2021 Lexus ES 350Recalls, problems, MPG & safety
NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 5 owner complaints for the 2021 Lexus ES 350. Most complaints involve wheels (2) and forward collision avoidance (1). The EPA rates it 25–26 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
Safety recalls
Owner complaints by component
- Wheels2
- Forward collision avoidance1
- Tires1
- Exterior lighting1
- Structure1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
What owners report most
Wheels
“While driving my 2021 Lexus ES 350 on a Interstate Highway 495 known as the Long Island Expressway my vehicle went over a small pot hole in the road way and the tires side wall was punctured resulting in a flat tire. I replaced the tire having only 4,555 miles on this new vehicle. Following this incident I once again drove over obstruction more than 4 inches and had both the drivers side tire and the drivers side rear tire side walls punctured with the additional damage of the drivers side front rim so badly damaged it had to be replaced. My specific safety issue is these low profile tires are less than 4 inches from the rim AND CAN NOT ACCEPT THE STRESS OF A "NOMINAL POT HOLE TO PREVENT PUNCTURING OF THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE AND ARE UNSAFE UNDER "NORMAL ROAD HAZARDS THAT OTHER TIRES DO NOT EXPERIENCE THAT ARE NOT LOW PROFILE TIRES. Tire is Bridgestone Turanza EL440. Called Lexus. They disallow any other tire or rim except the low profile to result in voiding of warranty. What can I do to remedy this safety issue at my own expense ?”
Forward collision avoidance
“The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES350. The contact stated while accelerating from a stop, the brakes inadvertently was activated. The automatic braking system engaged and the vehicle had to be shifted to park, turned off, and restarted to operate correctly. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The contact stated that several months later the failure recurred. The contact stated that while turning out of a parking lot the automatic braking system engaged and the vehicle had to be turned off and restarted to operate correctly. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that if the failure did not occur on the way to the dealer there was nothing that they could do. The vehicle was taken to the dealer after the 5th failure and the dealer was unable to determine a cause for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and sent a field technician to the dealer who was also unable to determine the cause of the failure. A case was opened with the manufacturer. The approximate failure mileage was 8,000. Consumer…”
Tires
“My car had 3 tire/wheel issues in less than 4 months. Left me stranded on the side of the road. Was told this is a common issue. Basically Lexus knows they have a problem but do not have plans to fix other than offer insurance. It is costly repair. The bigger issue is the safety one. I believe that sometime this will cause a severe accident. I felt so strongly I sold the car back to Lexus. We were surprised at the total lack of concern shown to us. We had 2 episodes in MI and 1 in FL. I was told that an office manger had 3 blow outs this year. Also another customer that had just had her car a week had a blow out. I will never purchase a car with Low profile tires of this kind. If your tires won't hold up you cannot feel safe.”
Engines, transmissions & drive
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
- Engines
- 3.5L 6-cyl
- Transmissions
- Automatic (S8)
- Drive
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
EPA fuel economy by version
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES 350 Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 32 | 26 | $2,400 | 346 |
| ES 350 F Sport Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 25 | $2,500 | 352 |
- 26mpg comb.
- 25mpg comb.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
- Frontal crash
- 4 of 5
- Side crash
- 5 of 5
- Side pole
- 5 of 5
- Rollover
- 4 of 5
- Rollover risk
- 10.5%
Maintenance basics
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
- Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
6–12 months - Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
Every oil change - Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
1–2 years - Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
1–2 years - Brake fluid—
2–3 years - Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
5–10 years - Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
— - 12V battery—
3–5 years
2021 ES 350 questions
How many recalls does the 2021 Lexus ES 350 have?
0 recalls found in NHTSA data as of Nov 7, 2026.
What are the most common 2021 Lexus ES 350 problems?
Owners filed 5 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are wheels (2), forward collision avoidance (1), tires (1). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
What MPG does the 2021 Lexus ES 350 get?
The EPA rates the 2021 Lexus ES 350 at 25–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).
How safe is the 2021 Lexus ES 350?
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2021 Lexus ES 350 5 out of 5 stars overall.