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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2021 Lexus RX is associated with 70 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 1 safety recall campaign in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Air Bags, accounting for 43 reports (61% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 6 certified vehicle configurations spanning 3.5L 6-Cyl hybrid and 3.5l 6-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 21 to 30 MPG combined. The 2021 Lexus RX belongs to the 4th generation (AL20) RX platform spanning model years 2016–2022.

Platform Architecture: 4th Generation (AL20) • Production Span: 2016–2022 • Platform Code: K • Lifecycle Note: Pre-Facelift (2016–2019) / Facelift (2020–2022)
Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 70 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 1 official campaign
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Air Bags (43 / 61%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 9 crash / 0 fire / 6 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 4 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 21–30 MPG across 6 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2021 Lexus RX?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
RX 450h AWD Hybrid 3.5L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S6) 31 MPG 28 MPG 30 MPG — $2,550 / yr
RX 450h L AWD Hybrid 3.5L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S6) 29 MPG 28 MPG 29 MPG — $2,600 / yr
RX 350 3.5L 6-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 20 MPG 27 MPG 23 MPG — $2,650 / yr
RX 350 L 3.5L 6-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 19 MPG 26 MPG 22 MPG — $2,800 / yr
RX 350 AWD 3.5L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 19 MPG 26 MPG 22 MPG — $2,800 / yr
RX 350 L AWD 3.5L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 18 MPG 25 MPG 21 MPG — $2,950 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2021 Lexus RX?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
350 SUV FWD Later Release 17.9%
350 SUV FWD Early Release 17.9%
350L SUV FWD Later Release 16.7%
350L SUV FWD Early Release 18.2%
350 SUV AWD Later Release 16.400000000000002%
350 SUV AWD Early Release 16.400000000000002%
350L SUV AWD Later Release 16.7%
350L SUV AWD Early Release 16.7%
450h SUV AWD 16.400000000000002%
450hL SUV AWD Later Release 16.7%
450hL SUV AWD Early Release 16.7%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Standard and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2021 Lexus RX models.
View complete 2021 Lexus RX crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2021 Lexus RX?

Summary of 70 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
70
Crash Reports
9
Fire Reports
0
Complaints w/ Injury
6
Total Injuries
9

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Air Bags 43 complaints
Seat Belts 4 complaints (3 crashes)
Tires 2 complaints (1 crash)
AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 complaint (1 crash)
AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 complaint (1 crash)

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2021 Lexus RX problems & component breakdown (23 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2021 Lexus RX?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #23V865000 Active Recall
Affected Component: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

Defect 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.

Free Manufacturer 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.
View all 2021 Lexus RX recalls & campaign history (1 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2021 Lexus RX

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2021 Lexus RX

How many safety recalls does the 2021 Lexus RX have?

The 2021 Lexus RX is associated with 1 official NHTSA safety recall campaign in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 1 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2021 Lexus RX?

NHTSA records list 70 consumer defect complaints for the 2021 Lexus RX. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Air Bags, appearing in 43 filings (61% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2021 Lexus RX defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2021 Lexus RX?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2021 Lexus RX earned Overall Safety Ratings ranging from 4 to 5 stars depending on tested variant across 11 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2021 Lexus RX get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2021 Lexus RX range from 21 to 30 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.