2021 Lexus RX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

89 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2021 Lexus RX, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 25/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Airbags leads the reports.

89Complaints
25/100Trouble index
1Recalls

Typical

Where 2021 sits among all RX years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Airbags 48 complaints (54%)
“The contact owns a 2021 Lexus RX350. 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 RX
Other 8 complaints (9%)
Body & structure 6 complaints (7%)
Driver assistance 6 complaints (7%)
Seat belts 4 complaints (4%)
Electrical 4 complaints (4%)

Recalls (1)

AIR BAGS 23V865000 2023

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

124 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on body & structure and electrical — are on file for the 2021 Lexus RX. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2021 RX TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2020peak 40 in 20242025

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2021 Lexus RX reliable?

The 2021 Lexus RX drew 89 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 25/100, scored against the model's worst year (2004).

What are the most common 2021 Lexus RX problems?

The top reported problems for the 2021 Lexus RX are airbags (48 complaints), other (8), and body & structure (6).

Does the 2021 Lexus RX have recalls?

1 recall campaign applies to the 2021 Lexus RX. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2020 RX All RX years 2022 RX →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

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.