Last updated: 2026-10-10
2021 Lexus IS Reliability Report
The 2021 Lexus IS rates excellent for reliability, with just one owner complaint on file and no federal recalls.
Recalls
0
Complaints
1
Complaint Rate
0.5per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$551
Annual Fuel Cost
$2,750–$3,150
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Excellent reliability with a single owner complaint and no recalls, the lightest complaint count of the three years from 2020 to 2022.
Top Issues to Watch
Generation & Refresh (US)
2021 is 1 year after the 2021 facelift refresh.
- Year 8 in the Third generation (XE30) (2014–2023).
- Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
- 3rd generation IS (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.
2014: Third generation (XE30) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2020: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
2021: This Model Year
2021 is 1 year after the 2021 facelift refresh.
Should You Buy the 2021 Lexus IS?
Owners have given this model year very little to complain about. Its reliability standing is excellent, well above average among 2021 sedans, and it ranks among the stronger of the nine scored IS model years. The 2020 and 2022 both rate excellent too, and they rate about the same as this one.
Only one owner complaint is on file, which works out to 0.5 per 10,000 sold. The data does not say what that complaint was about, so there is no known weak spot to point to. Federal recall records list no recalls for this year, and federal crash testing gave it 5 of 5 stars.
With no recall to chase, the useful checks are the ordinary ones. Ask for service records and get an independent inspection before you buy. Any of the three years from 2020 to 2022 is a reasonable choice, since all rate excellent and none shows a recall.
Compared to the 2022 Lexus IS, which scored the same. See also the 2020 Lexus IS for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Strong reliability score
- +No recalls issued
- +Below-average complaint rate for Sedan
- +5-star NHTSA crash rating
- +Well-established generation
Cons
- −UNKNOWN OR OTHER (1)
Compare 2021 Lexus IS With
2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Reliability: 56/100
2021 BMW 5 Series
Reliability: 66/100
2021 Genesis G70
Reliability: 64/100
2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Reliability: 58/100
2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA
Reliability: 45/100
Recall Overview
0
recalls on record
No recalls are on record for the 2021 Lexus IS — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
0.5
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 16.7
Safety Incidents
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
Buying a used 2021 Lexus IS? Check its history first
Every 2021 Lexus IS 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 IS NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 9.5%
Safety Technologies
Lexus ISRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4.5Maintenance rating: 4.5 out of 5Based 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 IS Example Repair Prices
National average price ranges for common repairs. These are not model-year-specific failure predictions.
| Repair | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Brake Hose Replacement | $227 – $291 |
| Blower Motor Replacement | $442 – $478 |
| Drive Axle Assembly Leak Inspection | $76 – $112 |
| AC Compressor Clutch Replacement | $1,424 – $1,566 |
| Camshaft Position Sensor Replacement | $358 – $466 |
| Axle Shaft Seal Replacement | $431 – $618 |
| Liftgate Glass Support Strut Replacement | $188 – $217 |
| Heater Hose Replacement | $417 – $517 |
| Parking Brake Shoe Replacement | $477 – $619 |
| Air Conditioning Receiver Drier Assembly Replacement | $544 – $852 |
Estimates based on national average repair costs. Actual costs may vary by location and shop.
MPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
22–25 MPG
Running cost: $3,300–$3,700/yr
Fuel + repair
19–21 city / 26–31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IS 300 2.0L 4-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 21 | 31 | 25 | $2,750 |
| IS 350 3.5L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 20 | 28 | 23 | $3,000 |
| IS 300 AWD 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,150 |
| IS 350 AWD 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,150 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2021 Lexus IS.
Inspect oil housing cap for cracks or weaknesses
Verify oil housing cap has been replaced with an updated part
Check for oil leaks around the oil housing area
Confirm with dealer if any recalls exist for oil housing cap
Going to see one? Take the printable 2021 Lexus IS inspection checklist with you.
2021 Lexus IS Common Problems by Component
1 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 complaintThe Oil Housing Cap cracked during an oil change on my 2021 Lexus IS300. This occurred at my mechanics shop. I would have taken the car to the dealer but the cost for an oil change is double. The mechanic charged me for the part $55.25. When he went to purchase the part from JM Lexus, Sample Road, the parts person said this is a problem that should have been resolved. I called the Parts Manager at JM Lexus to verify this information. He stated that the part is weak and cracks and that this part needs to be replaced a few times a month. I wrote to the Executives at JM Lexus and they refuse to reimburse me because the car was not serviced there, however, the bigger problem is that this part needs to be retooled and owners recalled for replacement. For those in cold weather, could this part crack and leak oil? Will I be charged every time I get an oil change because of this defect?
Best & Worst Lexus IS Years
Best Lexus IS Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreLexus IS Years to Avoid
No Lexus IS years are statistical outliers in our data.
Scores stay between 79 and 87 across 9 scored model years.
Lexus IS Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 81/100 | Excellent |
| 2019 | 79/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2021 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2026 | 87/100 | Excellent |
Lexus IS Reliability Compared to Other Years
2021 Lexus IS Common Questions
10 questions from 2021 Lexus IS owners.
Stalling and stopping
My vehicle only has 30,800,000 miles. If the fuel pump which is a recalled part is the manufacture responsible There is no way of knowing, it stalls when accelerating A few days
No power steering
i just bought a 2006 lexus rx400h and i have zero power steering, a p/s light and "check hybrid system" and "check vsc system" as well as p1421, p3298, c1310, c1336 codes, it has a brand new car battery More than a week
Braking malfunction
After about 100 miles all the dash lites came on,cel,anti skid parking brake ECT. It said pull over right away and have towed to dealer. Well I was not to far from home so drove it home. The brake pedal was very hard to push so I drove slow and tried not to use brake pedal. I could use it if I did it gently. Next morning , drove it to shop and they called me back and said they got a code c1247 which was brake pedal stroke sensor. Replaced that and had it calibrated. After driving around 70 miles it did the same thing. Stiff brake ,lites on dash, so took it back and it came back with the same code so they erased the code on the obd and it drives perfect until I hit the 70 mi and does it again. This has happened like 5times and even took it to different shops. All they do is reset code and they tell me it is good to go .Could it be in the brake booster? When I tell them the problem is still there they all have said " it's probably the abs module but they are just guessing. Booster? When the dash lites are off it rides perfect for 70 miles or so More than a month
Repair estimate
Is it worth it to repair a 2007 Lexus RX400h that needs the compressor, condenser and hybrid battery replaced? Car no longer turns on. The heat/AC would make the car run rough. More than a month
Seatbelt alarm
The seatbelt alarm for the rear middle seatbelt goes off even when no one is sitting in the back seats and no items are on the seats either. The only way I’ve been keeping this from triggering every time I drive is to keep the middle seatbelt latched. I’ve been told that it is a faulty sensor in the latch and it should be replaced. Is this the only way? More than a year
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2021 Lexus IS reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Lexus IS?
Does the 2021 Lexus IS have any recalls?
How does the 2021 Lexus IS compare with the 2020 and 2022?
How safe is the 2021 Lexus IS in crash tests?
Don’t buy a 2021 Lexus IS without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2021 Lexus IS
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2021 Lexus IS does best on recall impact (100/100) and worst on how many systems draw complaints (71/100). 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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