There are 13 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2006 Lexus ISin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The vehicle is burning engine oil at an increasingly severe rate, with the manual stating that burning 1.1 quarts every 600 miles is normal. This consumption is excessive given the 5.5-quart capacity and the requirement for expensive full synthetic oil, causing frequent and costly top-offs. This poses a safety risk due to the potential for engine damage or failure if oil levels are not closely monitored. Some owners have had the issue inspected, and Lexus has acknowledged the problem. However, they have stated that repairs require replacing components costing multiple thousands of dollars just for parts, leaving many owners without a feasible solution. This problem is widespread, with numerous reports of similar issues in online forums ( [XXX] ]). A thorough investigation and a more customer-friendly resolution are needed to address this design flaw and ensure reliability and safety. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
This is happening on the lexus is250 as while as the 350 the loose bolts could cause the VVT gear housing and sprocket to separate and result in the engine stopping while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash. Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Lexus GS350 vehicles manufactured June 19, 2006, through July 12, 2011; and model year 2006-2011 Lexus IS350 vehicles manufactured May 27, 2005, through July 13, 2011; and model year 2010-2011 Lexus IS350c vehicles manufactured November 25, 2009, through July 19, 2011. These vehicles, equipped with the 2GR-FSE engine, use bolts to secure the housing and sprocket of the Variable-Valve Timing (VVT) system gear assembly. These bolts could become loose due to abnormal impacts generated within the gear assembly immediately after a cold start-up.
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
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
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.
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.
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!!
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.
ENGINE IS BURNING OIL AT A RAPID RATE. IT REQUIRES 2 TO 3 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 5000 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 UP
TL* 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.
MY VEHICLE STALLED AT A RED LIGHT AND WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER, THEY CAME BACK WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF MASSIVE CARBON BUILD UP. THEY ADVISED THAT I REACH OUT TO LEXUS CORPORATE TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS ANY SUPPORT I COULD RECEIVE. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF GOING BACK AND FORTH, LEXUS CORPORATE REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE CAR COULD NOT PRODUCE ANY OF THE NECESSARY TROUBLE CODES TO QUALIFY FOR THEIR CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM SURROUNDING THIS ISSUE. AFTER MUCH HESITATION, I AGREED TO PAY $700 TO HAVE THE TOP CLEANING DONE. AFTER TOP CLEANING WAS COMPLETE, THE DEALER CALLS TO REPORT THAT THE CAR STILL WOULDN'T START AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THE ISSUE. NOW THEY HAVE AN "EXPERT MECHANIC" FROM LEXUS CORPORATE COMING OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THIS TOOK ANOTHER 1 1/2 TO 2 WEEKS TO COMPLETE. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM LEXUS CORP, THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOW A TIMING CHAIN THAT WAS GOING TO BE $1200 TO REPLACE. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER, THEY AGREED TO CREDIT BACK MY $700 FROM THE MISDIAGNOSIS BUT QUOTED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WOULD BE $1700, NOT $1200. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF HAGGLING, I FINALLY AGREED TO PAY $1350, ONLY TO GET ANOTHER CALL FROM THE DEALER NOW SAYING THAT METAL SHAVINGS HAVE FALLEN DOWN INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALTHOUGH I HAVE ALL OF MY SERVICE RECORDS, LEXUS IS TRYING TO PIN THE BLAME ON ME, STATING "LACK OF OIL CHANGES". MY VEHICLE'S YEAR, MODEL AND DATE OF SERVICE ARE ALL QUALIFIED TO BE COVERED UNDER THIS WARRANTY. THIS CAR HAS PROVEN TO EXPERIENCE THESE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RECALL AND BECAUSE THE ENGINE IS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE AND IS UNABLE TO PRODUCE ANY CODES, THEY ARE REFUSING TO HONOR THIS WARRANTY. THIS HAS NOW BEEN GOING ON FOR NEARLY 3 MONTHS AND I STILL HAVE NO CAR AND NO RESOLUTION IN SITE. *TR
VEHICLE RANDOMLY SHAKES, INTERMITTENTLY RUNS ROUGH WHILE BRAKING. DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE ISSUE 3 TIMES UNTIL RECENT CHECK FOUND ENGINE PISTONS AND VALVE SPRINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. LEXUS AGREED TO ACCOMMODATE SERVICE AND LABOR COSTS BUT PARTS ARE BACK ORDERED REQUIRING A WEEK OR TWO WAIT TIME FOR REPAIR. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026