LexusLS5002021Overview/lexus/ls500/2021/base/

2021 Lexus LS500

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 LS500.

Transmission Automatic (S10)

The 2021 Lexus LS500 pairs a 10-speed automatic transmission with an EPA-estimated 22 mpg combined, drawing on 6.7 quarts of 0W-20 oil for lubrication. This model year records just a single owner complaint, classified as “Unknown Or Other,” and no recalls. That places the 2021 LS500 among the most trouble-free iterations in the nameplate’s history, signaling a dependable ownership experience.

Model year20252024202320222021202020192018

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque103 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy18/29/22 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48, 49 · 605, 795 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZN3. 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 48, 49 · 605, 795 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnAUTOOEM · verified
Tire size245/50R19 101VOEM · verified
Wheel / rim8, Optional: 8, 8.5, 8.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZN3 alt 9672335028
Engine air filter1780138060
Fuel filter7702411020 alt 2321731080
Spark plug9091901295
Battery2880038190 alt 2880031470
Front wiper blades8521250140 alt 8522250100
Serpentine belt9091602738
Thermostat1634370020 alt 1634270010
Cabin air filter8713950110

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S10)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 29 / 22 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume99 cu ft
Cargo volume13 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 6.7 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, 75W-85 · GL-5 in the differential, SAE J1703 · Dot 3 · SAE J1704 · Dot 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 103 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 30.0 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity9.5 qt
Brake FluidSAE J1703 · Dot 3 · SAE J1704 · Dot 4
Differential Gear Oil75W-85 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil75W-85 · GL-5
Engine CoolantToyota Super Long Life Coolant
Engine Coolant Capacity11.2 qt
Engine CoolantToyota Super Long Life Coolant

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)5.5 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper BoltsDamper: 18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)14.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)Air Fuel Ratio Sensor: 32.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill PlugFront: 29.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 36.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain PlugFront: 29.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 36.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts103 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)±100 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug TypeEC22HPR-D7
Spark Plug GapNew: 0.0236-0.0276 in.; New: 0.0354 in
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing10 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity1.368-1.50 lbs
Oil TypeND-12
Standard BCI Group Number48, 49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance605, 795 cca
Optional BCI Group Number94R
Optional BCI Cranking Performance690 cca

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure MinimumHigh Pressure: 261 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure MaximumHigh Pressure: 406 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)261.0
RPM28.0-121.0 @ Idle rpm
Residual Pressure14.0.
Engine Compression142
Engine Oil Pressure4 psi minimum @ Idle psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM26 psi minimum @ 2,500 RPM

Brakes

Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 100.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 111.0 ft-lbs
ABS Sensor Torque6.5
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.0394; Rear: 0.0394 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 6 Piston; Rear: 4 Piston
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: 6 Piston; Rear: .0016
Maximum Drum Diameter7.520

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°22 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 40,000 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 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin 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 40,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Intercooler (drain & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & 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.

Owner complaints about the 2021 Lexus LS500 dominate in one area — the unknown or other, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the unknown or other pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
60
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Unknown Or Other1

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 60 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…
LSB0013222022-06-15Service BrakesTSB: Some 2018 ? 2021 model year LS 500 and LS 500h vehicles may exhibit a knock/clunk…
LSB0013222022-06-15Service Brakes, HydraulicTSB: Some 2018 ? 2021 model year LS 500 and LS 500h vehicles may exhibit a knock/clunk…

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 LS500. 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 LS500 take?

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

Does the 2021 LS500 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the LS500 get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 29 highway / 22 combined mpg.