RoadVitals

2006 Lexus RX Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
8
Latest Sep 6, 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.
25%
of 32 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Lexus RX submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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 engine

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

Engine
Filed Sep 6, 2026

My vehicle runs hot after just five minutes and steam or smoke starts emitting from engine with a strange smell. It left me stranded on a narrow and busy highway where I felt unsafe

NHTSA ID
11762434
Incident
Aug 30, 2026
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 17, 2025

From what I have been reading on that year and model, there seems to be major issues with the invertors. Like many I was driving on the highway and the vehicle just quits. This put me and many others in a very dangerous situation and I could have been hit at high rates of speed. If as many people are having these issues, then Lexus needs to step up and recall this part before someone gets killed

NHTSA ID
11648884
Incident
Feb 3, 2025
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Dec 20, 2024

The power steering and hybrid system failed and vehicle completely stopped in middle of busy freeway with no prior warnings or issues before. The safety of my son and I, and others around me during the abrupt stop of the engine. I could not move out of way. The vehicle has been serviced for this exact issue during a recall campaign lasting from 2011 to 2014. Ten years later and it is still happening! There were NO warning lamps or messages or symptoms prior to this failure. It just passed vehicle inspections for the year

NHTSA ID
11631799
Incident
Dec 20, 2024
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 5, 2023

Dear manager: I have this 2006 LEXUS RX400H which has CHECK VSC SYSTEM and CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM problems. When I was driving on the highway, the cruise control button is unable to turn on, when at speed of 65 MPH it will suddenly stall in the middle of the road and the READY light will be off and the vehicle has to be stopped by the emergency lane which is REALLY DANGEROUS. I have searched online and found out there were many complains about this issue and LEXUS issued a recall for this type of car and the dealer can change the inverter and ICM free of charge. This recall link is as follows: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2011/RCONL-11V342-6633.pdf So tonight I am sending this message to see if you can help me to solve this problem.

NHTSA ID
11548538
Incident
Oct 2, 2023
Engine
Filed Nov 28, 2022

I was running 72mph on the interstate and the whole car shut down - shifter, engine, lost steering, EVERYTHING!

NHTSA ID
11495233
Incident
Oct 11, 2022
Body & structureElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 1, 2021
Fire reported

My car exploded- huge fire. I was not driving- it had been parked. The fire marshal indicated that it was an electrical problem located near the battery. There we no indicators of any issues. I only had liability on the car- so i am out of luck. but the NYFD inspected. It happened on Wednesday 9/29/21. Was inspected on 9/30.

NHTSA ID
11435153
Incident
Sep 29, 2021
EngineFuel system
Filed Nov 17, 2020

CAR DIES AFTER DRIVING FOR A BIT. WE'VE SPENT OVER $3K FIXING FUEL PUMP, BATTERIES, AND OTHERS. FROM WHAT I'M READING IT SOUNDS LIKE MY CAR SHOULD BE ON THE INVERTER RECALL LIST, BUT IT'S NOT.

NHTSA ID
11374985
Incident
May 1, 2020
Mileage
130,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 27, 2019

CAR TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THIS RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING.

NHTSA ID
11271327
Incident
Oct 26, 2019
Mileage
83,000 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

Electrical10

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .