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2021 Lexus RX

Hybrid Gas Midsize / large SUV

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Specs & fuel economyRecallsComplaintsCrash ratings
C
Safety Signal
77 / 100
CSafety Signal · 77 / 100
2Recalls · 1 critical
70Complaints · owner reports
5★Crash rating · NHTSA overall
30 mpgFuel economy · best combined

The 2021 Lexus RX is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize or large SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the RX 450h AWD, is EPA-rated at 30 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 70 complaints, most often about air bags. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy (EPA)

ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
RX 450h AWDHybridAWD3.5L 6-cyl + 288V Ni-MH312830$2,600
RX 450h L AWDHybridAWD3.5L 6-cyl + 288V Ni-MH292829$2,650
RX 350GasFWD3.5L 6-cyl202723$2,700
RX 350 AWDGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl192622$2,850
RX 350 LGasFWD3.5L 6-cyl192622$2,850
RX 350 L AWDGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl182521$2,950

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.

Out of factory warranty soon?

The 2021 Lexus RX is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (2)

Air Bags

high
999,901 vehiclesHybrid only

Problem: 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.

NHTSA campaign 23V865000 · reported Dec 20, 2023 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Fuel System, Gasoline

critical
1,081 vehicles

Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Lexus) is recalling certain 2019 Lexus RX350 and 2021 RX350 vehicles. The transport hook may not have been removed prior to sale. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."

Risk: During a rear-end crash, the transport hook can damage the fuel filler pipe, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Lexus will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, remove the rear transport hook, free of charge. The recall began April 1, 2021. Owners may contact Lexus customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Lexus' number for this recall is 21LA01.

NHTSA campaign 21V043000 · reported Feb 3, 2021 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

NHTSA investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds (closed)

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005

Owner complaints

70 complaints filed

9 involved a crash, 0 a fire, 9 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.

Filed by year — 2020: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 6 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 30 · 2025: 30

Most-cited components

  • Air Bags — 48
  • Unknown Or Other — 8
  • Structure — 6
  • Forward Collision Avoidance — 5
  • Seat Belts — 4
“I am writing to you regarding the vehicle safety which I became aware of recently but there was no solution provided. IF this happened to me, it can happen to anyone driving the same model and needs to be addressed as soon as possible before the fatality occurs as this is danger to the public.I was driving a vehicle…”Mar 5, 2024 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2021 Lexus RX350. 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…”Feb 7, 2024 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report
“My car has 171,000 miles on it and I have a blown head gasket. This vehicle has only been driven by myself and was purchased brand new.”Jan 4, 2024 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆18%
SUV FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆18%
SUV FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆18%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Other RX model years

A

2026 RX

2 recalls · 5 complaints

C

2025 RX

4 recalls · 20 complaints

C

2024 RX

4 recalls · 56 complaints

C

2023 RX

4 recalls · 65 complaints

A

2022 RX

0 recalls · 38 complaints

B

2020 RX

2 recalls · 54 complaints

D

2019 RX

4 recalls · 68 complaints

B

2018 RX

2 recalls · 46 complaints

C

2017 RX

3 recalls · 103 complaints

C

2016 RX

3 recalls · 93 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 43140, 42979, 43124, 43132, 42958, 42967). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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