Last updated: 2026-10-10
2021 Lexus UX Reliability Report
The 2021 Lexus UX has excellent reliability, well above other 2021 SUVs, with no recalls and just two owner complaints.
Recalls
0
Complaints
2
Complaint Rate
1.1per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$551
Annual Fuel Cost
$1,850
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 standing with no recalls and only two owner complaints, rating a step behind the 2020 and about level with the 2022.
Top Issues to Watch
- TIRES (1)
- VISIBILITY/WIPER (1)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2021 is year 3 of the First generation (ZA10).
- Redesigned for the 2019 model year.
- Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
- A refresh arrives in 2023.
- 1st generation UX (US).
What this means for buyers
Well into the generation cycle — most design and manufacturing issues should be resolved by now.
2019: First generation (ZA10) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2021: This Model Year
2021 is year 3 of the First generation (ZA10).
2023: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
Should You Buy the 2021 Lexus UX?
Reliability is excellent for this model year, and it sits well above average among 2021 SUVs. Across the eight scored UX years, it ranks among the stronger ones. The 2020 rates better, while the 2022 rates about the same. Federal crash testing gave it 5 of 5 stars.
Owners filed only 2 complaints, about 1.1 per 10,000 sold, and federal recall records list no recalls. The data does not describe what those two complaints were about, so there is no known pattern of failures to warn you about. Nothing in the record suggests this car should stay off the road.
Treat the 2021 as a low-risk choice, but price the 2020 next to it. That year has no complaints and no recalls and rates a little better. Whichever you pick, ask for the service history, since a clean complaint record says little about how one car was maintained.
Compared to the 2022 Lexus UX, which scored the same. See also the 2020 Lexus UX for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Strong reliability score
- +No recalls issued
- +Below-average complaint rate for SUV
- +5-star NHTSA crash rating
- +Well-established generation
Cons
- −TIRES (1)
Compare 2021 Lexus UX With
2021 BMW X1
Reliability: 75/100
2021 Audi Q3
Reliability: 74/100
2021 Porsche Macan
Reliability: 59/100
2021 Volvo XC60
Reliability: 75/100
2021 Nissan Kicks
Reliability: 78/100
Common Problem Categories
Other
MODERATE- TIRES (1)
- VISIBILITY/WIPER (1)
Recall Overview
0
recalls on record
No recalls are on record for the 2021 Lexus UX — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
1.1
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 UX? Check its history first
Tires problems lead owner complaints about the 2021 Lexus UX, and 0 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2021 Lexus UX NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 14.0%
Safety Technologies
Lexus UXRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4Maintenance rating: 4 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 UX Example Repair Prices
National average price ranges for common repairs. These are not model-year-specific failure predictions.
| Repair | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Alternator Replacement | $576 – $648 |
| Coil Spring Replacement | $1,136 – $1,471 |
| OBDII Drive Cycle Test | $76 – $112 |
| Powertrain Control System Diagnosis & Testing | $76 – $112 |
| Air Conditioning System Leak Inspection | $153 – $224 |
| Pinion Seal Replacement | $539 – $767 |
| Power Seat Switch Replacement | $481 – $538 |
| Suspension System Inspect | $122 – $179 |
| Catalytic Converter Replacement | $2,327 – $2,498 |
| Brake Booster Replacement | $2,136 – $2,542 |
Estimates based on national average repair costs. Actual costs may vary by location and shop.
MPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
32 MPG
Running cost: $2,400/yr
Fuel + repair
29 city / 37 hwy MPG
Hybrid
39–42 MPG
Running cost: $1,950–$2,100/yr
Fuel + repair
41–43 city / 38–41 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UX 200 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S10) | 29 | 37 | 32 | $1,850 |
Hybrid trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UX 250h 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 43 | 41 | 42 | $1,400 |
| UX 250h AWD 2.0L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 41 | 38 | 39 | $1,550 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2021 Lexus UX.
Inspect rear window tint for visibility issues
Verify presence of spare tire and necessary tools
Test tire pressure monitoring system for consistent operation
Check run flat tires for abnormal wear or directional instability
2021 Lexus UX Common Problems by Component
2 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
TIRES
1 complaintThis vehicle has run flat tires oem, tire flat warning light comes on for a while then goes off for a long time then comes back on. Tires behave like they want to go on their own direction. Vehicle came with no emergency spare tire or tools to replace tires.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
1 complaintRear glass window is much to dark in standard oem built in tint into window. Can only see out clearly in broad day light otherwise much too dark. We have been involved in several near back up collisions even though we have a back up camera, we are used to looking back through the rear window and outside rear view mirrors. We have complained to Toyota by phone and checked for recalls. WE like the to have this rear window replaced with an oem like window with minimal tint. We have no safe options other than to trade in this SUV. The consumer stated the tint was removed and there is no longer a safety concern with the windows. However, the consumer does have concern with the vehicle having a spare tire well but no spare tire located in the vehicle.
Best & Worst Lexus UX Years
Best Lexus UX Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreLexus UX Years to Avoid
No Lexus UX years are statistical outliers in our data.
Scores stay between 77 and 84 across 8 scored model years.
Lexus UX Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 77/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 84/100 | Excellent |
| 2021 | 80/100 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 80/100 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 80/100 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 80/100 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 77/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 84/100 | Excellent |
Lexus UX Reliability Compared to Other Years
2021 Lexus UX Common Questions
10 questions from 2021 Lexus UX owners.
2007 Lexus IS 250 run rough and one at idle wants to shut off help
My 2007 Lexus IS 250 started running rough . Check engine light is on VSC light is on – as well.got codes of a P0172, P0175, P0303. Took it for repairs they diagnosed the ignition system cleaned the mass airflow sensor fuel injection was clean. Replaced fuel injector cylinder three and reset computer now it is worse and more codes popped up. New codes are P0 300, P0171, P0174, P0355, and P0351. It is not overheating. It is not leaking. No other issues pop up. I do not know what’s wrong with it. More than a month
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
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2021 Lexus UX reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Lexus UX?
Does the 2021 Lexus UX have any recalls?
Is the 2021 Lexus UX better than the 2020 or 2022?
How safe is the 2021 Lexus UX in crash tests?
Don’t buy a 2021 Lexus UX without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2021 Lexus UX
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2021 Lexus UX does best on recall impact (100/100) and worst on complaint severity (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.
Get notified when new recalls or reliability data is added for the Lexus UX.
No spam. Only data updates for this model.
Browse More Lexus Models
Lexus ES
Score: 83/100
Lexus GX
Score: 84/100
Lexus IS
Score: 87/100
Lexus NX
Score: 88/100
Lexus RX
Score: 95/100
Lexus TX
Score: 81/100
Browse More 2021 Vehicles
2021 Kia Sedona
Score: 88/100
2021 Lexus ES
Score: 88/100
2021 Honda HR-V
Score: 86/100
2021 Lexus RX
Score: 86/100
2021 Mitsubishi Outlander
Score: 84/100
2021 Nissan Frontier
Score: 84/100
See incorrect data? Report an issue