Most common 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid problems
Share of the 154 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus RX Hybrid complaints by model year
Best RX Hybrid years: 2023, 2015, 2024. Years to avoid: 2006, 2008, 2007. Compare all years →
2006 Lexus RX Hybrid recalls (5)
Hybrid propulsion system › Inverter
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured February 16, 2005, through July 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008 Lexus RX400h vehicles manufactured February 23, 2005, through December 2, 2008.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the IPM free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicles that had their IPM replaced under recall 11V-342 are not affected by this campaign.
Engine and engine cooling
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004 avalon vehicles; 2004 and 2005 camry, camry solara, highlander, and sienna vehicles, 2006 highlander hybrid; 2004 and 2005 Lexus es330 and rx330; and 2006 Lexus rx400h vehicles manufactured from June 1, 2004 through March 31, 2005, equipped with the 1mz-fe or 3mz-fe engine.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will check the crankshaft pulley to identify whether it was produced by the U.S. Supplier. If so, the dealer will replace the pulley with a new one at no charge.
Electrical system
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 highlander hybrid and Lexus rx400h passenger cars manufactured from February 16, 2005, through August 30, 2006. A module inside the inverter module May contain inadequately soldered transistors that during high-load driving, May be damaged by heat caused by the large current.
Remedy: Toyota/Lexus mailed an interim owner notification on July 19, 2011 to advise owners of this recall and the fact that they will receive a future notice when parts become available to complete repairs.
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 highlander, highlander hybrid, and model year 2004-2007 Lexus rx330, rx350, and rx400h vehicles. If the forward retention clip used to secure the floor carpet cover, which is located in front of the center console, is not installed properly the cover May lean toward the…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the floor carpet cover with a newly designed one free or charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during March 2011. Owners May contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
On certain sport utility and hybrid vehicles, the two retaining clips for the driver's side forward center console can become loose. If both clips separate from the floor carpet cover, the cover May lean toward the accelerator pedal, causing interference with the accelerator pedal rod.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the two floor carpet cover retaining clips free of charge. The recall began on July 24, 2006, and should be completed by early September 2006.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid:
Unintended and Uncontrolled Acceleration
On February 16, 2010, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened RQ10-003 to determine whether the scope of prior Toyota recalls relating to potential unintended acceleration were sufficiently broad, including, among others, Toyota recalls 07E-082, 09V-388, 10V-017, and 10V-023.NHTSA also requested information regarding potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles.I.
Hybrid inverter failure - vehicle stall
In a June 29, 2011 letter to NHTSA, Toyota submitted a Defect Information Report regarding a safety recall of certain Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX400h vehicles to address a defect condition with the hybrid inverter assembly (NHTSA Recall No.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid owners say
Brakes all 48 →
The contact owns a 2006 Lexus RX400H. The contact stated that the vehicle would emit abnormal sounds long after the vehicle was parked. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The contact stood on the brake and the vehicle finally responded. The brake warning light and the ABS warning light were illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving at slower speeds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ABS actuator had failed. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure but informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under Lexus Technical Service Bulletin Number: POL16-01 because the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2006 Lexus RX400H. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal would depress to the floorboard without proper braking functionality. The contact stated that the ABS, traction control, service brakes, and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the skid control unit needed to be replaced however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact then spoke to a local dealer but did not take the vehicle to be inspected due to the cost of the diagnostic fee. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.
Electrical system all 29 →
The contact owns a 2006 Lexus RX400H. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the "All-Wheel Drive and Hybrid System Failure" warning messages were displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with inverter assembly failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V342000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
While backing out of my driveway, I bumped a tree with the passenger's side mirror. The impact was slight, estimated speed was 5mph as the driveway was icy. The wheels were not turned much as that portion of the driveway is straight. After the impact, I found that the wheel was very difficult to turn and the "p/s fail" light was lit on the instrument cluster. After examining the outside of the car, the only visible damage to the car was a paint chip on the mirror. There were no fluid leaks. There was a safety recall in nov. 2011 (Lexus safety campaign 9lc) for this year make and model of vehicle due to others having similar sudden and unexplained loss of power steering. My insurance company denied my claim for repair because the experts they consulted said this type of impact could not have caused a loss of power steering. …
Fuel & propulsion system all 23 →
The contact owns a 2006 Lexus RX400H. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled while depressing the accelerator pedal. There were several warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V396000 (Hybrid Propulsion System). The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and the contact was included that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Lexus rx400 Hybrid. When attempting to accelerate from a stop, driving on an incline, or making turns, the vehicle stalled intermittently. In addition, the check engine, Hybrid check, and battery warning indicators illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and powered off the engine. Once restarted, the vehicle drove normally; however, the failures recurred. The vehicle was taken to treasure coast Lexus (located at 5121 us-1, fort pierce, fl 34982, [phone]) where the technician cleaned the mass air flow sensor, cleared the failure codes, and test drove the vehicle in check mode. The dealer stated that the vehicle was operating as expected. The dealer swapped the circuit open relay with the ignition relay to eliminate the relay as the failure. The check engine warning indicator remained illuminated. …
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid a good car?
Based on 154 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 RX Hybrid rates avoid: 10.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the RX Hybrid at the same age. It is one of the RX Hybrid years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid?
The brakes — 48 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the electrical system (29) and fuel & propulsion system (23).
How many recalls does the 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid, the most recent from September 4, 2013 (inverter). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus RX Hybrid?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2015 and 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006, 2008 and 2007. See the full Lexus RX Hybrid years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 30% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.