2006 Lexus ES Problems, Recalls & Reliability
95 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2006 Lexus ES, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 16/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 64,000 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2006 Lexus ES has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2006 sits among all ES years
What owners report
“The airbag cover on the passenger side is cracked and looks as if it is going to pop. This could be a hazard.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 ES
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 67 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 52,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 20,601 and 78,327 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls
No recall campaigns on file for the 2006 Lexus ES.
Technical service bulletins
75 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2006 Lexus ES. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2006 Lexus ES reliable?
The 2006 Lexus ES drew 95 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 16/100, scored against the model's worst year (2007).
What are the most common 2006 Lexus ES problems?
The top reported problems for the 2006 Lexus ES are airbags (26 complaints), speed control (22), and transmission & drivetrain (12).
At what mileage do 2006 Lexus ES problems show up?
Owners most often report 2006 Lexus ES problems around 52,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 20,601 and 78,327 miles.
Does the 2006 Lexus ES have recalls?
No recall campaigns are on file for the 2006 Lexus ES. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check the VIN before buying.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.