Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
Years ago, I began to have a series of battery failures while still under warranty. Each time, Lexus just told me it was a dead battery, and replaced it (pro rata, not free to me). I gradually became aware that these failures were being accompanied by a message to "shift to p when turning off ignition," which I always do. I suspected that the vehicle was somehow sensing that the vehicle was not level and was wrongly engaging some sort of stability system, draining the battery. The current episode is accompanied by a "vsc" error message, which is indeed a stability system. Others have reported this online as having killed their vehicles while they are in motion. I am fortunate that this did not happen to me...yet. However, I am now out of warranty and am told this will cost over $8000 to fix. …
As we were approaching a stoplight, a warning sound went off, followed by the entire car shutting down and refusing to turn on again. The "Hybrid battery failure" warning message came on, and we were unable to turn the car on again. We were able to move the car to a parking lot, where we waited for a tow truck. The dealership told us we must have left the windows open - not the case, since it was still towards the end of a cold winter. The windows and everything else had been closed for several months. However, through some research, it appears that this issue occurs in these vehicles after a cold and wet period; certain seams will come apart, the internal components will flood with water over time, and the Hybrid system will short out to the tune of 5+ thousand dollars. …
I was traveling 60 MPH on the highway and my display started reading "check Hybrid system" and "check vsc system" simultaneously. I searched and saw there was a recall for this exact issue (intelligent power module inside the inverter module) for certain vehicles of my exact make/model/year but for some reason my vehicle is not on the recall list. I took it to the dealership and they said the regular 12 volt car battery was the issue so they replaced it and the light went off and the car tested normal for several days however when traveling on the highway about a week later the same lights came on again.
My vehicle is displaying a Hybrid system check message, and the Hybrid system malfunctions. This is causing the vehicle to stall in drive while the vehicle is in motion. The vehicle loses all capabilities to properly function. I was on a city street when this happened, and had to coast the vehicle downhill in traffic to pull over. My engine check light also illuminated. This vehicle has not been driven regularly, as I just purchased it from a dealership that had been sitting on it for some time. The carfax check out for the vehicle, so it could be a faulty electrical system inverter.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Lexus rx400h. While driving approximately 45 MPH, all of the lights on the instrument panel illuminated and the vehicle stalled. As a result, the brakes, power steering, and the windows became inoperable. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
The Hybrid battery failed, power inverter, locking up power steering and my car was not able to operate on the road. I was quoted 7500$ cost. I have read of similar problems occurring. I would like help repairing from Lexus
Dead starter battery - 1. Since the vehicle was new (we are original owners) the starter battery would be dead if we did not drive the car for 4 or more days (obviously not being able to take it anywhere where it would sit without a charger nearby like to an airport). Lexus has replaced the battery 3 times but just 1 month ago replaced it again and now after a 1 week trip to cancun battery was dead again. Lexus pretends to not understand the problem but many people complain of this same problem that is often much worse where the car shuts down when driving. Many people that have had this same series of problems ultimately need to have the inverter replaced which is a $9K plus part (so far it seems when its proved to Lexus they do this at no charge -- but mine is now out of warranty). 2. Problem always occurs if the car sits without being started for more than 4 days. 3. …
The check engine light and p0aa6 warning illuminated and vehicle went completely dead, could not start up. There were cracked body seams above the rear door strut mounts allowing water intrusion to flood the entire bottom well under the floor boards which shorted out the entire Hybrid battery system. There were no visible signs of water intrusion inside the cabin of the vehicle, nothing was wet. Apparently, Lexus has two TSB's on this issue, l-sb-0019-09 & l-sb-0045-09, on how to repair the seams since over time there appears to be a structural flaw allowing the seams to separate. The water intrusion happens silently and without warning and presents a severe safety hazard as you get water into an electrical system and parts begin shorting out without advanced warning. Imagine traveling at a high speed and the Hybrid battery shorts and the vehicle abruptly stops! …
Related recalls
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.
NHTSA investigations
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.
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.
Electrical complaints in other RX Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the electrical system of the 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid, 19% of the model year's 154 complaints. The component named most often is alternator/generator/regulator (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 11V-342 (electrical system, Jun 29, 2011). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 95,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.