LexusGX4602021Overview/lexus/gx460/2021/base/

2021 Lexus GX460

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 GX460.

Transmission Automatic (S6)

Defined by its six-speed automatic transmission and a robust 8.2-quart oil capacity requiring 0W-20 or 5W-20 viscosity, the 2021 Lexus GX460 delivers EPA fuel economy of 15 city, 19 highway, and 16 combined mpg. This mechanical specification anchors a vehicle that has proven exceptionally sound, logging just two owner complaints focused on the seats and zero recalls. When placed in the context of the model's complaint history from 2010 to 2019—which fluctuated from a low of seven complaints in 2013 to a high of 38 in 2010—the 2021 model year stands as a high-water mark for dependability, offering researchers a notably trouble-free specimen in the vehicle's lineage.

Model year202320222021202020192018201720162015

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity8.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20 / 5W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/19/16 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 · 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 24F · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP265/60R18 109HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9030179006 alt 04152YZZA3
Engine air filter1780138051
Spark plug9091901191
Battery2880054020
Front wiper blades8521260210 alt 8522260260
Serpentine belt90916A2033
Thermostat1632670020 alt 160310S010
Cabin air filter8713950100 alt 8713907020

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 19 / 16 mpg
Drivetrain4-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 8.2 qt of 0W-20 / 5W-20 engine oil, SAE 75W · API · GL-5 in the differential, 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 Capacity5.7 qt
Brake FluidSAE J1703 · Dot 3
Differential Gear OilSAE 75W · API · GL-5
Engine CoolantToyota Super Long Life Coolant
Engine Oil0W-20 · 5W-20
Engine Oil Capacity8.2 qt
Power Steering FluidDexron II, Dexron III

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
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)14.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)30.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)15.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts15.0 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: 48.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 36.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts65.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug27.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug27.0 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub173 ft-lbs

Ignition

Curb Idle Speed (No Load)665 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)115 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)Checking Speed: 665 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)Checking Speed: 115 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug TypeSK20HR11
Spark Plug Gap.039-.043 in
Spark Plug Torque15 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Oil TypeND-12
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

RPM46.5-47.4 @ Idle rpm
Residual Pressure21.0

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueRear: 65.0
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 136.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 74.0 ft-lbs
ABS Sensor Torque6.6
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.0394; Rear: 0.0394 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.141; Rear: .630
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .002; Rear: .0079

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
127.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°, Step 3: 90°, Step 4: Bolts 11 & 12: 15.027 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) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (road test) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Active Suspension System (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft (inspect)
At 30,000 miActive Suspension System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · 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)

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 provided federal record traces a steady downward arc from 2010 to 2019: complaints fell from 38 to 8, recalls from 5 to 1, TSBs from 233 to 98, and investigations dropped to zero after 2017. Although the year-by-year table does not include 2021, the target-year data shows only two complaint categories—Seats and Lane Departure—with one report each, alongside zero crash and zero fire complaints, indicating a minimal issue footprint consistent with the late-generation trend. The data does not specify total 2021 complaint volume, recall counts, or root causes, so conclusions must remain bounded to these recorded figures. Given the generation-wide decline in reported issues and the clean 2021-specific safety-complaint profile, this is a strong year to buy used.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
70
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Seats1
Lane Departure1

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 70 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
L-TT-0348-25 Rev12026-01-30Service BrakesCustomers state Parking Brake efficiency concerns. The conditions can include the…
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-TT-0348-252025-08-15Service BrakesCustomers state Parking Brake efficiency concerns. The conditions can include the…
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 GX460. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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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 GX460 take?

8.2 qt of 0W-20 or 5W-20, per the factory manual.

Does the 2021 GX460 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the GX460 get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 19 highway / 16 combined mpg.