10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
107,031 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 Lexus IS 350 engine problems

engine problem

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2006 Lexus IS 350 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #25

Jan 152021

IS 350

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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

- Port Orchard , WA, USA

problem #24

Jun 012022

IS 350

  • miles
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

- Warner Robins, GA, USA

problem #23

Mar 282022

IS 350

  • miles
Camshaft problem. Loud rattle at start up bad ticking. Transmission fluid needs to be changed and serviced at a schedule time. Bad performance all together with only 119,000 miles. I have now rebuilt the motor paying $3000 to fix the cams and now have to repair the transmission

- Lake Forest Park, WA, USA

problem #22

Feb 062022

IS 350

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The car is consumed alot of oil. I've been using 5w30 motor oil. 2/6/2022 had my oil changed, 2/8/2022 oil light came on saying low oil level.

- Columbus , GA, USA

problem #21

Jun 012020

IS 350

  • 101,161 miles
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!

- Santa Maria, CA, USA

problem #20

Jan 012020

IS 350

  • miles
Engine burning so much oil after oil change. Dealer says thats normal. I have to keep adding oil every 1000 mile right after they changed the oil. This Is not normal.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #19

Aug 072019

IS 350

  • 179,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My engine burn oil more than it should. I added a full bottle in less than 3000 miles. When starting it in the morning I can smell the burning oil!!

- Stow, OH, USA

problem #18

May 312011

IS 350

  • 90,000 miles
My 2006 Lexus Is 350 is using oil at an alarming rate. I bought the car new in 2006 and it gets it's regular oil changes, I have to add a quart of oil around around 600 milles driven. It currently has 189,000 miles, but this has been going on for some time. I looked up the information on the internet and it said to go to this website and report it.

- Monroe, NC, USA

problem #17

May 242019

IS 350

  • 30,000 miles
At 30,000 miles, we are being told that the engine needs to be rebuilt due to excess carbon buildup. It has been serviced through Lexus of concord through 8/17 and then Lexus monterey until present. I accelerated on the freeway to get in to the other lane but the car lost power. I coasted to an exit and got off. The skid control light, check engine light and ! light all came on. I drove it on surface roads and the check vcs light came on. On a slight decline, it would only go 5 mph. I had it towed to Lexus of monterey peninsula.

- Aptos, CA, USA

problem #16

Feb 012018

IS 350

  • miles
Oil consumption. Vehicle has no leaks and needs 1quart of oil added every 2K miles. Car has 150K and has been well maintained. It uses valvoline 5W-30 full synthetic oil and gets changed every 4-5K miles of oil usage. I've read many complaints about this issue and Toyota/Lexus is not willing to help out with this issue.

- Mcdonough, GA, USA

problem #15

Jun 132018

IS 350

  • 175,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

In normal driving situations my 2006 Lexus IS350 burns oil very quickly. I am adding oil at least every 3 weeks (about a quart or more). There are no specific engine leaking issues per my mechanic. The engine seems to burn oil abnormally fast.

- Peachtree Corners, GA, USA

problem #14

May 022017

IS 350

  • 163,000 miles
Engine Is burning oil at a rapid rate. It requires 2 to 3 quarts of oil every 5000 miles.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #13

May 082017

IS 350

  • miles
Starting around 95K, the engine seems to be consuming massive quantities of engine oil. At 101.5K, low engine oil light has come on after 1500 K miles after oil change with mobile 1 full synthetic oil. All online reviews show similar issues with other 06 IS350 models around 100K miles. Forums also state Lexus is aware of the problem and suggests a full engine rebuild. Seems like a faulty engine that Lexus does not want to fix and may cause engine seizure while driving.

- Falls Church, VA, USA

problem #12

Jan 062017

IS 350

  • 120,000 miles
Excessive oil consumption. Started around 120K miles.

- Brookhaven, GA, USA

problem #11

Jan 192016

IS 350

  • miles
The vehicle's oil consumption is becoming greater and greater. I am now at a point where I need to add 2 quarts of oil every 3 weeks, which is about 1000 miles driven. Because of the age of my vehicle, I was advised to start using synthetic/blend, but the oil consumption rate has not changed. It was inspected for leaks and there were none. Does this have anything to do with past recalls? I know this is not normal and I am hoping for a resolution as I love driving the car and it still feels reliable aside from the oil consumption rate, which is getting worse and worse. I am now on my third case of oil purchased from costco but once I'm through with it, I'm dreading the rate will be much sooner- I don't want to have to add oil every week. I'm hoping for a resolution/advice. Thank you.

- Redondo Beach, CA, USA

problem #10

May 162016

IS 350

  • 1,000,089 miles
Hi ! so I have 2006 IS250 with carbon buildup, I was driving find I stop at a stop light car turn off out of nowhere I turn off power then try to restart.I had a hard time trying to start the car.you have to push gas pandel..I told to my car to glendale Lexus, they told me that I have carbon buildup so somehow I end up paying 800 for major tune

- Glendale, CA, USA

problem #9

Aug 052015

IS 350

  • 135,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Lexus Is. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle lost engine power and stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The contact was informed that the bolt used to secure the housing and sprocket of the variable valve timing system failed. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V395000 (engine). The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to the dealer for the recall repair. The contact was informed that the dealer would repair the vehicle according to the recall; however, any damage caused to the engine from the failure would not be covered under the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

- Halton City, TX, USA

problem #8

Jul 272015

IS 350

  • 77,000 miles
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.

- North Hills, CA, USA

problem #7

Apr 092015

IS 350

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Lexus Is 350. The contact noticed oil leaking from the undercarriage of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the front time chain seal needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

- Ocala , FL, USA

problem #6

Dec 012013

IS 350

  • 85,000 miles
Extremely disappointed by a couple of issues Lexus refuses to fix. I bought this car with 84K on the odometer and less than a year after that all these problems arise. The steering Is safety issue that needs to be replaced asap. Driving anything over 50 mph the steering starts to become notchy at the center and at times difficult to keep in a straight line. The steering wheel whines as I turn almost as if something Is about to break. Lexus quoted me $3000 to replace the electric power steering which Is absolutely ridiculous. I would love to replace it but $3000 dollars on a part that shouldn't have broken anytime soon Is very disappointing. Then to make matters worse there Is a known engine leak. The timing chain cover leaks oil and the dealer quoted me $5000 dollars to fix it. That Is $8000 dollars worth of repairs for two problems that Lexus needs to recognize. This doesn't include the other very common problems such as the navigation screen melting in the summer time so that it Is inoperable. Now the dashboard becomes sticky and shiny making it hard to see in the daytime and it chips so easily. Im extremely disappointed due to the fact that Lexus usually makes solid vehicles. Many other owners are facing the same issues and they need to be recognized.

- Gaithersburg , MD, USA

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