2021 Lexus Rx problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (42) · Seat Belts (4) · Structure:body (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Lexus Rx 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 (44)
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.
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
Structure:body 2025-12-05 · 23LD01 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
23ld01 expired on november 30, 2025 technical instructions for special service campaign 23ld01 tow converter not installed certain 2021 model year rx350
Structure:body 2025-12-05 · 23LD01 · Service Campaign
23ld01 expired on november 30, 2025 the involved rx350 vehicles equipped with the tow prep package did not have the tow converter installed.
Structure:body 2025-12-05 · 23LD01 · Service Campaign
23ld01 expired on november 30, 2025 the involved rx350 vehicles equipped with the tow prep package did not have the tow converter installed.
Showing the 6 most recent of 44 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-27 · Service Brakes“electronic parking brake (epb), 12v battery/electrical system. my vehicle's 12v battery failed, with the dealership measuring voltage below 10v during the event. this caused multiple simultaneous module malfunctions (confirmed by the dealer as caused by the battery failure), including a complete inability to move the vehicle after jump-starting …”
2025-12-19 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2021 lexus rx 350. 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 mad…”
2025-12-10 · Air Bags:srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/Light · 76,000 mi“the contact owns a 2021 lexus rx 350. the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bag malfunction warning light was illuminated. the contact stated that the srs alert message was displayed. the passenger’s side seat belt warning light was illuminated for two minutes. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v8650…”
2025-12-09 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2021 lexus rx-450h. 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 whenever a handbag was placed on the front passenger’s seat, the air bag warning light illuminated. the local dealer was contacted. the cont…”
2025-12-08 · Tires:tread/Belt“the tire (bridgestone ecopia 422 plus 235/55r 20 102v m+s) failed within seconds while driving on the highway at 70 mph. luckily i did not lose control and was able to steer the car from the middle lane to the birm thanks to the semi driver on my right who allowed us to get off the road quickly. there was almost no rubber remaining on the rim and t…”
2025-12-04 · Air Bags“when can i expect to get my recalled lexus fixed,? all i can find is that they have no remedy, so the dealer cant replace the faulty occupant air bag sensor, nhtsa campaign id: 23v865000 report date: dec 19, 2023 vehicles affected: 999901…”
2025-11-17 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2021 lexus rx450h. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v865000 (air bags); however, parts for the recall repair were not available. the contact stated that the parts had not been available since receiving the recall notification two years ago. the dealer was contacted; however, the contact was informed t…”
2025-10-14 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2021 lexus rx 350. 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 and confirmed that pa…”
2025-09-30 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2021 lexus rx350. the contact recently purchased the vehicle. the contact later obtained a carfax report and identified an unrepaired recall associated with the vin. the unrepaired recall was nhtsa campaign number: 23v865000 (air bags); however, parts were not yet available. the vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the conta…”
2025-09-03 · Structure:body · 💥 crash“i was at the gas station, in line waiting for one of the three gas pumps to be available. i put my car in reverse to back up and pull around another car in order to go to the open pump in front. when my car was in reverse motion, i stepped on the brake pedal, but the car did not stop. i stepped on the brake pedal numerous times, but the brake …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.