2020 Lexus ES Problems, Recalls & Reliability

32 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2020 Lexus ES, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 6/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Airbags leads the reports.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2020 Lexus ES has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

32Complaints
6/100Trouble index
1Recalls

Better year

Where 2020 sits among all ES years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Airbags 10 complaints (31%)
Other 5 complaints (16%)
Driver assistance 5 complaints (16%)
Brakes & stability 4 complaints (13%)
Electrical 3 complaints (9%)
Speed control 1 complaints (3%)

Recalls (1)

AIR BAGS 23V865000 2023

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…

Fix: 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…

Technical service bulletins

133 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2020 Lexus ES. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2020 ES TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2020peak 9 in 20262026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2020 Lexus ES reliable?

The 2020 Lexus ES drew 32 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 6/100, scored against the model's worst year (2007).

What are the most common 2020 Lexus ES problems?

The top reported problems for the 2020 Lexus ES are airbags (10 complaints), other (5), and driver assistance (5).

Does the 2020 Lexus ES have recalls?

1 recall campaign applies to the 2020 Lexus ES. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2019 ES All ES years 2021 ES →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.