Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

2021 Lexus LS: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2021 Lexus LS, most recently filed April 2024. Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Caution Fewer than 50 complaints filed. With this few reports, patterns may not be meaningful.
Compare

Recalls (1)

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2021 Lexus LS. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 2021 Lexus LS. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 24V275000 Filed Apr 17, 2024

Front Air Bag May Not Deploy Properly/FMVSS 208

Air bags · sensor · occupant classification · front passenger
Official NHTSA text
Summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Lexus LS500 and 2018-2020 Lexus LS500 Hybrid vehicles equipped with the "Executive Package." The front passenger seat may have been assembled with interference between internal parts that can cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor to incorrectly detect the occupant. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence
Incorrect detection of an occupant may result in improper air bag deployment during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and repair the front passenger seat, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 7, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 24LA03.
81.9% repairedof 509 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 24V275000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (5)

5 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.

0involved a crash
0involved a fire
0injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Lexus LS, by component (top 5). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 5.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 2021 compares with other LS years

Best and worst LS years →
5 5 3 3 5 14 1 5 1 1
2012201320142015201620182019202120232025
This year (2021)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 28 mpg combined

28
mpg combined
25
city
33
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$2,950
CO₂ tailpipe
314 g/mi
EPA class
Midsize Cars

What it costs you to run

$2,333per year
$194per month
536gallons a year

Miles ÷ 28 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

2021 Lexus LS configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
3.5 L 6-cyl · AV-S10 CVTRear-Wheel Drive25 / 33 / 28$2,950314
3.5 L 6-cyl · AV-S10 CVTAll-Wheel Drive23 / 29 / 26$3,150343
3.4 L 6-cyl · 10-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive18 / 29 / 22$3,750399
3.4 L 6-cyl · 10-speed automaticAll-Wheel Drive17 / 27 / 21$3,900432

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 2021 LS for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All LS years

Where to next

2021 Lexus LS FAQ

How many recalls does the 2021 Lexus LS have?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 24V275000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 2021 Lexus LS problems?

Owners filed 5 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (1), Exterior lighting (1), Tires (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 2021 Lexus LS get?

EPA rates the 3.5 L 6-cyl · AV-S10 CVT version at 25 city, 33 highway and 28 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

How does the 2021 LS compare with other years?

Among the 2012–2021 Lexus LS model years at least five years old, the 2019 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2018 the most (14). The 2021 drew 5. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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