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2021 Lexus LS
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Lexus LS, most frequently naming the engine, exterior lighting and other / unspecified categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 34 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2024 | 1 | 1 |
| Nov 2024 | 1 | 2 |
| Apr 2025 | 1 | 3 |
| Apr 2026 | 1 | 4 |
| May 2026 | 1 | 5 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Engine125.0%
- Exterior lighting125.0%
- Other / unspecified125.0%
- Tires & wheels125.0%
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
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govRecent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
My vehicle has the V6 twin turbo engine that’s been recalled on other years and models and was diagnosed with an internal engine failure. The mechanic at the dealership couldn’t figure out the problem so an expert TAS Lexus specialist was called in and couldn’t figure out the problem either. They’ve had the car for 3 months and since they don’t know how to fix it they are telling me to just replace the engine with a used engine at a cost of $25,000. The vehicle is just out of warranty and Toyota/Lexus is refusing to cover any of the costs. The vehicle was serviced regularly so this shouldn’t have happened. This is a common problem with this model of engine. I believe it’s a design flaw as this model engine is assembled at different plants/locations and over long periods of time that would indicate a design flaw and not due to Toyota’s official stance of debris left in engine block during assembly. Toyota should recall and replace all these engines at no charge to the owner of the vehicle.
- NHTSA ID
- 11740217
- Incident
- Feb 21, 2026
Both headlight assemblies on a 2021 Lexus LS 500 show external lens delamination, along with visible condensation inside the sealed units. The vehicle has been garage kept, has not been involved in any accidents, and has no external damage to the headlight assemblies. The outer lens surfaces are deteriorating, and moisture is present inside components that are designed to be sealed. The condition has progressively worsened over time. These issues reduce headlight clarity and light output, negatively affecting forward visibility during nighttime driving and creating a potential safety hazard.
- NHTSA ID
- 11734508
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2025
I was driving and my sunroof exploded sounding like a gun shot. The sunroof shattered and was blown apart on all 4 sides. Glass fell in my face and all over me
- NHTSA ID
- 11654618
- Incident
- Apr 13, 2025
OEM Bridgestone Turanza EL440 RFT 245/45 R20 These tires have not retained recommended air pressure for more than a few weeks at a time since new. Inspection earlier this year by a Bridgestone dealer found no problem with a tire that had lost 5 psi in a week. The tire subsequently began making a rotational noise that the Lexus dealer diagnosed as a slipped belt. Having replaced the defective tire, I now have the same noise symptoms arising in another tire. The dealer can find no reason for the chronic air loss in the two left side tires which, given the developing rotational noise, I expect will soon have similar belt failure. Dealer personnel admit that these tires are problematic. Bridgestone customer service has been unresponsive.
- NHTSA ID
- 11626674
- Incident
- Jul 12, 2024
The car slipped because of tread wear on the inner side of all four tires. Car has manufacturer installed tires.
- NHTSA ID
- 11565488
- Incident
- Jan 7, 2024
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OBSOLETE NOTICE February 2, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0004-26.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Some 2018 – 2025 model year Lexus vehicles equipped with the Enform™ 2.0 Navigation System, require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software.
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.
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.
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to recover MMR data from the head unit. The following steps are instructions on how to retrieve the data from the system and are only to be used when requested by FTS and/or FPE.
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021Viewing | 5 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 50.4 |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 35.9 |
| 2008 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 41.8 |
| 2007 | 45 | 1 | 0 | 46.2 |
| 2006 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 48.6 |
| 2005 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 8 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
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.