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
2006 Lexus Is
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Is years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
85 reports with mileage · 58 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility/wiper. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
8 reportsTHE PROBLEM IS A PREVIOUS TSB ON LEXUS'S WEBSITE CALLED 9LC SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING LINK ASSEMBLY. THE STEERING IS VERY UNSAFE WITH RANDOM WANDERING BETWEEN LANES AND IS VERY NOTCHY WITH RAPID MOVEMENT ONCE A CERTAIN ANGLE IS REACHED. IT HAS A DEAD ZONE OF ABOUT 20 DEGREES ON EACH SIDE AND EVERY …
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THE PROBLEM IS A PREVIOUS TSB ON LEXUS'S WEBSITE CALLED 9LC SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING LINK ASSEMBLY. THE STEERING IS VERY UNSAFE WITH RANDOM WANDERING BETWEEN LANES AND IS VERY NOTCHY WITH RAPID MOVEMENT ONCE A CERTAIN ANGLE IS REACHED. IT HAS A DEAD ZONE OF ABOUT 20 DEGREES ON EACH SIDE AND EVERY IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD CAUSES THE CAR TO WANDER BUT THE STEERING IS NOT GIVING ANY FEEDBACK TO INDICATE ITS WANDERING OUT OF THE LANE YOU JUST HAVE TO WATCH THE EDGES OF THE LANE AND CORRECT IT CONSTANTLY. 6 LEXUS DEALERSHIPS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND END UP COSTING BE 5000 +DOLLARS TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM REPLACING THE SUSPENSION, BALLJOINTS, LOWER CONTROL ARMS, RACK AND PINION + ECU, INNER/OUTTER TIE RODS AND AN INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. NOTHING HAS RESOLVED THE PROBEM AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIX IT OR DIAGNOSE IT. THEY JUST SAY TRADE IT FOR A NEWER ONE. THERE ARE MANY IS250/350 OWNERS BETWEEN 2006 AND 2009 THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS AND MANY HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ESPECIALLY CAUSED BY LONG HWY RAMPS AND EXITS IN WHICH THE STEERING BINDS TO ONE SIDE AND YOU HAVE TO VIOLENTLY CORRECT IT OR IT WILL HIT THE CURB OR WANDER INTO ANOTHER LANE EXTREMELY UNSAFELY. THIS IS NOT A COMFORT ISSUE, IT IS PURELY A HIGH LEVEL SAFETY CONCERN AS THERE IS NO REMEDY AND LEXUS DEALERSHIPS AND CORPORATE REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM AT ALL. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS. I THINK IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO OTHER DRIVERS. I DRIVE A HONDA ACCORD AND TOYOTA CAMRY AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS WITH EITHER OF THEM AND THEY HAVE OVER 220K MILES EACH. I HAVE VISITED 10 INDEPENDENT SHOPS AS WELL AND GOT 10 ALIGNMENTS FROM DEALERSHIPS TO PERFORMANCE SHOPS AND NO ONE IS ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING OR HOW TO FIX IT.
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 TH…
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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.
THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE PARKED CAR WAS STARTED. WHEN WE TRIED TO DRIVE IT, IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER.
I WAS DRIVING AND MY STEERING WHEEL POWER WENT IN AND OUT WITH NO WARNINGS & MY POWER STEERING FLUID IS FULL..I WAS TURNING AT THE END OF MY ROAD AND THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO CRASH BECAUSE OF IT..I CALLED MY HUSBAND TO COME GET THE CAR AND GET IT HOME , WE HAVEN'T DROVE IT SINCE.
MY 2006 LEXUS IS250 SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING ONE DAY, WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. RED P/S LIGHT SHOWED UP ON DASHBOARD, SO I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURN THE ENGINE OFF, AND TURN IT BACK ON TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE THIS STOPPED WORKING. P/S LIGHT SOMETIMES ALSO TURNS ON WHILE I'M ON THE …
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MY 2006 LEXUS IS250 SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING ONE DAY, WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. RED P/S LIGHT SHOWED UP ON DASHBOARD, SO I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURN THE ENGINE OFF, AND TURN IT BACK ON TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE THIS STOPPED WORKING. P/S LIGHT SOMETIMES ALSO TURNS ON WHILE I'M ON THE FREEWAY, AND I HAVE TO MAN-HANDLE THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL OVER. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION TWICE. THEN, I BROUGHT MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE ECM. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS BUT THE ISSUE WAS STILL NOT FIXED.
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING LOCKED UP OUT OF THE BLUE WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS. ALMOST SEEMED AS IF STEERING WAS FIGHTING TO TURN THE DIRECTION OPPOSITE OF THE DIRECTION I WAS TURNING.
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 DIFFICUL…
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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. *TR
Official recalls
711V029000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
Jan 26, 2011
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 LEXUS IS AND MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 LEXUS GS VEHICLES. DUE TO INSUFFICIENT TIGHTENING OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR CONNECTED TO AN ENGINE FUEL DELIVERY PIPE WITH NICKEL PHOSPHORUS PLATING, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT, OVER TIME, THE PRESSURE SENSOR COULD LOOSEN. IF LOOSENING OCCURS, FUEL COULD LEAK PAST A GASKET USED IN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SENSOR AND THE PIPE AND THROUGH THE THREADED PORTION OF THE SENSOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE THREADED PORTION OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR AND IF A FUEL LEAK IS NOT CONFIRMED, DEALERS WILL FURTHER TIGHTEN THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR WITH THE PROPER TORQUE. IF A FUEL LEAK IS CONFIRMED, THE GASKET BETWEEN THE SENSOR AND THE FUEL DELIVER PIPE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE, AND THE SENSOR WILL BE TIGHTENED WITH THE PROPER TORQUE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 7, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
10V499000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Oct 21, 2010
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 LEXUS RX, AND MODEL YEAR 2006 LEXUS GS AND IS VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS LUBRICANTS FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON. IF THIS OCCURS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID COULD SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE SEAL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAL WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 AND LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
09V388000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
Oct 5, 2009
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: TOYOTA FILED AN AMENDED DEFECT REPORT ON NOVEMBER 25, 2009, STATING THAT DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND, ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ALTER THE SHAPE OF THE FLOOR SURFACE UNDER THE PEDAL. THESE CHANGES ADDRESS THE RISK OF PEDAL ENTRAPMENT DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLOOR MAT. REDESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDALS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BEGINNING IN APRIL 2010 AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY MODIFIED PEDAL WITH THE NEW PEDAL IF DESIRED. ALSO, DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY GENUINE TOYOTA OR LEXUS ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS WITH REDESIGNED ALL-WEATHER MATS, OR REPURCHASE THE PREVIOUS MATS FROM OWNERS WHO DO NOT WANT THE NEW ONES. ADDITIONALLY, SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS WILL BE INSTALLED ON CAMRY, AVALON AND LEXUS ES 350, IS 350 AND IS 250 MODELS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE OVERRIDES THE ACCELERATOR IN THE EVENT BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE APPLIED. TOYOTA WILL BEGIN MAILING LETTERS TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331, LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
09V020000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Jan 16, 2009
TOYOTA IS RECALLING 214,570 MY 2006-2008 LEXUS IS, MY 2006-2007 GS AND MY 2007-2008 LS PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM FUEL DELIVERY PIPES (FUEL RAILS). ETHANOL FUELS WITH A LOW MOISTURE CONTENT WILL CORRODE THE INTERNAL SURFACE OF THE FUEL RAILS. AS THIS CONDITION PROGRESSES, THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OVER TIME, THE CORROSION MAY CREATE A PINHOLE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FUEL DELIVERY PIPES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA/LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
07V545000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Nov 28, 2007
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, HIGH STRESS AREAS MAY HAVE BEEN CREATED IN TWO SPECIFIC FUEL PIPES LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. COMBINED WITH OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS THE PRESENCE OF CORROSIVE AGENTS IN FUEL, A CRACK MAY FORM OVER TIME LEADING TO FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE FUEL LINE(S).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO INVOLVED FUEL LINES WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LINES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 15, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
06V121000 · Seat Belts:front
Apr 13, 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IF THE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS (BOTH DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER) BECOME LOCKED, THEY MAY NOT RELEASE DUE TO A COMPONENT OF THE EMERGENCY LOCKING SYSTEM. IF THE SEAT BELT IS LOCKED IN THIS CONDITION, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY FASTEN THE SEAT BELT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN OCCUPANT NOT PROPERLY WEARING A SEAT BELT MAY HAVE AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY DURING A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
06V096000 · Air Bags
Apr 3, 2006
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR, WHICH IS USED IN THE SIDE AIR BAG, THE CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAG, AND THE KNEE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY, SOME INFLATORS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF THE HEATING AGENTS NECESSARY FOR PROPER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. IN THIS CONDITION, THE EXPANSION FORCE OF THE GAS MAY BE INSUFFICIENT TO PROPERLY INFLATE THE AIR BAG WHEN THE SRS SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED DURING A CRASH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT IN THE INVOLVED SEATING POSITION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SPECIFIC SRS AIR BAG. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371, SCION AT 1-866-548-1851, OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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