2021 Lexus ES Problems, Recalls & Reliability
35 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2021 Lexus ES, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 4/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Airbags leads the reports.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2021 Lexus ES has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2021 sits among all ES years
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES300H. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 ES
Recalls (1)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry…
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were…
Technical service bulletins
119 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2021 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 2021 Lexus ES reliable?
The 2021 Lexus ES drew 35 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 4/100, scored against the model's worst year (2007).
What are the most common 2021 Lexus ES problems?
The top reported problems for the 2021 Lexus ES are airbags (25 complaints), wheels & tires (3), and steering (2).
Does the 2021 Lexus ES have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 2021 Lexus ES. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
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.