Last updated: 2026-10-10
2020 Lexus IS Reliability Report
The 2020 Lexus IS has an excellent reliability standing and no recalls. The one problem to check is early tire alignment and wear.
Recalls
0
Complaints
3
Complaint Rate
2.2per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$551
Annual Fuel Cost
$2,900–$3,300
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Excellent standing with zero recalls, a clear step up from the 2019 year's four recalls, and only early tire alignment and wear complaints.
Top Issues to Watch
- SUSPENSION (1)
- AIR BAGS (1)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2020 received a 2021 facelift update for the Third generation (XE30).
- Changes: Restyled headlamps and full-width taillamps; Updated dashboard and center console; Revised suspension for improved performance; Introduced new tech features including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
- Year 7 in this generation (2014–2023).
- 3rd generation IS (US).
What this means for buyers
Refresh years bring updates but can also introduce new issues. Check early recall data before buying.
2014: Third generation (XE30) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2020: This Model Year (Refresh)
2020 received a 2021 facelift update for the Third generation (XE30).
Should You Buy the 2020 Lexus IS?
Few used sedans from this model year have a cleaner record. Reliability standing is excellent, well above average among 2020 sedans and among the stronger of the nine scored IS years. It looks better than the 2019, which rates worse, and about the same as the 2021.
Owners filed only 3 complaints, and federal recall records list no recalls. The one problem pattern in the data is tire alignment and wear, which shows up early, between 5,000 and 20,000 miles. One complaint was crash-related and one involved injuries, though the data does not say why. The car earned 5 of 5 stars in federal crash testing.
On any car you look at, ask whether the alignment has been checked and look for uneven tire wear. Ask for service records. The 2019 had 4 recalls, so it is the weaker choice. The 2021 is a close alternative, but it has had less time to collect complaints.
Compared to the 2021 Lexus IS, which scored the same. See also the 2019 Lexus IS for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Strong reliability score
- +No recalls issued
- +Below-average complaint rate for Sedan
- +5-star NHTSA crash rating
- +Well-established generation
Cons
- −SUSPENSION (1)
- −Tire alignment and wear issues reported at 5,000–20,000 miles
Compare 2020 Lexus IS With
2020 Genesis G70
Reliability: 64/100
2020 Volvo S60
Reliability: 72/100
2020 BMW 5 Series
Reliability: 67/100
2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Reliability: 56/100
2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Reliability: 59/100
Common Problem Categories
Other
MODERATE- SUSPENSION (1)
- AIR BAGS (1)
Recall Overview
0
recalls on record
No recalls are on record for the 2020 Lexus IS — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
2.2
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 17.9
Safety Incidents
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
Buying a used 2020 Lexus IS? Check its history first
Suspension problems lead owner complaints about the 2020 Lexus IS, and 0 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2020 Lexus IS NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 9.5%
Safety Technologies
Lexus ISRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4.5Maintenance rating: 4.5 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$551
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
2020 Lexus IS Example Repair Prices
National average price ranges for common repairs. These are not model-year-specific failure predictions.
| Repair | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Brake Hose Replacement | $227 – $291 |
| Blower Motor Replacement | $442 – $478 |
| Drive Axle Assembly Leak Inspection | $76 – $112 |
| AC Compressor Clutch Replacement | $1,424 – $1,566 |
| Camshaft Position Sensor Replacement | $358 – $466 |
| Axle Shaft Seal Replacement | $431 – $618 |
| Liftgate Glass Support Strut Replacement | $188 – $217 |
| Heater Hose Replacement | $417 – $517 |
| Parking Brake Shoe Replacement | $477 – $619 |
| Air Conditioning Receiver Drier Assembly Replacement | $544 – $852 |
Estimates based on national average repair costs. Actual costs may vary by location and shop.
MPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
21–24 MPG
Running cost: $3,450–$3,850/yr
Fuel + repair
18–21 city / 24–30 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2020 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IS 300 2.0L 4-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 21 | 30 | 24 | $2,900 |
| IS 350 3.5L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 20 | 28 | 23 | $3,000 |
| IS 300 AWD 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 18 | 24 | 21 | $3,300 |
| IS 350 AWD 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 19 | 26 | 21 | $3,300 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2020 Lexus IS.
Check tire alignment and wear for uneven patterns
Inspect for vehicle vibration or pulling to one side during a test drive
Verify airbag deployment history and inspect for any recalls
Examine dashboard for scuffs or damage from light contact
2020 Lexus IS Common Problems by Component
3 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
SUSPENSION
1 complaintThe tires keep coming out of alignment which causes vehicle vibration, a pull to the left and premature wearing of the tires that then have to be replaced every 10-20K miles. Lexus is aware the IS series cars wear tires this way but state its bc this is a high performance vehicle. The vehicle vibration and driveline issues can get bad enough that it could pull a vehicle into a different lane potentially causing an accident. Had it into the Lexus dealership 6+ times for this and after replacement of tires (on 2nd visit) to the recommended tires for my vehicle, it still keeps happening. Then I take it in again and again, technician still can't find an issue and then they just rebalance and align the tires again. Then it's out of alignment again within a week to week and a half. Found out not long ago that the original owner also reported this EXACT same issue at 5K miles. Manufacturer has not inspected it to my knowledge but TONS of people in the clublexus.com forum mention this same issue continuously.
AIR BAGS
1 complaintSafety-relatedAirbags failed to deploy after the car went thru a brick wall at 35 miles per hour. Front impact crash. Car fax report reflects no prior accident. Vehicle was still under warranty & had the “auto nation 162 point check” June 2020 by Tampa Florida by Lexis of Tampa. NOT a single air bag deployed.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 complaintTHE DASHBOARD OF MY 2020 IS350 THAT I HAVE HAD FOR LESS THAN A MONTH IS ALREADY SCUFFED. I WAS SIMPLY TRYING TO SWIPE A PIECE OF HAIR OFF OF THE DASH AND IT LEFT A SCUFF ON THE DASHBOARD THAT WILL NOT COME OUT. I AM DEVASTATED AS I SPENT $50,000 ON THIS CAR AND HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN IMMACULATE CARE OF MY VEHICLES; HOWEVER, SIMPLY WIPING THE DASH HAS CAUSED IRREVERSIBLE SCUFFS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I DO SEE HUNDREDS OF OTHER LEXUS OWNERS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. IS THERE AN EXISTING RECALL FOR THIS THAT CAN BE EXTENDED INTO THE 2020S? I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE WITH ANY OTHER LUXURY VEHICLES THAT I'VE EVER OWNED FOR 5+ YEARS.
When Do 2020 Lexus IS Problems Start?
Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.
Best & Worst Lexus IS Years
Best Lexus IS Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreLexus IS Years to Avoid
No Lexus IS years are statistical outliers in our data.
Scores stay between 79 and 87 across 9 scored model years.
Lexus IS Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 81/100 | Excellent |
| 2019 | 79/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2021 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2026 | 87/100 | Excellent |
Lexus IS Reliability Compared to Other Years
2020 Lexus IS Common Questions
10 questions from 2020 Lexus IS owners.
Stalling and stopping
My vehicle only has 30,800,000 miles. If the fuel pump which is a recalled part is the manufacture responsible There is no way of knowing, it stalls when accelerating A few days
No power steering
i just bought a 2006 lexus rx400h and i have zero power steering, a p/s light and "check hybrid system" and "check vsc system" as well as p1421, p3298, c1310, c1336 codes, it has a brand new car battery More than a week
Braking malfunction
After about 100 miles all the dash lites came on,cel,anti skid parking brake ECT. It said pull over right away and have towed to dealer. Well I was not to far from home so drove it home. The brake pedal was very hard to push so I drove slow and tried not to use brake pedal. I could use it if I did it gently. Next morning , drove it to shop and they called me back and said they got a code c1247 which was brake pedal stroke sensor. Replaced that and had it calibrated. After driving around 70 miles it did the same thing. Stiff brake ,lites on dash, so took it back and it came back with the same code so they erased the code on the obd and it drives perfect until I hit the 70 mi and does it again. This has happened like 5times and even took it to different shops. All they do is reset code and they tell me it is good to go .Could it be in the brake booster? When I tell them the problem is still there they all have said " it's probably the abs module but they are just guessing. Booster? When the dash lites are off it rides perfect for 70 miles or so More than a month
Repair estimate
Is it worth it to repair a 2007 Lexus RX400h that needs the compressor, condenser and hybrid battery replaced? Car no longer turns on. The heat/AC would make the car run rough. More than a month
Seatbelt alarm
The seatbelt alarm for the rear middle seatbelt goes off even when no one is sitting in the back seats and no items are on the seats either. The only way I’ve been keeping this from triggering every time I drive is to keep the middle seatbelt latched. I’ve been told that it is a faulty sensor in the latch and it should be replaced. Is this the only way? More than a year
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2020 Lexus IS reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Lexus IS?
Does the 2020 Lexus IS have any recalls?
Is the 2020 Lexus IS better than the 2019?
Should I buy a 2020 or a 2021 Lexus IS?
Don’t buy a 2020 Lexus IS without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2020 Lexus IS
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2020 Lexus IS does best on recall impact (100/100) and worst on complaint severity (71/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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