YearToAvoid

2006 Lexus GX470 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2006 Lexus GX470 has a complaint index of 25 and ranks 4th worst out of 5 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other GX470 years. It has 28 NHTSA complaints, 1 recall, and no fires reported.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
25/100
#4 of 5 GX470 years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
28
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
3
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
—
no alternative with data
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
14 city / 18 hwy
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Top 2006 Lexus GX470 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags8 (29%)
  2. Structure & Body8 (29%)
  3. Other5 (18%)
  4. Engine4 (14%)
  5. Seat Belts3 (11%)
  6. Brakes2 (7%)
  7. Electrical System2 (7%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain2 (7%)
  9. Fuel System1 (4%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Seat belts locked in a retracted position on steep or off-camber grades, leaving drivers unable to buckle in around 10,000 to 15,000 miles.
  • Vehicle rolled backward unexpectedly while parked with the center differential light illuminated, resulting in a crash at 44,800 miles.
  • Brake pedal reportedly sank to the floorboard and required repeated pumping to stop the vehicle around 48,000 to 50,000 miles, with one incident ending in a curb strike.
  • Transmission surged to wide-open throttle for a few seconds when shifted from park to drive at 74,515 miles.
  • Front turn signal bulbs repeatedly failed and had to be replaced multiple times by the dealer at 90,000 miles.
  • Dashboard trim material softened, became sticky, and cracked around instrument panels at 90,000 miles.
2006 Lexus GX470 complaints: complaints filed per month2Aug 2006Apr 2007Apr 2011Feb 2015Dec 2016Dec 2018Jun 2019
28 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2006 to Jun 2019; peak Aug 2014 (2).

2006 Lexus GX470 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V065000Feb 5, 2016Airbags320,409 vehicles

    Air bags:side/window

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, 2004-2006 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX470 vehicles equipped with side curtain-shield-air bags. The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently.

    Risk: If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control module with one that has improved programming, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-271-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G0C and GLB.

2006 Lexus GX470 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
18 MPG
Combined
15 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$5,300
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2006 compared with other GX470 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020052006200720082009
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid10030115
2006Good2528115
2007Caution5027015
2008Avoid7513015

All Lexus GX470 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Lexus GX470 reliable?
Among GX470 model years, 2006 has a complaint index of 25, the lowest of the five years with data, and carries a Good verdict relative to other GX470 years.
What problems does the 2006 Lexus GX470 have?
NHTSA complaints center on airbags and structure/body issues, each 29% of complaints, followed by engine problems at 14%. Seat belt complaints show a pattern at low mileage, with a median around 12,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Lexus GX470 have a recall?
Yes, one recall (16V065000) covers the airbag control module and affects certain 2004-2006 Lexus GX470 vehicles along with related Toyota models; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does 2006 compare to other GX470 years?
2006 ranks 4th worst of 5 years with a complaint index of 25, better than 2005 (100, Avoid), 2008 (75, Avoid), and 2007 (50, Caution).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.