LexusIS3502021Overview/lexus/is350/2021/base/

2021 Lexus IS350

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 IS350.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

Running through an eight-speed automatic (S8), the 2021 Lexus IS350 carries EPA fuel-economy ratings of 20/28/23 mpg and calls for 5.7 quarts of 0W-20 engine oil at each service interval. On the reliability front, the model year has drawn just 5 owner complaints, with wheels cited as the top concern area and zero recalls on record. That places the 2021 IS350 well below the 2011–2019 range's peak of 23 complaints in 2011 and close to the 2017 low of 1, indicating the line had largely settled into a quieter reliability profile by this point in the run.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque103 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy20/28/23 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24 · 585 CCA battery, OE oil filter 9030179006. 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 24 · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnAUTOOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235/40R19, Rear: P265/35R19OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8.5, Rear: 9.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9030179006 alt 9672335028
Engine air filter1780131170
Fuel filter7702453100 alt 2321731080
Spark plug9091901263
Battery2880038100
Front wiper blades8522253090 alt 8521253100
Serpentine belt90916A2026
Thermostat1632631050 alt 1603131071
Cabin air filter8713930100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 28 / 23 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume90 cu ft
Cargo volume11 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.7 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, GL-5 · SAE 90 · SAE 80W · 80W-90 · 75W-85 in the differential, SAE J1703 · Dot 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 103 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Brake FluidSAE J1703 · Dot 3
Differential Gear OilGL-5 · SAE 90 · SAE 80W · 80W-90 · 75W-85
Engine CoolantToyota Super Long Life Coolant
Engine Coolant Capacity9.9 qt
Engine Oil0W-20
Engine Oil Capacity5.7 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts221.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)32.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)15.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts15.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill PlugFront: 29.0; Rear: 36.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain PlugFront: 29.0; Rear: 36.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts103 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub217 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub214 ft-lbs

Ignition

Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)Checking Speed: 650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)Checking Speed: 50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug TypeFK20HBR8
Spark Plug Gap.027-.031 in
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity19.1-21.1 oz. lbs
Oil TypeND-12
Oil Capacity2.370 -2.880 oz
RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity19.1-21.1 oz. lbs
Oil TypeND-12
Oil Capacity2.370 -2.880 oz

Service checks

RPM28.0-121.0 @ Idle rpm
Residual Pressure14.0 psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueRear: 25.0 ft-lbs
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 100.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 92.0 ft-lbs
ABS Sensor Torque6.6
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.0394; Rear: 0.0394 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.063; Rear: .650
Maximum Rotor Runout.002"

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 1-827 ft. lbs

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) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (road test) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
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) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (leak inspection)
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 federal record shows a steady decline in both complaints and recalls from 2011 through 2019, with complaints falling from 23 in 2011 to just 1 in 2019 and recalls dropping from 7 to 2 over the same span. Investigations remained constant at one per year until 2019, when they ceased, while technical service bulletins (TSBs) also trended downward each year. The 2021 model year is not represented in the supplied year‑by‑year data, so no specific complaint, recall, investigation, or TSB figures are available for that year. Because the data set does not include 2021, we cannot definitively place it within the observed improving trend or confirm whether the downward trajectory continued. Consequently, based solely on the information provided, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that the 2021 Lexus IS350 is a particularly good or bad year to buy; additional sources would be needed for a reliable assessment.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
71
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
5
Owner complaints
1 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 5 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Wheels1
Forward Collision Avoidance1
Wheels,Tires1
Exterior Lighting1
Structure1

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 71 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
LSB0007232023-02-14EquipmentTSB: Some 2020 ? 2022 model year vehicles equipped with 17CY+ Panasonic Audio (versions…
LSB0043192023-02-14EquipmentOBSOLETE NOTICE February 14, 2023: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0007-23
L-SB-0057-222022-12-07EquipmentTSB: Some 2018 ? 2022 model year Lexus vehicles equipped with the Enform? 2.0 Navigation…
L-TT-0321-222022-11-10SuspensionTT: Confirm there is an abnormal noise coming from the front of the vehicle, some…
L-SB-0031-222022-07-21VisibilityTSB: Some 2019 ? 2022 model year ES 300h and ES 350 vehicles and 2021 ? 2022 model year…

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 IS350. 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 IS350 take?

5.7 qt of 0W-20, per the factory manual.

Does the 2021 IS350 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the IS350 get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined mpg.