2006 LEXUS IS Engine Problems
16 complaints about Engine
High Severity Issue
This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.
This Problem Across All Years
All Engine Complaints (16)
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.
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
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.
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!
Mileage: 101,161
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!!
Mileage: 179,000
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.
Mileage: 30,000
ENGINE IS BURNING OIL AT A RAPID RATE. IT REQUIRES 2 TO 3 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 5000 MILES.
Mileage: 163,000
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
Mileage: 1,000,089
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.
Mileage: 135,000
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
Mileage: 85,000
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
Mileage: 129,000
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
Mileage: 67,151