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#BS-2021-LEXRX-387C

2021 Lexus RXProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 89 owners and 1 recall for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
89
Crashes
16
Fires
0
Recalls
1
TSBs
44
🟢

Preliminary Verdict

Proceed with Caution

Based on 89 complaints, 16 crashes, 0 fires, and 1 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the AirbagsHIGH

47 owners reported airbags issues — failures commonly reported around 76K miles.

!Inspect the ElectricalMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Airbags (47 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Airbags47 (53%)
Other7 (8%)
Electrical4 (4%)
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking4 (4%)
Seat Belts4 (4%)
Brakes4 (4%)
Structure:body3 (3%)
Engine2 (2%)

2021 Lexus RX: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 53% of all reports filed for the 2021 Lexus RX, with 47 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 76,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 76K-mile mark.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 2021 Lexus RX, with 4 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking Issues

Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 2021 Lexus RX, with 4 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Seat Belts Issues

Seat Belts complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 2021 Lexus RX, with 4 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to seat belts-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

1
21
8
22
4
23
40
24
34
25
2
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2021 Lexus RX. Recent trend: decreasing.

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Recall History (1 recall)

23V865000Oct 2024

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2021 Lexus RX NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

2021 Lexus RX vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD)

This vehicle

89

Class avg

206

Below the class average — fewer complaints than typical small sport utility vehicle 2wd vehicles. A good sign.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 89 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 1 recall found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Lexus RX Model Years

2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999
View all Lexus RX years →

2021 Lexus RX: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2021 Lexus RX?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2021 Lexus RX is related to the airbags, with 47 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2021 Lexus RX reliable?
The 2021 Lexus RX has 89 complaints, 16 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is below the class average — a positive sign for reliability.
How safe is the 2021 Lexus RX?
NHTSA rates the 2021 Lexus RX 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2021 Lexus RX problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2021 Lexus RX have any recalls?
Yes, the 2021 Lexus RX has 1 recall on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Lexus RX problems start?
Based on 4 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 76,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 60–90K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2021 Lexus RX data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 89 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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