YearToAvoid

2020 Lexus ES350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

62/100

#6 most-complained of 14 ES350 years

The 2020 Lexus ES350 has a complaint index of 62, ranking 6th worst among 14 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 5 complaints, 3 crashes, 4 injuries, and 1 recall, with airbags as the top problem area.

Complaints
5
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
25.5
22 city / 31.5 hwy

Top 2020 Lexus ES350 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags2 (40%)
  2. Electrical System2 (40%)
  3. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (40%)
  4. Brakes1 (20%)
  5. Engine1 (20%)
  6. Other1 (20%)
  7. Seat Belts1 (20%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy during a rear and side impact crash on the freeway, according to one owner.
  • Radar-based cruise control reportedly stopped speeding up, slowing down, or stopping as set, right before a crash occurred.
  • The DCM (display control module) stopped working and remained broken even after a dealership update and reset attempt.
  • Owners describe the automatic emergency braking system failing to activate, including while backing up, despite dealership inspection finding no fault.
2020 Lexus ES350 complaints: complaints filed per month3Nov 2020Oct 2021Apr 2022Sep 2022Oct 2022
10 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2020 to Oct 2022; peak Apr 2022 (3).

2020 Lexus ES350 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V682000Nov 4, 2020Fuel System1,525,742 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.

2020 Lexus ES350 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
31.5 MPG
Combined
25.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,550
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 ES350 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Good315224
2019Best155225.5
2020Caution625125.5
2021Best235025.5
2022No verdict82025.5

All Lexus ES350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Lexus ES350 reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2020 ES350 a complaint index of 62, placing it 6th worst out of 14 model years and earning a Caution verdict relative to other ES350 years.
What is the top problem area for the 2020 Lexus ES350?
Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 40% of complaints, with 2 crashes and 4 injuries reported among the 5 total complaints for the year.
Does the 2020 Lexus ES350 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2020 ES350, campaign 20V682000, covering the fuel system and involving replacement of the fuel pump assembly; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2020 ES350 compare to other Lexus ES350 years?
The 2020 model's complaint index of 62 is higher than 2018 (31), 2019 (15), and 2021 (23), but lower than 2010 (100) and 2011 (92), which rank as the worst years.

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.