Is the 2006 Lexus IS 250 a bad year?
189 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other IS 250 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2006 Lexus IS 250 are in line with other IS 250 years. Body structure and air bags stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2006 IS 250 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 74,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 53 (28%) | 48k–97k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 46 (24%) | 68k–128k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 30 (16%) | 62k–120k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Visibility and wipers | 21 (11%) | 75k–120k miles · ahead | — |
| Speed control | 18 (10%) | 19k–47k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 13 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 74,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 189 complaints: 10 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 11 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Feb 2023.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I noticed a black spot in my rear view mirror one day and did not think anything of it, however the one spot turned into multiple streaks.
About 06/04/2014 while I am driving the highway as I usually do on my way to work and had made my way to the left lane.
The check engine, check VSC light would intermittently come on when I turned on my car and sometimes while driving.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 74,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2006 Lexus IS 250: 6
These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Due to anti-corrosion plating remnants, fuel may leak from where the fuel pressure sensor is attached to the fuel delivery pipe. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The nuts that fasten the wiper arms may be insufficiently torqued such that if the wiper arms are restricted by an external load, such as a buildup of heavy snow, one or both of the wipers may become inoperative. Inoperative wipers could reduce driver visibility and increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
On certain passenger vehicles, there is a possibility that the accelerator pedal may temporarily become stuck in the partially depressed position due to inadequate clearance between the accelerator pedal linkage and a plastic pad embedded into the vehicle's carpet. This condition may interfere with the accelerator pedal returning to the idle position, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Lexus: 105
Repair instructions Lexus sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2006 Lexus IS 250. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components
Engine Misfire Duplication Procedure - MIL on DTC p030 and /or Intermittently Runs Rough
The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic…
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide information regarding transmission and/or park neutral position switch installation
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2007 IS 250: 213 complaints, keep it.
Every Lexus IS 250 year
2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · All IS 250 years side by side
Other Lexus models: Lexus ES · Lexus ES 300 · Lexus ES 330 · Lexus ES 350 · Lexus GS 300 · Lexus GS 350 · Lexus GX · Lexus GX 470 · Lexus IS · Lexus IS 350 · Lexus LS · Lexus LS 430 · Lexus LS 460 · Lexus NX · Lexus RX · Lexus RX 300 · Lexus RX 330 · Lexus RX 350 · Lexus RX Hybrid. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2006 Lexus IS 250 a bad year?
189 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other IS 250 years. At 74,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Lexus IS 250?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: body structure (53), air bags (46), engine (30), visibility and wipers (21), speed control (18).
How many recalls does the 2006 Lexus IS 250 have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-741), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-006), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-340), Fuel system (NHTSA 14V-647) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.