2021 LEXUS ES

Recalls, Specs & Safety Report

1RecallsNHTSA Verified27ComplaintsNHTSA Data0InvestigationsNHTSA Data
Expert Verdict
⚠️Elevated Concerns

The 2021 Lexus ES demonstrates a commendable level of reliability overall, though the airbag issue must not be overlooked. Given the peak failure range, owners should be particularly cautious around 38,000 miles when assessing their vehicle's safety features.

Key Factor:Critical airbag malfunction risk

📋Why This Matters

The presence of only one recall for the 2021 Lexus ES, specifically relating to the airbag deployment failure due to a potential short circuit in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, is noteworthy. Airbags are essential for protecting all passengers, especially children in the back seat who rely on these safety features during a collision. If this malfunction occurs, it could lead to devastating outcomes in a crash scenario where front passenger airbag deployment is compromised. Moreover, having identified multiple technical service bulletins (TSBs) related to electrical components and engine performance reflects an underlying concern that could affect vehicle operability. This is particularly significant for families relying on their vehicles for everyday safety and reliability; any fault in these critical systems can pose risks that should not be taken lightly.

Focus Area:Safety Profile
📊

Expert Analysis

  • 📈
    Recall Trend:No Change in recalls
  • ⚠️
    Primary Risk Area:Various
  • ⚖️
    Vs Brand: Worse than avg (0.8)
    📝
    Summary: Year-over-year trends suggest that while Lexus typically has a strong safety profile, this model's single recall raises legitimate concerns regarding passenger protection systems. The implications of such defects can severely impact child safety in rear seating arrangements, making it crucial for current owners and prospective buyers to remain vigilant about maintenance and recall updates.
Critical Component: Various

Safety & Reliability Score

91/100
Excellent

Score Breakdown

Recall Impact-8
Complaint Impact-1.35
Investigation Impact-0

Technical Specifications

Key specifications for the 2021 LEXUS ES

Model Year2021
MakeLEXUS
ModelES
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle

Safety History Timeline

Jan21
NEWProduction
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Aug23
ISSUEFirst Report

Consumer Complaint Analysis

⚠️

Most Reported Issue

0 complaints (0% of total)
➡️

Complaint Trend

Stable
No trend data
✅

Safety Incidents

No critical incidents

Complaint Severity Distribution

Breakdown of 27 consumer complaints by severity level.

🟡Medium
2(7%)
🟢Low
25(93%)
✅Good News: No critical or high-severity complaints reported for this vehicle.

Mileage Failure Analysis

⚙️Engineering Insight

With a peak failure range of 20k-40k miles, owners should remain particularly alert as they approach this mileage threshold. It’s crucial to inspect any potential issues with the occupant classification system closely during this period since this may highlight problems before they escalate into more serious safety risks.

📊 Mileage data extracted from 1 of 27 complaints (4% coverage)
0-20k
0 reports (0%)
20k-40k
1 reports (100%)
40k-60k
0 reports (0%)
60k-80k
0 reports (0%)
80k-100k
0 reports (0%)
100k+
0 reports (0%)
* Analysis based on mileage data extracted from consumer complaint descriptions. Actual failure rates may vary.

🛠️ DIY Diagnosis Center

Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).

Primary Risk Areas

AIR BAGS

🎯Risk Areas & Recommended Actions

Based on recall data, these components require verification:

1

Air Bags

Issue: Potential airbag deployment failure due to OCS sensor malfunction.

✅

Contact your dealer immediately to check if your vehicle's OCS needs inspection or repair.

🔍

Verify whether any outstanding recalls are resolved and demand documented proof before purchase.

Campaign:21V-123
💡Visit NHTSA.gov or contact your LEXUS dealer to verify recall completion status.

Official Safety Recalls (1)

Campaign: 23V865000

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

Summary

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.

Consequence

An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

Remedy

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.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

NHTSA Investigations

0 investigations
✓

No active investigations for this vehicle.

Consumer Complaints

27 total complaints

Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2021 ES.

Safety Systems🔵 Low
AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES-300H. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Dec 17, 2025Open
Safety Systems🔵 Low
AIR BAGS

Still no parts for fix

Oct 29, 2025Open
Safety Systems🔵 Low
AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES 300H. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags). The contact called the dealer for over a year for parts availability updates and was informed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Sep 30, 2025Under Review
Safety Systems🔵 Low
AIR BAGS

Recall on my vehicle has been out for 1.5 years. Dealer states no parts yet & that I should be fine. But I don’t feel safe if my passenger air bag won’t deploy in any emergency.

Jun 30, 2025Under Review
Safety Systems🔵 Low
AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Jun 17, 2025Under Review
Safety Systems🔵 Low
AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

May 13, 2025Under Review
Safety Systems🔵 Low
AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES 300H. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Apr 16, 2025Under Review
Safety Systems🔵 Low
AIR BAGS

AIR BAG RECALL IN DECEMBER 2023 STILL NO REMEDY AVAILABLE !

Apr 8, 2025Under Review
Safety Systems🔵 Low
AIR BAGS

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 dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Mar 27, 2025Under Review
Safety Systems🔵 Low
AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Mar 14, 2025Under Review

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I know about the airbag recall for the 2021 Lexus ES?

The recall issued for the 2021 Lexus ES pertains to an issue affecting the front passenger airbag deployment that could fail due to a short circuit in the Occupant Classification System sensor. It's vital for current owners to ensure their vehicle has been serviced regarding this recall and to confirm that repairs have been made appropriately.

Are there specific maintenance tips for ensuring my family's safety in a Lexus ES?

Regularly scheduled maintenance plays a crucial role in ensuring your family's safety within your Lexus ES. Make sure to keep up with recalls and address any technical service bulletins issued by Lexus promptly. Regular inspections of critical safety systems such as brakes and airbags can greatly enhance passenger protection, especially for young children seated in the back.

📊Year-over-Year Context

➡️Stable Pattern

Compared to earlier years, the 2021 model shows stable reliability patterns. No meaningful structural change detected in recall frequency between adjacent model years.

🧭What This Means for You

Families with young passengers, pregnant drivers, or those with frequent highway commutes should prioritize this information.

If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.

🔑

If You Own This Vehicle

  • Immediate Action: If any recalls are listed as 'incomplete', contact a certified LEXUS service center—repairs are performed at no cost to you.
  • Unaddressed recalls pose real-world risks. Prioritize scheduling any pending repairs to maintain vehicle integrity.
  • Proactive tip: Enroll in LEXUS's owner notification program for real-time safety updates.
🛒

If You're Buying Used

  • Request the VIN from the seller and verify the 'Clean' recall status via NHTSA.
  • This specific ES year is noted for its strong reliability foundations.
⚖️

Compare Alternatives

This page is designed to help you decide, not alarm you.

Compare with Similar Vehicles

Compare vs
2021 Toyota Camry
View Analysis→
Compare vs
2021 Honda CR-V
View Analysis→
Compare vs
2021 Ford F-150
View Analysis→

Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Last updated: February 23, 2026.