2006 Lexus ES
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 26 of 79 complaints (33%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Driver Assistance & Speed Control include more deaths (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 200 in 2005 to 79 in 2006.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | vs. 2006 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,950 | 2,950 | 3,700 | 3,500 | 3,500 | |
| Combined MPG | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 18 / 27 | 18 / 27 | 18 / 27 | 19 / 27 | 19 / 27 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 423 | 423 | 423 | 404 | 404 | |
| Complaints filed | 190 | 200 | 79 | 664 | 323 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 40 | 48 | 18 | 69 | 34 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 24 | 29 | 8 | 57 | 30 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2006 Lexus ES have?
No NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026.
What is the most common complaint about the 2006 Lexus ES?
Airbags & Restraints: 26 of 79 NHTSA complaints (33%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Lexus ES get?
EPA rates it 21 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2006 Lexus ES?
EPA estimates $3,700 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (1)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.3L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 18 mpg | 27 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 423 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 26 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 22 | 15 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls
No recalls have been issued for this model-year.