2020 Lexus ES Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
73/100
#5 most-complained of 16 ES years
The 2020 Lexus ES has 18 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 73, and ranks 5th worst out of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict. One airbag recall affects this year, tied to slow parts availability.
- Complaints
- 18
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 44
- 43 city / 44 hwy
Top 2020 Lexus ES problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags8 (44%)
- Other4 (22%)
- Brakes3 (17%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (11%)
- Electrical System1 (6%)
- Engine1 (6%)
- Fuel System1 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (6%)
What owners report
- Owners report the vehicle unexpectedly pulling hard to the right and making a sharp turn on its own while the driver had no control of the steering wheel.
- Some owners with the airbag recall said replacement parts were unavailable and repairs took longer than a reasonable amount of time.
- One owner reported that adaptive cruise control failed to slow the vehicle when traffic ahead slowed, and the brakes did not stop the car in time, resulting in a rear-end collision.
- One owner described a front timing chain cover leak on the engine after purchasing the vehicle as certified pre-owned.
2020 Lexus ES recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V865000Dec 20, 2023Airbags999,901 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
2020 Lexus ES fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 43 MPG
- Highway
- 44 MPG
- Combined
- 44 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,450
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2020 compared with other ES years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Lexus ES reliable?
- NHTSA lists 18 complaints and a complaint index of 73 for the 2020 ES, ranking it 5th worst of 16 model years, so it carries a Caution verdict relative to other ES years.
- Does the 2020 Lexus ES have any recalls?
- Yes, one recall (campaign 23V865000) affects the airbags on the 2020 ES, along with several other Toyota and Lexus models from 2020-2021.
- What is the most common problem on the 2020 Lexus ES?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 44% of complaints (8 of 18), largely tied to the recall and delays in getting replacement parts.
- How does the 2020 ES compare to other years?
- The 2020 ES's complaint index of 73 is lower than the 2019 ES (100, Avoid) but higher than 2016, 2018, 2022, 2023, and 2024, which all carry Good or Best verdicts.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Lexus ES?
- The 2020 ES gets 44 mpg combined (43 city / 44 highway) and costs about $1,450 a year in fuel, according to EPA data.