YearToAvoid

2020 Lexus IS Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#10 most-complained of 16 IS years

The 2020 Lexus IS has 6 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 40 out of 100 — #10 highest of 16 IS model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is engine (2 complaints, 33% of the total).

Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
22
19.5 city / 27 hwy

Top 2020 Lexus IS problems

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

  1. Engine2 (33%)
  2. Fuel System2 (33%)
  3. Other2 (33%)
  4. Steering1 (17%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (17%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain1 (17%)
2020 Lexus IS complaints: complaints filed per month4Nov 2024Jan 2026Apr 2026Sep 2026
9 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2024 to Sep 2026; peak Apr 2026 (4).

2020 Lexus IS recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2020 Lexus IS fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19.5 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,625
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
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 IS years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018No verdict133022.5
2019No verdict72022
2020Good406022
2021No verdict332022.5
2022No verdict274122

All Lexus IS years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Lexus IS a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Lexus IS ranks #10 of 16 among IS model years (Complaint Index 40/100, verdict: Good). It has 6 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Lexus IS?
The most reported problem areas are engine (2 complaints), fuel system (2 complaints), and steering (1 complaints).
Does the 2020 Lexus IS have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2020 Lexus IS in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Lexus IS?
EPA rates the 2020 Lexus IS at 22 MPG combined (19.5 city / 27 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,625. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.