2021 Lexus Es Safety Report
2021 LEXUS ES Air Bag Recall: Safety Concerns and Delays
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2021 Lexus Es
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2021 Lexus Es. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (1) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (27) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 1 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Air Bags | Compare air bags issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2017 | Compare against the 2017 Lexus Es with 2 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2020 | Check the 2020 Lexus Es before buying across this generation. |
Lexus Es Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Lexus Es years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Lexus Es | 16 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Lexus Es | 5 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2017 Lexus Es | 2 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Lexus Es | 7 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Lexus Es | 5 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2021 Lexus Es Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2021 Lexus Es, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Air Bags
25 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Lexus onlySteering,Service Brakes
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering,Service Brakes issues Lexus onlySteering
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering issues Lexus onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2021 Lexus Es
Reliability Score
The 2021 Lexus Es receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
Known Issues for the 2021 Lexus Es
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2021 Lexus Es:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bag Deployment Failure The 2021 LEXUS ES is part of a Toyota recall due to potential issues with the front seat passenger air bag. This issue may lead to the air bag not deploying correctly in the event of a collision. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2021 Lexus Es:
The air bag system is the most critical component highlighted in the recall.
Recall Details for the 2021 Lexus Es
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2021 Lexus Es by NHTSA:
Summary: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Le...
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2021 Lexus Es
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2021 Lexus Es with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes.
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...
Still no parts for fix
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES 300H. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags). The contact called the dealer for over a year for parts availability updates and was informed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issu...
Recall on my vehicle has been out for 1.5 years. Dealer states no parts yet & that I should be fine. But I don’t feel safe if my passenger air bag won’t deploy in any emergency.
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VI...
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES350. 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...
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 unavailable. 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. VIN tool confirms parts no...
AIR BAG RECALL IN DECEMBER 2023 STILL NO REMEDY AVAILABLE !
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES300H. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not ...
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES350. 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienc...
I received a DMV notice of Vehicle Safety Recall, I contacted the Dealer and they notify me that as of now there is no repair for it. That it is on "Interim notice". That if you need a documentation from the that they can provide it for me. Please let me know how to go about it asap. I like to renew my vehicle registration and I can't do it because of the Recall on my car. Thank you.
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...
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES 250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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. VIN tool confirms parts not...
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES. 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 not 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...
front seat passenger air bag recall and it has been over a year and they are still waiting for the parts. The recall says that the air bag may not deploy when it is supposed to and could cause injury to the occupant. I would think this would be a high priority for Lexus to fix the problem. Can you help us get this taken care of?
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES 350. 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 made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer ...
This vehicle has a recall for the passenger side airbag OCS sensors NHTSA 23V865 as of December 2023 and there is still no remedy available per NHTSA. This is not being remedied in a timely manner.
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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. VIN tool confirms parts not ...
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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. VIN tool confirms parts unav...
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES 350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bag) 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 ...
Showing 20 of 27 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2021 Lexus Es
Has the 2021 LEXUS ES been recalled?
Yes, the 2021 LEXUS ES has 1 recall on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2021 LEXUS ES have?
The 2021 LEXUS ES has 27 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 1 involved crashes. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2021 LEXUS ES?
The 2021 LEXUS ES does not have an NHTSA safety rating on file. This can happen for newer model years, specialty vehicles, or models that have not been crash-tested.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 LEXUS ES?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2021 LEXUS ES involve air bags (25 complaints), steering,service brakes (1 complaints), steering (1 complaints).
How many crash reports does the 2021 LEXUS ES have?
There are 1 crash reports associated with the 2021 LEXUS ES out of 27 total complaints (3.7% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2021 LEXUS ES have?
There are no fire reports for the 2021 LEXUS ES in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2021 LEXUS ES?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 LEXUS ES.
How many injuries are reported for the 2021 LEXUS ES?
No injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 LEXUS ES.
Should I buy a 2021 LEXUS ES?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 LEXUS ES is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 27 complaints, 1 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2021 LEXUS ES?
The components with the most failures on the 2021 LEXUS ES are: 1. AIR BAGS (25 complaints), 2. STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES (1 complaints), 3. STEERING (1 complaints). AIR BAGS is the single most-reported problem area with 25 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2021 LEXUS ES?
Given the ongoing recall and lack of parts, consider contacting your dealer for updates and alternative safety measures. The 2021 LEXUS ES has 27 NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2021 LEXUS ES?
The 2021 LEXUS ES receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 27 owner complaints, 1 recalls, and 1 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Air Bag Deployment Failure.
What are the known issues with the 2021 LEXUS ES?
Known issues with the 2021 LEXUS ES include: Air Bag Deployment Failure. These are based on patterns found across 27 NHTSA complaints. 1 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Is the air bag recall affecting all 2021 LEXUS ES models?
Yes, the recall affects all 2021 LEXUS ES models, including the ES300H, ES250, and ES350.
How long has the recall been ongoing?
The recall has been ongoing for over a year, with no parts available for repair as of the latest reports.
What should I do if I received a recall notice for my 2021 LEXUS ES?
Contact your dealer for updates and inquire about alternative safety measures until the recall is resolved.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Given the ongoing recall and lack of parts, consider contacting your dealer for updates and alternative safety measures.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2021 Lexus Es
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2021 Lexus Es. The data includes 27 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 1 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 reported crashes, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16