Most common 2020 Lexus RX problems
Share of the 47 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus RX complaints by model year
Best RX years: 2012, 2013, 2014. Years to avoid: 2023, 2024, 2021, 2022, 2025. Compare all years →
2020 Lexus RX recalls (1)
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.
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.
What 2020 Lexus RX owners say
Air bags all 21 →
The contact owns a 2020 Lexus RX. The contact stated while his wife and children were stopped in traffic, a vehicle had crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle, which then caused a five-car chain reaction crash. The contact stated that none of the air bags had deployed. The contact stated that the rear end of his vehicle was crushed as well as the front end. The contact stated that the police and emergency services had arrived on the scene. The contact stated that his wife and son were transported to the hospital. The contact stated that his wife had suffered neck whiplash, cuts, and abrasions to her face, arms, and knees. The contact stated that his son also had whiplash, and had suffered a broken jaw. The contact stated that his son had cuts on his face and inside his mouth that required stitches. The police had written a report. …
Just after topping a hill on an Interstate Highway, both lanes of traffic ahead of us came to a sudden and complete stop. I was in left lane and reacted quickly and applied full braking power and managed to stop a foot or 2 from the rear of the stopped car ahead of us. A few seconds later we were hit from the rear by two cars, one, a Black late model Camry, which almost stopped and a 2nd, a large, new German-maker grey SUV, which never applied brakes, destroyed the black Camry behind us and then destroyed our car, when it hit the left rear and after impact continued pushing the front of the car into the steel cables separating our lane of travel from the oncoming traffic in the other lane of the Interstate, until the steel cables stopped us. Neither the electronic collision alert system, the air bags or the emergency braking system activated. …
Engine & cooling
Contact states they were sitting in DRIVE, with their foot on the brake. When the contact took their foot off the brake, they began to let the vehicle coast to about 5 MPH. Then, the vehicle lunged forward unexpectedly to about 25 MPH, when it collided with a rock. The vehicle had previously spent over 10 days in different dealerships to diagnose issues related to the engine running rough, the car stalling out, and the vehicle driving erratically and lunging forward. The contact only began to have issues with the vehicle after the NHTSA Denso Fuel Pump Recall. A year after the contact took delivery of the vehicle, the remedy was done. The dealership stated they had completed the remedy properly, but because of parts shortages they only MODIFIED the fuel pump, but that TMNA said this is a valid remedy. …
Was driving into the garage (coasting) very slowly and as I was preparing to step on brake the car revved forward unsuspectedly - I have a video on my ring door bell and you can hear the engine then the squealing of the automatic braking system. I destroyed the adult 3 wheel bicycle that was stored along the wall but that helped the vehicle from crashing through the bricks - I remember shouting "what the hell is happening". After much research as I knew I did not depress the accelerator in error - I found that this has been a common occurrence with Toyota and Lexus products. I am a very careful driver and I have replayed the incident in my head over and over. I presently dont have the insurance and repair information Readily available
Wheels & tires
Tires installed by Lexus on Sept 27, 2022 are shredding and coming apart in chunks at 37,000 miles; tire is rated 60,000 miles. This is 56% of the projected life of the tire. Previous tires, same brand and size, only lasted 29,000 miles; 1/2 of the life of the tire. Current tires have good tread depth and life left if the chunks were not uniformly coming off of all tires. This condition leaves the tire vulnerable to road hazards and moderately sharp objects. Failure is clearly imminent. Dealer, upon inspection July 1, 2025, did suggest immediate replacement of the tires at normal retail prices. No warnings or alerts or other symptoms are present. There has been a slight loss of air pressure.
The rear wheel which is Lexus OEM busted and lost air when driving on the highway at highway speed on June 23, 2026. This caused an immediate hazard and a dangerous loss of vehicle control. Fortunately, I was able to safely pull over, but this failure put my life and the lives of others at serious risk. The mileage is about 45,396. The vehicle was purchased from Freeport Lexus as a pre-owned on January 20, 2026. The recording from the dashcam shows no debris on the road and the car didn't hit any object the road. I've written an email to the dealer and asked for an field inspection of the wheel.
2020 Lexus RX engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl hybrid | CVT | AWD | 31 / 28 / 30 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Lexus RX a good car?
Based on 47 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 RX rates avoid: 7.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the RX at the same age. It is one of the RX years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Lexus RX?
The air bags — 21 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (5) and wheels & tires (5).
How many recalls does the 2020 Lexus RX have?
There is 1 recall for the 2020 Lexus RX, the most recent from December 20, 2023 (occupant classification). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus RX?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2013 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2023, 2024, 2021, 2022 and 2025. See the full Lexus RX years comparison.
At what mileage do 2020 Lexus RX problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 46,000 miles; 100% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.