NHTSA // SAFETY RECORD
2021 Lexus ES Safety Record
The 2021 Lexus ES has not been crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. Its federal safety record shows 1 recall and 27 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
CRASH
DATANot crash-tested
The 2021 Lexus ES has no federal crash-test ratings from NHTSA. This leaves a significant gap in the safety profile for this model year, as no star ratings are available for overall protection, frontal impact, side impact, or rollover. Without this foundational data, a comprehensive Safety Index cannot be computed. The available federal record indicates a Light burden of owner-reported issues, with one recall campaign and 27 complaints on file. However, these figures alone do not permit an assessment of crash safety performance. Without crash-test data, the 2021 Lexus ES remains an unknown quantity in key safety categories.
The 2021 Lexus ES was not crash-tested by NHTSA, carries one recall campaign on record, and falls in the Light recall and complaint burden band according to NHTSA federal safety data.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
- shoppers who want the full federal safety picture in one place
| NHTSA crash test | Not crash-tested |
|---|---|
| Recall and complaint burden | Light |
| Recalls on file | 1 |
| Owner complaints | 27 (unverified allegations) |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2021 Lexus ES?
The 2021 Lexus ES has not been crash-tested by NHTSA, leaving no star-rating record for direct assessment. Consequently, any safety appraisal must rely on its federal recall and complaint data. The model year carries a Light burden in these categories, reflecting a minimal volume of reported issues. One recall campaign is on record for the 2021 ES, addressing the occupant classification sensor within the airbag system. This single recall stands as the only federal safety action for this model year. Of the 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 25 concern the airbags, a concentration that aligns with the subject of the recall. These complaints, however, remain unverified allegations; no causal link between them and the recall has been established. The two remaining complaints cite issues with steering and service brakes, representing a minor fraction of the total. The Light burden classification is based solely on recall and complaint volume and offers no indication of how the vehicle would perform in a controlled crash.
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2021 Lexus ES have any recalls?
The 2021 Lexus ES is covered by one recall campaign targeting the air bag occupant classification sensor system, a component shared across a broader Toyota group recall. No park-outside or do-not-drive directive is noted in the data for this campaign. Owners should verify via the NHTSA VIN lookup whether the remedy has been completed on any specific vehicle.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION23V865000
Risk: 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 Lexu
Reported 2023-12-20
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2021 Lexus ES?
Twenty-seven complaints have been reported to NHTSA for the 2021 Lexus ES. These are unverified consumer allegations. The dominant reported component is air bags, accounting for 25 of the 27 filings, with steering and service brakes each appearing in the remaining reports. One complaint alleges a crash; none allege fire, injury, or death.
27 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2021 Lexus ES?
Any used 2021 Lexus ES shopper should run the specific VIN through the free recall lookup at nhtsa.gov before purchase to confirm whether the occupant classification sensor recall has been remedied on that individual unit. An unresolved recall transfers with the vehicle regardless of ownership history.
- NHTSA has not crash-tested the 2021 Lexus ES, meaning no star ratings exist for this model year and none should be assumed from the absence of a result.
- One recall campaign is on record for this model year, covering the air bag occupant classification sensor system as part of a broader Toyota group action announced in late 2023.
- Twenty-five of the 27 owner complaints reported to NHTSA for this model year allege issues with air bags, a concentration that aligns with the recall subject, though all complaints remain unverified allegations.
- Prospective buyers should verify via the NHTSA VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov whether the recall remedy has been completed on any specific 2021 Lexus ES unit before finalizing a purchase.
FAQ2021 Lexus ES safety questions
Was the 2021 Lexus ES crash-tested by NHTSA?
No. NHTSA has not run a New Car Assessment Program crash test on this configuration, so it carries no Safety Index. Its safety record here is built from 1 recall and 27 owner complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2021 Lexus ES have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 1 vehicle recall is on file for the 2021 Lexus ES. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Lexus ES?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 27 owner complaints are on file for the 2021 Lexus ES. These are unverified allegations submitted by owners, not confirmed defects, and include reports involving a crash.
Cross-check this record against independent expert reviews and the live NHTSA database before you buy.
Other ES years
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Lexus ES 2021.
- SCORE This configuration was not crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. We report its recall and complaint record only.
- EDITED Written by the MotorCaliber Safety Desk and reviewed for accuracy and plain-language clarity by Ivanna Verstliar, Editor, against the source figures on this page.
- VERIFIED Data last synced Oct 1, 2026. Recalls change; confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. See our corrections policy and disclosure.