RoadVitals

2021 Lexus GX

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
2
Latest May 9, 2026
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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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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Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Lexus GX, most frequently naming the driver assistance and interior & seats categories. 29 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance150.0%
  • Interior & seats150.0%

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

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Interior & seats
Filed May 9, 2026

The driver’s seat is making cracking, clicking, popping, and creaking noises from the lower seat frame, seat rail, or mounting area where the seat attaches to the vehicle body. The noise is most noticeable during braking, acceleration, turning, driving over uneven roads, and when shifting body weight in the seat. It feels as though the seat has movement or play, as if the seat rails, frame, or mounting bolts may not be fully secure. This is a safety concern because the seat is part of the occupant restraint system and is critical for proper seat belt positioning and airbag protection. If the seat frame, rails, or mounting hardware are loose, damaged, worn, or improperly secured, the seat could shift during a sudden stop or collision. In an accident, movement of the seat could reduce seat belt effectiveness, alter occupant positioning relative to airbags, increase the risk of impact with the steering wheel, dashboard, door, or center console, and increase the likelihood of head, neck, chest, back, pelvic, or leg injuries. Unexpected seat movement could also affect driver control immediately before or during a crash. This should not be treated as a simple interior rattle. The seat mounting bolts, rails, locking mechanisms, adjusters, frame components, and floor mounting points should be fully inspected for looseness, improper torque, wear, cracking, or structural failure. I have also found numerous similar owner complaints online from Lexus GX owners reporting clicking, cracking, rocking, or shifting driver seats that feel loose or unstable. Based on forum discussions and owner reports, there appear to be dozens of similar complaints, suggesting this may not be an isolated issue.

NHTSA ID
11736803
Incident
Mar 9, 2022
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 11, 2023

i PURCHASED THE GX460 TO AQUIRE THE NEW SAFETY BSM SYSTEM. THE OWNERS MANUAL (PG366) REQIRES THE SIDE MIRROR INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AT 9.8 FEET BEHIND THE REAR BUMPER OF MY VEHIVLE. THE LIGHT ON THE SIDE MIRROR COMES ON WHEN THE VEHICLE PASSING ME IS AT MY REAR BUMPER MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO CHANGE LANES AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE APPROACHING VEHICLE ENOUGH TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION. I HAVE CHECKED WITH 2 DEALERS AND BOTH SAID THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT FOR THIS CONDITION. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO HAVE ONE DEALER CHECK THE COMPUTER AND WAS TOLD ALL IS NORMAL. I ASKED MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW TO WHITNESS THIS EVENT FROM THE BACK SEAT AND SHE VARIFIED MY FINDINGS.

NHTSA ID
11506787
Incident
Jan 11, 2023

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

L-TT-0348-25 Rev1

SERVICE BRAKES

Customers state Parking Brake efficiency concerns. The conditions can include the following: • The Parking Brake Pedal feels loose or requires full depression for proper engagement. • When not fully depressed, effectiveness on steep surfaces may be reduced, allowing the vehicle to roll with transmission in Neutral. • When not fully depressed, effectiveness on steep surfaces may be reduced, allowing the vehicle to roll slightly with transmission in Park.

L-SB-0030-24 Rev2

STRUCTURE:BODY

Some 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines. This Service Bulletin is to provide a general overview and direction for the odor remediation process.

L-TT-0326-23 Rev2

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Some customers may experience operational difficulties with some telematics features which they cannot resolve on their own. These resources, in conjunction with the Repair Manual, are for dealership personnel to assist those customers with user issues, user errors, and compatibility issues with other vehicle systems and external applications encountered while operating telematics features.

L-TT-0348-25

SERVICE BRAKES

Customers state Parking Brake efficiency concerns. The conditions can include the following: • The PKB Pedal feels loose or requires full depression for proper engagement. • Ineffective on steep surfaces, allowing the vehicle to roll with transmission in Neutral. • Ineffective on steep surfaces, allowing the vehicle to roll slightly with transmission in Park. [Transmission Dependency]

L-SB-0043-23 Rev1

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.

L-SB-0017-19 Rev1

STRUCTURE:BODY

Some 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard™. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard™. The wrinkles may trap water and cause the paint to stain from the trapped moisture, especially on horizontal surfaces such as the hood, roof, and trunk.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Lexus GX by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026100
2025132047.9
2024184053.6
2023600
2022500
2021Viewing200
2020300
2019800
2018200
2017501
2016300
2015300
2014150046.8
2013100041.6
2012300
2011110043.9
2010700
2009010
2008200
2007120028.0
2006100027.2
2005300
2004200035.9
2003500

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.