LexusRX450h2021Overview/lexus/rx450h/2021/base/

2021 Lexus RX450h

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 RX450h.

Transmission Automatic (AV-S6)

The 2021 Lexus RX450h utilizes an Automatic (AV-S6) transmission and an engine equipped with 0W-20 oil and an integrated oil cooler. This model delivers an EPA-rated 31/28/30 mpg and is associated with one recall and 69 total owner complaints, with air bags identified as the top complaint area. Within the 2011-2023 model history, these figures sit alongside a reported high of 55 complaints in 2017 and a low of one complaint in 2023.

Model year202520242022202120202019201820172016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacityEquipped with Oil CoolerOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy31/28/30 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI S55D23R Hybrid · 360 CCA battery, OE oil filter 9672335028. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI S55D23R Hybrid · 360 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnOFFOEM · verified
Tire size235/65R18 106VOEM · verified
Wheel / rim8 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9672335028 alt 9030179006
Engine air filter178010P090
Fuel filter2330031241 alt 2321731090
Spark plug9091901263
BatteryG951048122
Front wiper blades852220E081 alt 852120E081
Serpentine belt9091602729
Thermostat1632631050 alt 1603131040
Cabin air filter871390E040

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S6)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined31 / 28 / 30 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds Equipped with Oil Cooler of 0W-20 engine oil, SAE J1703 · Dot 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 30.0 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid CapacityP313
Brake FluidSAE J1703 · Dot 3
Engine CoolantToyota Super Long Life Coolant
Engine Oil0W-20

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)32.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel BoltsFlywheel to Crankshaft: 61.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)1000 Transaxle in Park rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)±50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug TypeFK20HBR8
Spark Plug GapNew: 0.0276-0.0315 in.; New: 0.0433 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Oil TypeND-11 or equivalent
Oil Capacity1.350 oz
Standard BCI Group NumberS55D23R Hybrid
Standard BCI Cranking Performance360 cca
Standard BCI Cranking Performance460 cca

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure MinimumStandard: 28.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure MaximumStandard: 121.0 psi
Residual Pressure14.0.
Engine Compression109-145 PSI. 15 Maximum variation PSI
Engine Compression109
Engine Oil Pressure6 psi minimum @ Idle psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM29 psi minimum @ 2,500 RPM

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 25.0 ft-lbs
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 114.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 111.0 ft-lbs
ABS Sensor Torque6.6
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.0394; Rear: 0.0394 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .984; Rear: 650
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .002; Rear: .006

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 miFloor Mat (inspect) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner) · Hybrid Battery Compartment Air Filter (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (road test)
Every 10,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Hybrid Inverter (inspect coolant level)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2021 Lexus RX450h is not listed in the year-by-year federal record, so there are no NHTSA annual complaint, recall, investigation, or TSB counts for that exact model year to compare directly. The closest recorded years are 2019, with 36 complaints, 1 recall, 1 investigation, and 119 TSBs, and 2023, with just 1 complaint, 0 recalls, 0 investigations, and 14 TSBs. Across the broader 2011–2019 arc, complaints fluctuated and peaked at 55 in 2017, recalls were rare (two in 2016 and one in 2019), investigations held steady at one per year, and TSBs trended downward from 278 in 2013 to 119 in 2019. For 2021 specifically, the provided complaint-area data shows Air Bags as the dominant category with 43 reports, followed by Seat Belts at 4, Tires at 2, and Unknown/Other at 2, plus 9 crash-related complaints and 0 fire complaints; the data does not specify a root cause. That places 2021 in an unmeasured gap between a still-active 2019 and a much quieter 2023, so it is unclear whether the 2021 model inherited the prior years’ issues or already reflected the later decline. Given the generation’s generally low recall and investigation profile, a 2021 RX450h can be a reasonable used buy, but only if the specific vehicle has a clean recall/repair history and its air bag system has been verified; otherwise, a nearby recorded year with full documentation may be easier to assess.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
112
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
69
Owner complaints
9 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 69 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags43
Seat Belts4
Tires2
Unknown Or Other2
Structure,Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance1
Visibility/Wiper1
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other1
Service Brakes1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 112 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
L-SB-0057-22 Rev22026-02-02Electrical SystemOBSOLETE NOTICE February 2, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0004-26.
L-SB-0004-262026-01-23Electrical SystemSome 2018 – 2025 model year Lexus vehicles equipped with the Enform™ 2.0 Navigation…
L-SB-0030-24 Rev22025-12-15StructureSome 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
23LD012025-12-05Structure23LD01 Expired on November 30, 2025 The involved RX350 vehicles equipped with the Tow…
23LD012025-12-05Structure23LD01 Expired on November 30, 2025 The involved RX350 vehicles equipped with the Tow…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific RX450h. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2021 RX450h take?

Equipped with Oil Cooler of 0W-20, per the factory manual.

Does the 2021 RX450h have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the RX450h get?

EPA figures are 31 city / 28 highway / 30 combined mpg.