YearToAvoid

2020 Lexus ES Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2020 Lexus ES has 18 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall, with a complaint index of 70, ranking 7th worst among 21 model years. It carries a Caution verdict, driven mainly by airbag recall issues affecting 44% of complaints.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
70/100
#7 of 21 ES years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
18
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
3
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
4
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2022
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
44
43 city / 44 hwy
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0

Top 2020 Lexus ES problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags8 (44%)
  2. Other4 (22%)
  3. Brakes3 (17%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (11%)
  5. Electrical System1 (6%)
  6. Engine1 (6%)
  7. Fuel System1 (6%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (6%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Some drivers report the vehicle pulling hard to one side on its own while the collision avoidance system was active, with the steering feeling unresponsive, in one case leading to a crash near 25,379 miles.
  • Multiple owners report being notified of the passenger airbag recall (campaign 23V865000) but say replacement parts were unavailable for an extended period.
  • One owner describes the adaptive cruise control failing to slow the vehicle when traffic ahead slowed, followed by the brakes not stopping the car in time, resulting in a rear-end collision.
  • One owner reports a timing chain cover leak on the engine after tens of thousands of miles, discovered after purchasing the car certified pre-owned.
2020 Lexus ES complaints: complaints filed per month2Sep 2024Nov 2024Jan 2025Mar 2025Sep 2025Mar 2026Aug 2026
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2024 to Aug 2026; peak Sep 2024 (2).

2020 Lexus ES recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. 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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Best205040
2019Avoid9534144
2020Caution7018144
2021Caution6528136
2022Best159036

All Lexus ES years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Lexus ES reliable?
NHTSA lists 18 complaints and 1 recall for the 2020 ES, giving it a complaint index of 70 and a Caution verdict relative to other ES model years.
What is the main problem with the 2020 Lexus ES?
Airbags are the top problem area, making up 44% of complaints, largely tied to a passenger airbag recall (campaign 23V865000).
Does the 2020 Lexus ES have a recall?
Yes, one recall covers the passenger airbag sensor; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2020 ES compare to other ES years?
The 2020 ES ranks 7th worst out of 21 model years by complaint index, better than 2019 (Avoid, index 95) but worse than years like 2018 and 2022 (Best, indexes 20 and 15).
Were there any crashes reported for the 2020 Lexus ES?
NHTSA lists 3 crashes and 4 injuries among the 18 complaints for the 2020 ES, with no fires or deaths reported.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.