Last updated: 2026-10-10

RELIABILITY SCORE: 88/100 (EXCELLENT)

2021 Lexus ES Reliability Report

The 2021 Lexus ES has an excellent reliability record: no owner complaints, no recalls, and the best standing of any scored ES year.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

N/A

Est. Repair Cost

$551

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,150–$2,400

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint SeverityN/A

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs80/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact100/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue DiversityN/A

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Buy

Best of the eight scored years, with no owner complaints and no recalls on file.

Generation & Refresh (US)

Post-Refresh

2021 is 5 years after the 2016 facelift refresh.

Year 9 in the Sixth generation (XV60) (2013–2023).
Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
6th generation ES (US).

What this means for buyers

Post-refresh years tend to be among the most refined — updates have been applied and early kinks worked out.

2013: Sixth generation (XV60) Launch

Generation start — new platform.

2016: Mid-Cycle Refresh

Updated features and styling tweaks.

2021: This Model Year

2021 is 5 years after the 2016 facelift refresh.

Should You Buy the 2021 Lexus ES?

Buy it with confidence on the record alone. This model year has an excellent reliability standing, well above the average 2021 sedan, and it is the best of the eight scored ES years. The 2020 rates worse, while the 2022 rates about the same.

Owners have filed no complaints about this year, and federal recall records list no recalls. That leaves no known symptom to warn you about. The car also earns 5 of 5 stars in the federal crash test. It sits in year 9 of the Sixth generation (XV60), which ran from 2013 to 2023.

A clean record does not replace an inspection of the specific car you are looking at. If you are also weighing a 2020, that year has a recall in federal records, so ask whether the work was done. The 2022 has 16 complaints but no recalls.

Compared to the 2022 Lexus ES, which scored the same. See also the 2020 Lexus ES for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Strong reliability score
+No recalls issued
+Low complaint frequency
+5-star NHTSA crash rating
+Well-established generation

Cons

No recurring complaint themes yet.

Compare 2021 Lexus ES With

2021 BMW 5 Series

Reliability: 66/100

Good

2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Reliability: 56/100

Mixed

2021 Acura TLX

Reliability: 71/100

Good

2021 Tesla Model 3

Reliability: 48/100

Mixed

Recall Overview

recalls on record

No recalls are on record for the 2021 Lexus ES — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

complaints

LowAvgHigh

Very Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2021 Lexus ES? Check its history first

Every 2021 Lexus ES has a different past. A VIN check reveals hidden accidents, title problems, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls that reliability scores can't show you.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2021 Lexus ES NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 4/5

Rollover risk: 10.5%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Advanced Belt Feature (Standard)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Curtain (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Torso/Pelvis (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (N/A)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)LATCH Locations (Rear Seat)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Lexus ESRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$551

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

2021 Lexus ES Example Repair Prices

National average price ranges for common repairs. These are not model-year-specific failure predictions.

Common repair costs and price estimates
Repair	Estimated Cost
Anti-lock Brake System Inspect	$137 – $201
Ignition Coil Replacement	$445 – $607
Transmission Leak Inspection	$76 – $112
Coolant Change	$149 – $195
Cruise Control Switch Replacement	$272 – $310
Engine Oil Level Sensor Replacement	$547 – $661
Steering Knuckle Replacement	$764 – $892
Door Mirror Replacement	$955 – $1,083
Check Engine Light Diagnosis & Testing	$153 – $224
Intake Manifold Gasket Replacement	$493 – $671

Estimates based on national average repair costs. Actual costs may vary by location and shop.

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

25–28 MPG

Running cost: $2,700–$2,950/yr

Fuel + repair

22–25 city / 31–34 hwy MPG

Hybrid

44 MPG

Running cost: $1,900/yr

Fuel + repair

43 city / 44 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2021 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
ES 250 AWD 2.5L 4-cyl	All-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S8)	25	34	28	$2,150
ES 350 3.5L 6-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S8)	22	32	26	$2,300
ES 350 F Sport 3.5L 6-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S8)	22	31	25	$2,400

Hybrid trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
ES 300h 2.5L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AV-S6)	43	44	44	$1,350

Best & Worst Lexus ES Years

Best Lexus ES Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

Top Pick

Excellent

2022

0Recalls

16Complaints

Excellent

2021

(Current Model)

0Recalls

0Complaints

Excellent

2020

1Recalls

5Complaints

Lexus ES Years to Avoid

No Lexus ES years are statistical outliers in our data.

Scores stay between 78 and 88 across 8 scored model years.

See full Lexus ES years-to-avoid analysis

Lexus ES Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Lexus ES reliability scores by year
Year	Score	Rating
2018	80/100	Excellent
2019	78/100	Good
2020	83/100	Excellent
2021	88/100	Excellent
2022	88/100	Excellent
2023	80/100	Excellent
2024	80/100	Excellent
2025	83/100	Excellent

Lexus ES Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2025	83/100	+3	Excellent	1	4
2024	80/100	0	Excellent	4	9
2023	80/100	-8	Excellent	4	18
2022	88/100	0	Excellent	0	16
2021(selected)	88/100	+5	Excellent	0	0
2020	83/100	+5	Excellent	1	5
2019	78/100	-2	Good	3	33
2018	80/100	—	Excellent	2	10

2021 Lexus ES Common Questions

10 questions from 2021 Lexus ES owners.

BTTERY REPLACEMENT

* I PARKED MY CAR OUTSIDE OF GARAGE FOR TWO MONTHS AND NOW IT DOES NOT START AFTER JUMP IT START FINE DO I NEDD TO REPLACE BATTERY?

VisitorApr 22, 2026

Engine check light on

Engine check light and VSC and TRAC Off On A few days

VisitorApr 10, 2026

Coolant low on Lexus LS500

The coolant is low. The car is low mileage, 34k. No leak, no overheating, no in car messages. Just i saw two small pink dots in under carriage, NOT under the car. What is this. Can it be just i fill it then its fine? Started today

VisitorApr 5, 2026

Where are Fuses for a/c 2015 lexus gs350

Where are the fuses for a/c 2015 lexus gs350

VisitorMar 19, 2026

Hot air blows

So I have two problems my ac isn't getting cold and hot air always pours into the cabin so that's probably the blend door actuator but will that make it so my ac doesn't work Hot air always blows More than a year

VisitorMar 16, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2021 Lexus ES reliable?

Yes. Its reliability standing is excellent and well above other 2021 sedans. Within the eight scored ES model years, it ranks first. Owners have filed no complaints, and federal recall records show no recalls. It also earned 5 of 5 stars in the federal crash test.

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

None stand out. No owner complaints are on file for this model year, so there is no repeated symptom to point to. Federal recall records also list no recalls. Any problem you find would be specific to one car, which is why an inspection still matters.

Does the 2021 Lexus ES have any recalls?

No. Federal recall records list zero recalls for the 2021 model year. The 2020 ES has one recall on record, and the 2022 has none. If you consider a 2020, ask the seller whether that recall work was completed.

Is the 2021 Lexus ES better than the 2020 or 2022?

It is better than the 2020 and about the same as the 2022. The 2020 rates worse, with 5 complaints and 1 recall. The 2022 also has an excellent standing, but it has 16 complaints compared with none for the 2021. Neither neighbor has a clear edge over it.

How safe is the 2021 Lexus ES in a crash?

It earned the top federal crash-test rating of 5 of 5 stars. Federal recall records also list no recalls for this model year, so no open safety campaign is on file. Check any specific car's VIN for recalls before you buy.

Don’t buy a 2021 Lexus ES without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2021 Lexus ES

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2021 Lexus ES does best on recall impact (100/100) and worst on repair costs (80/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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