2021 Lexus Es problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (25) · Steering (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Lexus Es model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification 2023-12-20 · campaign 23V865000 · 999,901 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Service bulletins (48)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-03-10 · L-SB-0021-25 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
obsolete notice february 27, 2026: this bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
Engine 2026-02-27 · L-SB-0021-25 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
obsolete notice february 27, 2026: this bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
Electrical System 2026-02-02 · L-SB-0057-22 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
obsolete notice february 2, 2026: this bulletin is now obsolete. please see l-sb-0004-26.
Electrical System 2026-01-23 · L-SB-0004-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2018 – 2025 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.
Structure:body 2025-12-15 · L-SB-0030-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2005 – 2026 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
Electrical System 2025-08-19 · L-TT-0326-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some customers may 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 oth
Showing the 6 most recent of 48 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-07-29 · Unknown Or Other“on or july 28, 2026, i experienced a safety incident involving the driver’s side power window on my 2021 lexus es. the vehicle was running, and i reached through the driver’s side window to retrieve an item being handed to me. without me pressing or activating the window switch, the driver’s window unexpectedly quickly closed on my arm. it trapped …”
2025-12-17 · 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 a…”
2025-09-30 · 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 rep…”
2025-06-30 · 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. …”
2025-06-17 · 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 is…”
2025-05-13 · 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 awa…”
2025-04-16 · 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…”
2025-04-08 · Air Bags“air bag recall in december 2023 still no remedy available !…”
2025-03-27 · 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…”
2025-03-14 · 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…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.