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2021 Lexus RX: engine and transmission complaints

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
11%
2 of 18 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2021 Lexus RX. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 11% of relevant complaints.

Better than 96% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 52 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 3%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
2
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
70
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
9 crashes · 9 injuries

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS47 · 67%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER8 · 11%
STRUCTURE5 · 7%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE4 · 6%
SEAT BELTS4 · 6%
SERVICE BRAKES3 · 4%

The years either side

2010
30%
53 of 191
2011
49%
27 of 67
2012
24%
10 of 47
2013
19%
14 of 90
2014
32%
7 of 29
2015
37%
22 of 67
2016
33%
27 of 93
2017
31%
29 of 103
2018
37%
16 of 46
2019
51%
33 of 68
2020
24%
8 of 54
2021
11%
2 of 70
2022
29%
10 of 38
2023
33%
21 of 66

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE03/05/2024
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 o…
ENGINE01/04/2024
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.

Three of 2 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (1)

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus E…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2021 Lexus RX

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 4 body styles NHTSA files separately.