Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Lexus RX, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags47
- Unknown or other7
- Electrical system4
- Seat belts4
- Forward collision avoidance4
- Structure4
- Service brakes4
- Engine2
- Tires2
- Visibility1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 9 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
199920002001200220042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 24 2021 RX vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 8 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
In the United Kingdom
1,596 cars built in 2021 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 25 more were declared off the road (SORN).
1,596licensed, end of 2025
98%of those still registered are on the road
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 7.9–8.1 L/100 km (about 29–30 mpg US), CO₂ 185–190 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| RX 450h AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Premium gasoline | 7.5 | 8.4 | 7.9 |
| RX 450h L AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Premium gasoline | 8.1 | 8.4 | 8.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
23V865000 · Air bags20 Dec 2023 · 999,901 vehicles
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 Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Lexus told its dealers about the 2021 Lexus RX: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11010352 | Some 2021 2024 model year ES 250, ES 300h, ES 350, RX 350, RX 350h, RX 500h, UX 200, and UX 250h vehicles may exhibit a high-pitched noise coming from the front HVAC blower motor while operating the air conditioner or heater. This condition does not affect the operation of the vehicle, however, a heater cover has been developed to help reduce or potentially eliminate the noise. |
| 11007456 | Some 2005 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary |
| 11006162 | Some 2005 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary |
| 11005121 | Some 2005 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to all model and model year specific Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary |
| 11005063 | Some 2005 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to all model and model year specific Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary |
| 11003650 | To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible. |
| 11003648 | The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint and appears as pitting or water spots. As acid rain droplets on the vehicle surface evaporate, the concentration strength of the acid increases, causing deeper and more rapid damage. This evaporation |
| 11003643 | Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on the paint surface that resemble hard water spots. Unlike water spots however, acid rain damage cannot be removed by regular washing procedures. Also, because acid rain can etch and soften the paint, |
| 11003642 | Lexus vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film within 90 days from initial application. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin No. L-PG004-94. The entire bulletin has been updated. |
| 11003641 | Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surface. These particles are often difficult to see on dark color paints but can be easily felt when brushing a hand across horizontal body surfaces such as the hood, roof, or deck lid. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to clean vehicles that may have been subjected to contamination by airborn |
| 11003595 | To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible. |
| 11003593 | The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint and appears as pitting or water spots. As acid rain droplets on the vehicle surface evaporate, the concentration strength of the acid increases, causing deeper and more rapid damage. This evaporation |
| 11003588 | Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on the paint surface that resemble hard water spots. Unlike water spots however, acid rain damage cannot be removed by regular washing procedures. Also, because acid rain can etch and soften the paint, |
| 11003587 | Lexus vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film within 90 days from initial application. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin No. L-PG004-94. The entire bulletin has been updated. |
| 11003586 | Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surface. These particles are often difficult to see on dark color paints but can be easily felt when brushing a hand across horizontal body surfaces such as the hood, roof, or deck lid. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to clean vehicles that may have been subjected to contamination by airborn |
| 10252258 | TSB: Some 2018 ? 2022 model year Lexus vehicles equipped with the Enform? 2.0 Navigation System, require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software. The SST is used with applicable vehicles to deliver the update, however, the process for generating license keys differs from previous generations. Before attempting to perform a map update, the expiration date of the dynamic subscription (stored in the head unit), must be checked. If the expiration date has not passed, a license key may be generated without the purchase of an activat |
| 10247804 | TSB: Some 2019 ? 2023 model year ES 350, 2018 ? 2023 model year IS 350, IS 300, RC 350, RC 300, 2016 ? 2022 model year RX 350, and 2016 ? 2020 model year GS 350 vehicles equipped with a 2GR-FKS engine may exhibit a knocking noise from the vacuum pump at idle. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to improve this condition. |
| 10245485 | DP: The involved vehicles equipped with the Tow Prep Package did not have the Tow Converter installed. |
| 10245475 | TI: TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR 22LC01 DATA COMMUNICATION MODULE (DCM) REPROGRAMMING CERTAIN 2021 MODEL YEAR IS300, IS350, LC500, LC500h, LC500C, LS500, LS500h, NX300, NX300h, RC300, RC350, RC F CERTAIN 2021-2022 RX350, RX350L, RX450h, RX450hL CERTAIN 2022 GX460 |
| 10245447 | TSB: Some 2016 ? 2022 model year RX 450h and 2018 ? 2022 model year RX 450hL vehicles may exhibit a squawk/knock noise from the engine compartment when depressing and/or releasing the brake pedal. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition. |
| 10244114 | TSB: The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. Follow the procedures outlined in this service bulletin to aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks. |
| 10244110 | TT: A very small percentage of customers experience operational difficulties with some telematics features which they cannot resolve on their own. These resources, in conjunction with the Repair Manual, are for dealership personnel to assist those customers with user issues, user errors, and compatibility issues with other vehicle systems and external applications encountered while operating telematics features. |
| 10241386 | TSB: Some 2021 ? 2024 model year Lexus vehicles use hub bolts in place of studs/nuts to fasten the wheels to the vehicle. If non-compatible wheels or hub bolts/nuts are installed, there is increased risk that the wheel(s) could come off resulting in a crash. This service bulletin outlines the physical differences and precautions that should be taken when servicing different wheel and wheel fastener types. |
| 10220152 | DP: Due to improper programming of the Data Communication Module (DCM), which provides cellular communication in various situations, including emergencies, the driver and Safety Connect operator may not be able to hear each other?s voices during a Safety Connect call |
| 10215217 | TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)