LexusRX3502020Overview/lexus/rx350/2020/base/

2020 Lexus RX350

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 RX350.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

The 2020 Lexus RX350 is a luxury crossover SUV with an 8-speed automatic transmission, delivering EPA-estimated fuel economy of 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined, and it holds 5.8 quarts of 0W-20 oil for maintenance. The model carries a relatively modest complaint record with 51 total owner complaints filed and two recalls issued, positioning it within a reliability trajectory that has shown significant improvement from a peak of 225 complaints in 2007 down to a low of 26 in 2014 across the 2004–2019 model years. This places the 2020 model year in a historically favorable position within the RX lineup's complaint history, suggesting a refinement of common issues over its production run.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy20/27/23 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 9030179006. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tail / brake / turnAUTOOEM · verified
Tire size235/65R18 106VOEM · verified
Wheel / rim8 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9030179006 alt 9672335028
Engine air filter178010P051
Spark plug9091901263
Battery2880038080
Front wiper blades852120E081 alt 852220E081
Serpentine belt90916A2026
Thermostat1632631050 alt 1603131031
Cabin air filter871390E040

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 27 / 23 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.8 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, SAE J1703 · DOT3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.7
Brake FluidSAE J1703 · DOT3
Engine CoolantTOYOTA SLLC
Engine Coolant CapacityWith rear no. 2 seat
Engine Oil0W-20 · SAE 0W
Engine Oil Capacity5.8 qt
Fuel Tank Capacity19.2 gallons

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or StudsBolt A: 21.0 ft-lbs Bolt B: 12.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)Type A: 89.0 ft-lbs, Type B: 70.0 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts192.0 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)13.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)32.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)15.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts65.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug35.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub217 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDENSO
Spark Plug TypeFK20HBR8
Spark Plug Gap0.0276 to 0.0315 in

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure MinimumStandard: 196 to 833 kPa
Fuel Pump Pressure MaximumHigh pressure: 2400 to 19500 kPa
Residual Pressure98 kPa (1.0 kgf/cm2, 14 psi) or more psi
Engine Compression142-189 PSI. 15 maximum variation PSI.
Engine CompressionMinimum 1050 kPa
Engine Oil Pressure30

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 25.0; Rear: 25.0
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 114.0, Rear 111.0
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 7.0; Rear: 7.0
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.0394; Rear: 0.0394 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 0.984; Rear: 0.650
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: 0.00197; Rear: 0.00591

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Driveshaft Flange to Transmission — tightening sequence 1 stages
1134.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 54.0134 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 90°18 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
127.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°, Step 3: 90°27 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
145.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 90°45 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 miFloor Mat (inspect) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (road test) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 10,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft Flange Yoke (torque) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The provided federal record runs through 2019, a span in which RX350 complaints peaked at 225 in 2007, trended broadly downward through the early 2010s, and then rose again late in the generation from 42 complaints in 2018 to 64 in 2019, with 2019 also carrying the highest recall count in the dataset at four. For 2020 specifically, the record does not list a total complaints figure, but it identifies air bags as the dominant complaint area with 19 reports, followed by "Unknown or Other" (7), tires (4), and fuel system (4), alongside six crash-related complaints and zero fire complaints. That air-bag concentration is the clearest 2020-specific signal in the data and places the year at the trailing edge of a late-generation uptick rather than in a settled low-point. Because the data do not specify root causes, the air-bag volume should prompt a buyer to check for any open recalls or service campaigns rather than assume a systemic defect. Overall, 2020 is a conditionally acceptable buy if a clean history and resolved air-bag/recall status can be confirmed, but it is not as clearly quiet as the 2014 or 2018 model years.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
117
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
51
Owner complaints
6 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 51 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags19
Unknown Or Other7
Tires4
Fuel System, Gasoline4
Air Bags,Forward Collision Avoidance2
Electrical System2
Wheels1
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 117 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
L-SB-0057-22 Rev22026-02-02Electrical SystemOBSOLETE NOTICE February 2, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0004-26.
L-SB-0004-262026-01-23Electrical SystemSome 2018 – 2025 model year Lexus vehicles equipped with the Enform™ 2.0 Navigation…
L-SB-0030-24 Rev22025-12-15StructureSome 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
L-TT-0326-23 Rev22025-08-19Electrical SystemSome customers may experience operational difficulties with some telematics features…
L-SB-0043-23 Rev12025-06-13Electrical SystemThe air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific RX350. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2020 RX350 take?

5.8 qt of 0W-20 Toyota Genuine Motor Oil SAE 0W-20 or ILSAC GF-5 multigrade engine oil, per the factory manual.

Does the 2020 RX350 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the RX350 get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 27 highway / 23 combined mpg.