YearToAvoid

2021 Lexus NX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#5 most-complained of 11 NX years

The 2021 Lexus NX has a Complaint Index of 60 and ranks 5th worst out of 11 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 17 complaints, with Visibility & Wipers issues (24% share) as the top problem area, and no recalls.

Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
1 / 1
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24.5
22 city / 28 hwy

Top 2021 Lexus NX problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Visibility & Wipers4 (24%)
  2. Brakes3 (18%)
  3. Engine3 (18%)
  4. Fuel System3 (18%)
  5. Electrical System2 (12%)
  6. Other2 (12%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (12%)
  8. Airbags1 (6%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (6%)
  10. Lane Departure1 (6%)

What owners report

  • Side and rear-view mirrors shake or vibrate at highway speed, making it hard to see vehicles in blind spots.
  • One owner reported a side mirror suddenly breaking apart while driving, with fragments flying near pedestrians.
  • Sunroof glass has shattered while the vehicle was parked, with no apparent impact.
  • Owners describe brake failure after repeated pedal attempts while descending a steep driveway, leading to a crash.
  • Warning lights activated in sequence along with loss of air conditioning and power brakes, followed by an engine fire.
  • Front tires have lost air suddenly at highway speed, described by owners as blowouts rather than slow leaks.
2021 Lexus NX complaints: complaints filed per month4Oct 2021Sep 2022Nov 2023Aug 2024Feb 2025Apr 2025Apr 2026
24 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2021 to Apr 2026; peak Nov 2023 (4).

2021 Lexus NX recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2021 Lexus NX fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
24.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2021 compared with other NX years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Good3030124.5
2020Caution5021024.5
2021Caution6017024.5
2022Avoid8027228
2023Caution7015328

All Lexus NX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Lexus NX reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2021 NX a Complaint Index of 60 and a Caution verdict, ranking 5th worst among the 11 model years with data. It has 17 complaints and no recalls.
What is the top problem area for the 2021 Lexus NX?
Visibility & Wipers issues make up 24% of complaints, mostly involving mirrors that shake or vibrate at highway speed.
Does the 2021 Lexus NX have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2021 Lexus NX.
How does the 2021 Lexus NX compare to other NX years?
The 2021 NX's Complaint Index of 60 is worse than 2015-2020 and better than 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, which carry Caution or Avoid verdicts with indexes of 70-100.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Lexus NX?
The 2021 NX gets 24.5 mpg combined (22 city/28 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,250.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.