MODEL
Lexus LS
NHTSA safety across every Lexus LS model year we cover.
Across the 2 model years of the Lexus LS we cover (2019 to 2021), no year has an NHTSA crash-test score on record. 2 recalls have been issued across those years.
The Lexus LS is Toyota's flagship full-size luxury sedan, pitched squarely at buyers cross-shopping the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series. For 2019 through 2021, the fifth-generation LS brings a long-wheelbase cabin, available hybrid powertrain, and a reputation for hushed refinement to the upper end of the American luxury market. It is a low-volume, high-prestige vehicle where safety credentials matter as much as comfort.
Here is the uncomfortable truth about the 2019 to 2021 Lexus LS from a pure safety-data standpoint: NHTSA never crash-tested it during these model years. For a flagship sedan that can push well past $80,000, the absence of a federal star rating is a meaningful gap in the safety record. Buyers expecting the kind of independent verification they get with mainstream vehicles will not find it here through NHTSA, and we cannot assign a Safety Index score as a result. On the positive side, the complaint picture is remarkably quiet. Only six owner complaints were filed with NHTSA across the entire 2019 to 2021 production run, with zero crashes, zero fires, zero injuries, and zero deaths reported among those filings. That is an exceptionally low complaint volume for a three-year span, though low sales volume naturally plays a role in keeping that number small. Two recalls were issued across these model years. Two recalls for a low-volume luxury flagship is not alarming, but shoppers should confirm any open recall work has been completed before purchase, using NHTSA's free VIN lookup tool. The bottom line: the LS's safety story is largely unwritten by federal testers. The complaint data is clean, but the missing crash-test results mean prospective buyers should lean heavily on IIHS evaluations and their own due diligence rather than assuming a premium price tag equals a verified safety record.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally regard the Lexus LS as one of the most refined and serene cabins in the full-size luxury segment, praising its exceptionally quiet ride, high-quality interior materials, and composed highway behavior. Some note that its driving dynamics feel more oriented toward comfort than outright sportiness, and a few point to the infotainment interface as a weak spot relative to German rivals. Overall, the consensus treats it as a compelling, distinctly Japanese alternative to European flagships.
- NHTSA did not crash-test the 2019 to 2021 Lexus LS, meaning there are no federal star ratings for this generation. Shoppers should consult IIHS results and cannot rely on NHTSA scores when comparing safety performance.
- Only six owner complaints were submitted to NHTSA across all three covered model years, with zero crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths reported in those filings. While the low sales volume contributes to this small number, the complaint record is notably clean.
- Two recalls were issued across the 2019 to 2021 model years. Before buying any used LS from this period, run the VIN through NHTSA's free recall database to confirm all recall repairs have been performed by a Lexus dealer.
- Because this is a low-volume flagship, owner-reported safety data is limited compared to high-volume vehicles. Treat the small complaint count as a positive signal, but recognize it reflects fewer total vehicles on the road rather than a statistically robust sample.
Most-recalled year on record: 2021 Lexus LS with 1 recalls.