2021 Lexus NX problems, complaints & recalls
NHTSA has received 17 owner complaints about the 2021 Lexus NX, or 2.9 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (complaint index 0.07, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #5 of 85 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Lexus models its rate is 61% lower; against other Luxury SUVs it is 80% lower.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Limited data: fewer than 30 complaints, so shares and indexes are unstable.
Complaints filed between 2021-10-13 and 2026-04-09. Median delay from incident to filing: 21 days.
Analysis
The previous model year (2020) drew 4.1 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2022) drew 6.7 per year, more than this one.
The most common problem area is Body & structure (23.5% of complaints), followed by Engine (17.6%) and Brakes (11.8%). Body & structure complaints are 2.6 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 2 reports (11.8%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 2 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 43 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was years three to five (41% of incidents). 2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year. 1 NHTSA investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (defect petition, opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
Complaint index
- vs. all tracked vehicles0.07
- vs. other Lexus models0.39
- vs. other 2021 models0.07
- vs. other Luxury SUVs0.2
- Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (4)0.07
- #5 of 85 · 2021Rankings ›
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.
What owners complain about
vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average
When complaints were filed
- Crashes reported: 1
- Fires reported: 1
- Injuries: 2
- Deaths: 0
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 43 months
What owners report
Vehicle began exhibiting multiple electrical safety issues around April 2025. EMF (electromagnetic field) levels were measured and found to be excessively high, causing physical discomfort and triggering health concerns for my disabled son and me.
Coming down a steep, narrow, long driveway leading from a private home on a hill, and moving forward in low gear, I allege that the brakes failed.
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The high-pressure fuel pump and related fuel system sensor failed, resulting in a sudden loss of engine power.
My vehicle has slowed while driving four times within the last 12 months. I have taken it to the Hendrick Lexus dealership in Charlotte as well as the Scott Clark Toyota dealership in Charlotte.
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus NX300. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle slowly lost automotive power and decelerated.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · 2021 · Luxury SUVs
| Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Lexus NX | 17 | 2.9 | 0.07 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC | 67 | 11.6 | 0.29 |
| 2021 Lexus RX | 71 | 12.3 | 0.3 |
| 2021 Audi Q7 | 75 | 13.0 | 0.32 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE | 92 | 15.9 | 0.39 |
| 2021 Audi Q5 | 103 | 17.8 | 0.44 |
| 2021 BMW X5 | 110 | 19.0 | 0.47 |
| 2021 BMW X3 | 112 | 19.4 | 0.48 |
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year.
Investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…