RoadVitals

2021 Lexus ES Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
28
Latest Jul 29, 2026
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
3
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2021 Lexus ES, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags2589.3%
  • Steering27.1%
  • Brakes13.6%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

25
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES-300H. 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 made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID 11705688 · filed Dec 17, 2025

Still no parts for fix

NHTSA ID 11696345 · filed Oct 29, 2025
All 25 reports naming airbags

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES. While the contact's wife was driving at unknown speeds, the messages stating "vehicle notification system, a malfunction in the vehicle notification system has been detected, contact dealer", and "notification system malfunction visit your dealer" were displayed. The contact stated that the steering wheel automatically maneuvered to the left side of the lane and the contact's wife avoided a crash, however, the failure recurred and the contact's wife crashed into the rear bumper of a vehicle with the front bumper of the contact's vehicle. The contact stated that while the wife was depressing the brake pedal, it failed to respond and the contact's wife crashed into the vehicle a second time. No police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

NHTSA ID 11585513 · filed Apr 26, 2024

Power steering malfunction with red steering wheel sign Car doesnot turn either side Power steering low Visit your dealer

NHTSA ID 11537243 · filed Aug 8, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES. While the contact's wife was driving at unknown speeds, the messages stating "vehicle notification system, a malfunction in the vehicle notification system has been detected, contact dealer", and "notification system malfunction visit your dealer" were displayed. The contact stated that the steering wheel automatically maneuvered to the left side of the lane and the contact's wife avoided a crash, however, the failure recurred and the contact's wife crashed into the rear bumper of a vehicle with the front bumper of the contact's vehicle. The contact stated that while the wife was depressing the brake pedal, it failed to respond and the contact's wife crashed into the vehicle a second time. No police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

NHTSA ID 11585513 · filed Apr 26, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .