LEXUS IS 300 · model year

2021 LEXUS IS 300

2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

5 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2021LEXUSIS 300 carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 5/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2021 IS 300 is engine with 1 filings, followed by unknown or other (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2021 IS 300. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
2021 LEXUS IS 300 — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2021 LEXUS IS 300. Overall composite: 5.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 5.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 4.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 5.0 ★
NHTSA overall 5.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

2 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 5/5 — Top NCAP rating · Front: 4/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 5/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1

Recent Complaints

20221116ENGINE

The Oil Housing Cap cracked during an oil change on my 2021 Lexus IS300. This occurred at my mechanics shop. I would have taken the car to the dealer but the cost for an oil change is double. The mechanic charged me for the part $55.25. When he went to purchase the part from JM Lexus, Sample Road, the parts person said this is a problem that should have been resolved. I called the Parts Manager at JM Lexus to verify this information. He stated that the part is weak and cracks and that this part needs to be replaced a few times a month. I wrote to the Executives at JM Lexus and they refuse to reimburse me because the car was not serviced there, however, the bigger problem is that this part needs to be retooled and owners recalled for replacement. For those in cold weather, could this part crack and leak oil? Will I be charged every time I get an oil change because of this defect?

20221116UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The Oil Housing Cap cracked during an oil change on my 2021 Lexus IS300. This occurred at my mechanics shop. I would have taken the car to the dealer but the cost for an oil change is double. The mechanic charged me for the part $55.25. When he went to purchase the part from JM Lexus, Sample Road, the parts person said this is a problem that should have been resolved. I called the Parts Manager at JM Lexus to verify this information. He stated that the part is weak and cracks and that this part needs to be replaced a few times a month. I wrote to the Executives at JM Lexus and they refuse to reimburse me because the car was not serviced there, however, the bigger problem is that this part needs to be retooled and owners recalled for replacement. For those in cold weather, could this part crack and leak oil? Will I be charged every time I get an oil change because of this defect?

Compare 2021LEXUSIS 300 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2021 LEXUS IS 300 have?
The 2021 LEXUS IS 300 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2021 LEXUS IS 300?
The 2021 LEXUS IS 300 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 5/5, front crash rating of 4/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 5/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 LEXUS IS 300?
The most-complained component for the 2021 LEXUS IS 300 is ENGINE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2021 LEXUS IS 300 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2021 LEXUS IS 300 has an NHTSA safety rating of 5/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.