Model year guide

2021 Lexus ES

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2021 Lexus ES is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 5 on record.

2021 Lexus ES — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2021 Lexus ES at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints28
Typical price$37,225

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2021 Lexus ES recalls 1

Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification NHTSA Campaign #23V865000 · manufacturer #23TA15, 23LA03 · 20/12/2023

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 deployi…

Fix: 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 con…

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2021 Lexus ES common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

What's a 2021 Lexus ES worth?

Low
$564
Typical price
$37,225
High
$48,035

From 5 comparable 2021 Lexus ES listings.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 48

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 48.

OBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.

Bulletin L-SB-0021-25 · Engine · Mar 2026

OBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.

Bulletin L-SB-0021-25 · Engine · Feb 2026

OBSOLETE NOTICE February 2, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0004-26.

Bulletin L-SB-0057-22 Rev2 · Electrical System · Feb 2026

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.

Bulletin L-SB-0004-26 · Electrical System · Jan 2026

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 pr…

Bulletin L-SB-0030-24 Rev2 · Structure · Dec 2025

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 e…

Bulletin L-TT-0326-23 Rev2 · Electrical System · Aug 2025

The specific condition covered by this program is for a small engine coolant leak that can occur from the flow shut-off valve that can allow coolant to drip on other parts of the vehicle. This can cause "Engine Maintenance Required" to be displayed on the inst…

Bulletin 24LE02 · Engine · Aug 2025

Some 2021 – 2024 model year ES 250 and 2022 – 2024 model year NX 250 vehicles with A25A-FKS engines may have a MIL ON condition with one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) upon cold soak start up with engine coolant temperatures between 1…

Bulletin L-SB-0009-24 Rev1 · Electrical System · Jun 2025

Some 2021 model year ES 250 and 2019 – 2021 model year ES 300h and UX 200 vehicles equipped with an A25A-FKS, A25A-FXS, or M20A-FKS engine may exhibit a condition in which an “Engine Maintenance Required” message is displayed in the Multi-Information Display (…

Bulletin L-SB-0051-24 Rev2 · Engine · Jun 2025

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.

Bulletin L-SB-0043-23 Rev1 · Electrical System · Jun 2025

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the ES. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Lexus ES

The Lexus ES is a luxury sedan marketed since 1989 by Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota, across multiple generations, each offering V6 engines and a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. The first five generations of the ES used the Toyota Camry platform, while the latter generations are more closely related to both the Camry and the Avalon. Manual transmissions were offered until 1993, a lower-displacement inline-four engine became an option in Asian markets in 2010, and a gasoline-electric hybrid version was introduced in 2012. The battery electric version was later introduced in 2025. The ES was Lexus's only front-wheel drive vehicle until 1998, when the related RX was introduced, an…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2021 Lexus ES trims & engines on record

Trims
350 Premium · 300h Premium
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl 176 hp · 2.5L 4-cyl 202 hp · 3.5L 6-cyl 301 hp

2021 Lexus ES vehicles on record

Other Lexus ES model years

2021 Lexus ES — frequently asked questions

Does the 2021 Lexus ES have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2021 Lexus ES. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Lexus ES?

Across all 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, steering, service brakes.

How much is a 2021 Lexus ES worth?

Comparable 2021 Lexus ES listings run roughly $564–$48,035, typically around $37,225 (from 5 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.