RoadVitals

2006 Lexus IS Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
11
Latest Apr 30, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 143 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Lexus IS submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Apr 30, 2026

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2006 Lexus IS 250. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle and driving for two hours, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 135,000, and at the time of scanning the vehicle, it was discovered that the mileage was 221,000. The title showed a different name. A Carfax report was not obtained. The Montgomery police department was contacted and referred him to the NHTSA hotline.

NHTSA ID
11734763
Incident
Apr 29, 2026
Mileage
221,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 19, 2026

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2006 Lexus IS 250. The contact stated that upon selling the vehicle, the new owner later informed the contact that it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy while the vehicle was undergoing a diagnostic test. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time the contact purchased the vehicle, the mileage was 150,604; however, an Experian Auto Check History Report listed the mileage at over 300,000.

NHTSA ID
11719036
Incident
Feb 19, 2026
Mileage
300,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 11, 2026

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2006 Lexus IS 250. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private seller. At the time of purchase, the odometer mileage was 119,000. The contact purchased a Carfax Report, which indicated that the odometer mileage was reported in September 2022 at 144,556, and the vehicle failed inspection. In addition, in October 2018, the odometer was reported at 155,811.

NHTSA ID
11717329
Incident
Feb 11, 2026
Mileage
155,811 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Jun 5, 2022

Power steering keeps going out and steering wheel making grinding noise. Almost crashed when lost steering on freeway. Car also makes noise while starting cold

NHTSA ID
11467583
Incident
Jan 15, 2021
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 3, 2022
Fire reported

While driving there was no warning lamps messages or other symptoms to any problems. I went to slow down so I could turn around because I missed my stop. The brakes started feeling less pressure I looked up and there was black smoke coming from under the hood then I saw flames. Then the car blew up

NHTSA ID
11467246
Incident
Jun 1, 2022
ElectricalSteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 3, 2020

THE CONCERN I HAVE FOR MY LEXUS IS 250 IS THAT 3 MAJOR SAFETY RECALL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BY THE DEALER. IT FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE TO DATE AS IT HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT HAVE CAUSED IT TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. A PROBLEM WITH THE STABILITY CONTROL, STEERING AND ACCELERATION MOST NOTABLE IN THE RAIN. TODAY I LEARNED OF THE TAKATA INFLATOR RECALLS. I BELIEVE THIS MODEL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN WHOLE FOR A SAFETY RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11377623
Incident
Dec 3, 2020
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Sep 10, 2020

VEHICLE JUST TURNED OVER 100,000 MILES. 6-2020 UPON A MORNING START, THE VEHICLE HAD TROUBLE STARTING UP ALMOST AS IF IT HAD FUEL STARVATION. I CRANKED THE VEHICLE UP A FEW MORE TIMES IT WAS OK IT TURNED ON. UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE HAD EXTREMELY UNRELIABLE ACCELERATION , VERY HAD SPUTTERING FROM AND TO STOP LIGHTS THIS WAS FROM MY COMMUTE TO WORK. THE VEHICLE HAD BECOME UNPREDICTABLE, SOME DAYS IT WOULD ACT LIKE THAT SOME DAYS IT WOULDN'T. THIS STARTED TO BOTHER ME AS I RARELY WORRY ABOUT SITUATIONS UNLESS THEY'RE DANGEROUS. LATE 6-2020 ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AT ABOUT 5:00PM THE VEHICHLE STARTED SPUTTERING ABOUT 1 MILE AWAY FROM MY HOME. AS I CROSSED THE INTERSECTION OF TAYLOR AND RAILROAD STREET. THE VEHICLE DIED ON ME AT THE INTERSECTION. I HAD THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST THE CAR WITH THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM. SO I PROCEEDED TO TURNED IT BACK ON. AFTER 10 MINUTES OF CRANKING THE VEHICLE I HAD DRAINED THE BATTERY COMPLETELY. CAR IS STRANDED, TRAFFIC WAS A HUGE BUILD UP BEHIND ME, VEHICLE WAYS WELL OVER 3000LBS SO I ATTEMPTED TO QUICK CHARGE THE BATTERY, AFTER 10 MINUTES I HAD ALREADY BYSTANDERS HELP ME PUSH THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE, DUE TO THE MASSIVE BUILD UP OF TRAFFIC. 7-2020 AFTER 2 SEPERATE DIAGNOSTICS I HAD REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP AND A COLD START VALVE AT THE ENGINE. CAR WAS RUNNING OK UNTIL MID 7-2020 WHEN IT BEGAN HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUES AGAIN. AS THIS WAS MY ONLY VEHICLE AT THE MOMENT I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO USE IT ONE WEEK LATER AFTER GOING TO MY MOTHERS HOUSE FROM WORK. THE VEHICLE DECIDED TO SHUT OFF ON ME COMPLETELY THIS TIME ON THE ROAD AT 35 MPH ZONE. CAR SEEMED TO STARVE OF FUEL AND I HAD TO QUICKLY REACT SINCE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND LUCKILY PULLOVER. FORTUNATELY IT WAS A LIGHT DAY OF TRAFFIC AT THE ROAD OF COOK ST. THATS WHEN I HAD ENOUGH, I AM COMPLAINING BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND ITS AN ISSUE I CAN'T SOLVE!

NHTSA ID
11354201
Incident
Jun 1, 2020
Mileage
101,161 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed May 21, 2020

THEY A/C CONTROLLER IS NOT WORKING, TRANSMISSION ISSUE, BATTERY IS NEW BUT I ALWAYS JUMP THE BATTERY AND A WARNING RED TRIANGLE ON THE DASHBOARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
11325428
Incident
Jun 3, 2019
Driver assistanceElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Jul 20, 2018
Fire reported1 injury reported

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SENSOR ADVISED ME MY COOLANT WAS LOW AS I LOOKED OVER TO MY LEFT SHOULDER I NOTICE SMOKE COMING OUT BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE. LOOKS LIKE THE MAIN SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT GENERATED THE WHEEL COVER AND BUMPER TO START IGNORING FASTER

NHTSA ID
11112522
Incident
Jul 19, 2018
Mileage
139,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed May 26, 2017

AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATOR IS ON AND LEXUS INSISTED THEY REPLACE THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR OVER 2K DUE TO SAFETY ISSUES. THE PRICE OF THIS REPAIR FOR AN ELECTRICAL FAULT IS OBSCENE AND IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF LEXUS ACCORDING TO OWNER FORUMS.

NHTSA ID
10991805
Incident
May 25, 2017
Mileage
115,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Aug 14, 2014

MY NAVIGATION SYSTEM SCREEN STOPPED WORKING WHILE 1000 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE SCREEN GOING OUT WAS THE FACT THAT ALL OF THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING CONTROLS ARE RAN THROUGH THAT SAME UNIT. WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO ADJUST MY TEMPERATURE IN THE VEHICLE I AM NOT ABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD IN TIMES WHEN IT MAY FOG UP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10622420
Incident
Aug 14, 2014
Mileage
135,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .