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Lexus ES350Model year report

2021 Lexus ES350 Problems

Complaints
5filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
4,008miles, 2 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
26 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl FWD · 22 city / 32 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2021 Lexus ES350 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2021 Lexus ES350. The part named most often is wheels, with 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by exterior lighting (1) and forward collision avoidance (1). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 4,008 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 71 technical service bulletins for this model year. Wheels complaints overlap with 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Wheels: “While driving my 2021 Lexus ES 350 on a Interstate Highway 495 known as the Long Island Expressway my vehicle went over a small pot hole in the road way and the tires side wall was punctured resulting in a flat tire. I replaced the tire having only 4,555 miles on this new vehicle. Following this incident I once again drove over obstruction more than 4 inches and had both the drivers side tire and the drivers side rear tire side walls punctured with the additional damage of the drivers side front rim so badly damaged it had to be replaced. …”

NHTSA complaint #11497278, filed 2022-12

Exterior lighting: “My opened vehicle doors can not be seen in the path of other vehicle drivers when standing outside the opened vehicle door blocking the light on the vehicle doors. To solve this problem I added a Fluorescent Yellow/Green Retro-Reflective Tape to the lower interior door edge of each vehicle door that is automatically illuminated by another vehicle drivers headlights at night to allow another vehicle a visual warning and the added time to allow accident avoidance to occur. I also contacted the New York City Dept. …”

NHTSA complaint #11433575, filed 2021-09

Forward collision avoidance: “The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES350. The contact stated while accelerating from a stop, the brakes inadvertently was activated. The automatic braking system engaged and the vehicle had to be shifted to park, turned off, and restarted to operate correctly. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The contact stated that several months later the failure recurred. …”

NHTSA complaint #11466993, filed 2022-06, 8,000 miles

Body and structure: “When I opened my vehicle door at night and exiting my vehicle the vehicle door does not provide a visual warning to other vehicle drivers in the path of my 2021 Lexus es 350. I did an investigation and found that all opening doors on all 17 million vehicle doors do not provide an added zone of illumination that is automatically illuminated by another vehicle drivers headlight to allow accident avoidance to occur. I petitioned NHTSA and received no reply to my fix to make possible a new fmvss 108 to solve this contributory cause of opened vehicle door pedestrian deaths. …”

NHTSA complaint #11402986, filed 2021-03, 15 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 15 and 8,000 miles.

100%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (2 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 4,008 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

202120223
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2021 Lexus ES350. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
ES 350 · sedan FWD★★★★★5 / 4554 · 10.5% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2021 model year: forward collision warning not available, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2020: same overall rating; 2022: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2021 Lexus ES350 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
ES 350 FWD3.5L 6-cyl8-speed automatic223226$2,600
ES 350 F Sport FWD3.5L 6-cyl8-speed automatic223125$2,700

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2021 Lexus ES350 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 71 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 71 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus ES350

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202154,0080526—Not enough data
20205—1526—Not enough data
2019512,8002526—Not enough data
201859,5002524—Not enough data
2017229,1001524—Falling
20162118,0001524—Falling
20151623,0001524—Falling
20142830,00015240 · FewerFalling
20132326,0001524—Falling
20128945,58233222 · FewerFalling
201115350,0003—220 · FewerFalling
201013724,5565—2272 · MoreRising
200914519,8505—2299 · MoreStable
200825529,0004—2293 · MoreFalling
200753932,7834—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Lexus ES350 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2021 Lexus ES350 have?

NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2021 Lexus ES350 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2021 Lexus ES350 is reported most often?

Wheels is named most often, in 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by exterior lighting with 1.

Has the 2021 Lexus ES350 been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2021 Lexus ES350 do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2021 Lexus ES350 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Lexus ES350 get?

The EPA rates the 2021 Lexus ES350 (ES 350, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 26 mpg combined, 22 city and 32 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,600 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2021 Lexus ES350 reported?

Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 4,008 miles and the middle half falls between 15 and 8,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.