTSA ID
11111358
Incident
Jul 11, 2016
Mileage
100,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 11, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD MATERIAL WAS DETERIORATING AND CAUSED THE SURFACE OF THE DASHBOARD TO BECOME VERY SMOOTH AND SHINY. WHEN THE SUNLIGHT REFLECTED OFF THE DAMAGED DASHBOARD, THE GLARE CREATED A VISIBILITY HAZARD FOR THE DRIVER. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ID
11110688
Incident
Jun 1, 2018
Mileage
108,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 6, 2018

TAKATA RECALL-WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON

NHTSA ID
11109779
Incident
Jun 26, 2018
Mileage
156,500 mi
Filed Jun 13, 2018

I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE DASHBOARD OR DOOR DASH INSIDE MY CAR. IT NOT OMLY LOOKS BAD IT IS STICKY AND OERLS WITH ANY TOUCH. LEXUS SHOULD REPLACE THIS ISSUE FOR ALL OWNERS LATE OR MISSED. LEXUS REPRESENTS LUXURY WELL LEAVING CARS LIKE THIS IS REPRESENTING THE OPPOSITE. LEXUS TAKE CARE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS. CAR WAS THIS WAY

NHTSA ID
11101646
Incident
Feb 27, 2014
Steering
Filed Jun 6, 2018

I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES STOPPED AND PARKED FOR 15 MINUTES. I THEN TURNED THE CAR ON AND WHILE COMMENCING TO DRIVE AWAY, NOTICED THAT MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND INCREDIBLY HARD TO STEER LEFT OR RIGHT. MY DASHBOARD HAD NO PROBLEM INDICATOR LIGHTS ON, SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND REGAINED STEERING CAPABILITIES. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, I DROVE 1 MILE AWAY AND UPON MY RETURN WHILE DOING 35 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND BECAME INCREDIBLY HARD TO STEER RESULTING IN A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET. HAD THIS SAME SCENARIO HAVE OCCURRED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS AT THE WHEEL THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THIS PART MALFUNCTION WOULD HAVE CAUSED A FATALITY. HOW CAN SUCH A VITAL PART MALFUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING TO THE DRIVER?

NHTSA ID
11100301
Incident
Jun 4, 2018
Mileage
114,800 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 5, 2018

RATTLING SOUND AT STARTUP

NHTSA ID
11100072
Incident
Jan 22, 2018
Mileage
118,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 22, 2018
1 injury reported

BOTH DOOR PANELS ON MY 2006 LEXUS IS 250 ARE MELTING AND PRODUCING THE STICK STICKY BLACK TAR LOOKING STUFF I GUESS IT'S FROM MELTING AND THE ODOR FROM THAT IS SOMETIMES SO STRONG WHEN I'M ON LONG RIDES THAT IT MAY GIVES ME HEADACHES MY DAUGHTER HAS BURNT HER ARM BECAUSE THE DOOR PANELS ARE SO HOT TO TOUCH AND MELTING AND THIS IS USUALLY ALL YEAR ROUND BECAUSE OF THE SUN HITTING IT.

NHTSA ID
11097210
Incident
May 1, 2007
Mileage
98,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 29, 2018

THE DASH AND THE DOOR PANELS THEY ARE MELTING FOR THE HEAT

NHTSA ID
11090840
Incident
May 5, 2017

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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