LexusNX3002021Overview/lexus/nx300/2021/base/

2021 Lexus NX300

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 NX300.

Transmission Automatic (S6)

The 2021 Lexus NX300, built on Lexus’s compact‑luxury SUV platform, is powered by a gasoline engine that requires 5.2 qt of 0W‑20 oil and is paired with a six‑speed automatic (S6) transmission, delivering EPA‑rated fuel economy of 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and a combined 25 mpg. Its modest oil capacity and low‑viscosity oil choice reflect the model’s emphasis on efficient operation, while the transmission contributes to its balanced performance envelope. In terms of reliability, the 2021 model benefits from a clean record—no recalls and only 17 total owner complaints, the smallest figure in the recent three‑year span that saw a peak of 36 complaints in 2019 and a low of 21 in 2018, indicating a trend toward improving durability for researchers examining the NX’s history.

Model year2021202020192018

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy22/28/25 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 580 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 24F · 580 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnCLTSOEM · verified
Tire size225/65R17 102HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7, Optional: 7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9672335028 alt 9030179006
Engine air filter178010P051
Fuel filter7702478040 alt 2321736010
Spark plug9091901276
Battery2880038080
Front wiper blades8521278011 alt 8522278012
Serpentine belt9091602727
Thermostat9091603156 alt 9091603154
Cabin air filter8713950100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length182.3 in
Overall width72.8 in
Overall height65 in
Wheelbase104.7 in
Curb weight3869 lb
Track (front / rear)62.2 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined22 / 28 / 25 mpg
DrivetrainFront-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 5.2 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, SAE 75W · API · GL-5 in the differential, SAE J1703 · Dot 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity5.6 qt
Brake FluidSAE J1703 · Dot 3
Differential Gear OilSAE 75W · API · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity0.48-0.58 Qts.
Engine CoolantToyota Super Long Life Coolant
Engine Coolant Capacity8.3 qt
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
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)14.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)32.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)15.0 ft-lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts72.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts15.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts16.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Curb Idle Speed (No Load)800 @ Idle rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)±50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug TypeDILFR7K9G
Spark Plug Torque18.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing10 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPM@ Idle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Oil TypeND-12
Oil Capacity1.350 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance580 cca

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure MinimumStandard: 28.0-121.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure MaximumHigh Pressure: 493.0-1160.0 psi
Engine Compression131
Engine Oil Pressure4 psi minimum @ Idle psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM38 psi minimum @ 2,500 RPM

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 25.0 ft-lbs
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 79.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 77.0 ft-lbs
ABS Sensor Torque6.3
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.0394; Rear: 0.0394 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .984; Rear: .413
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .002; Rear: .006

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°30 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
163.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°, Step 3: 90°63 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 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) · Driveshaft Flange Yoke (torque) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect)
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)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Intercooler (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.

The generation's federal record shows complaints peaked at 36 in 2019 before declining to 23 in 2020, while TSBs fell from 134 to 115 over the same period. For the 2021 NX300, the top complaint areas are visibility (3), service brakes (2), tires (2), and engine/fuel (1), with one crash and one fire complaint recorded. Although total complaint and recall counts for 2021 are not provided, these low figures in the top categories suggest the model continued the improving trend seen after 2019. The prior year had no recalls, and the 2021 data does not indicate any new recall activity. Given this trajectory, the 2021 NX300 appears to be a reliable choice with minimal reported issues, making it a good year to buy within this generation.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
90
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
17
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 1 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 17 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Visibility3
Service Brakes2
Tires2
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting,Unknown Or Other1
Fuel System, Gasoline,Traction Control System,Engine1
Air Bags1

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 90 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…
L-TT-0326-23 Rev22025-08-19Electrical SystemSome customers may experience operational difficulties with some telematics features…
L-SB-0043-23 Rev12025-06-13Electrical SystemThe air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the…

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 NX300. 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 NX300 take?

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

Does the 2021 NX300 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the NX300 get?

EPA figures are 22 city / 28 highway / 25 combined mpg.