NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 72 owner complaints for the 2021 Lexus RX (including the hybrid).
Recalled components: air bags and fuel system. Most-reported area: air bags (47 complaints, 65%).
One of the best RX years by owner complaints
The 2021 drew 10 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 32 for a typical RX year since 2016. No open NHTSA investigation names it, and it has no recall telling owners not to drive or to park outside.
Years to avoid: 2010; best years: 2018, 2021, and 2022. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
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 mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Lexus) is recalling certain 2019 Lexus RX350 and 2021 RX350 vehicles. The transport hook may not have been removed prior to sale. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Risk: During a rear-end crash, the transport hook can damage the fuel filler pipe, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Lexus will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, remove the rear transport hook, free of charge. The recall began April 1, 2021. Owners may contact Lexus customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Lexus' number for this recall is 21LA01.
NHTSA listing: RX350. Lexus campaign 21LA01.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2021 Lexus RX.
What owners report
Owners have filed 72 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 RX. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Lexus RX recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2021 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2010 RX drew the most (82) and the 2021 drew 10.
Owner complaints
2021: 72 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Lexus RX
Model year
Complaints
2010
192
2011
72
2012
48
2013
90
2014
30
2015
67
2016
93
2017
104
2018
47
2019
68
2020
57
2021
72
2022
39
2023
67
2024
63
2025
25
2026
14
Safety recalls
2021: 2 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Lexus RX
Model year
Recalls
2010
1
2011
1
2012
1
2013
1
2014
0
2015
1
2016
3
2017
3
2018
2
2019
4
2020
2
2021
2
2022
0
2023
4
2024
4
2025
4
2026
3
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
The areas owners name most often in NHTSA complaints: air bags (47), body structure (5), brakes (4). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can name several areas.
Is the 2021 Lexus RX safe?
In NHTSA crash tests the 2021 Lexus RX earns 4 to 5 stars overall, depending on the version. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2021 Lexus RX?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2021 Lexus RX.
How do I check if my RX has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Lexus dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: RX, RX HYBRID, RX350.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.