LexusIS3002020Overview/lexus/is300/2020/base/

2020 Lexus IS300

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 IS300.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

As a 2020 Lexus IS300 equipped with an Automatic (S8) transmission, the vehicle delivers an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway for a 24 mpg combined rating. It exhibits strong build integrity with zero recalls and only two total owner complaints directed at the Suspension, Power Train, and Wheels. This low complaint volume ties the historic low set by the 2017 model year and sits far below the 45 complaints of the 2002 model year, meaning the 2020 IS300 represents a peak in the nameplate's reliability history.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy21/30/24 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 9672335028. 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 / turnHOTOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225/45R17, P225/40R18, P255/35R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5, 8.0, 8.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9672335028 alt 9030179006
Engine air filter1780131170
Fuel filter7702453100 alt 2321731080
Spark plug9091901263 alt 9091901276
Battery2880038100
Front wiper blades8521253100 alt 8522253090
Serpentine belt90916A2026 alt 9091602733
Thermostat9091603156 alt 9091603154
Cabin air filter8713930100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined21 / 30 / 24 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume90 cu ft
Cargo volume11 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil CapacityLimited Slip Axles Require Gl-5 For Limited Slip Axles

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts192.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts72.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs

Ignition

Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°30 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 90°15 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) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
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) · Intercooler (drain & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Intercooler (drain & 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 year-by-year record traces a clear generational arc: an early 2001–2005 period with 16 to 45 complaints annually, and a 2016–2019 cycle with dramatically lower volumes that dropped as low as two, alongside recalls climbing from zero to two and TSBs tapering from 164 to 82. For 2020, the federal record does not provide total complaints, recalls, or investigations; what is documented are sparse top-line items consisting of one complaint each in Suspension/Power Train/Wheels and Air Bags, one crash complaint, and zero fire complaints, with the data specifying no root cause. Because the 2016–2019 trend shows this generation maintained low complaint rates but experienced increasing recall activity in its later years, the limited 2020 data points do not indicate any reversal toward higher complaint volume. With no recalls or investigations totals shown for 2020 and only isolated complaints on file, this model year appears to be a favorable one to buy within the generation, provided a buyer first verifies whether any 2019 recalls apply to the specific VIN.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
63
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
1 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 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Suspension,Power Train,Wheels1
Air Bags1

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 63 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
23LE022023-02-09Service Brakes, HydraulicDL: On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was…
LSB002121Rev12022-06-20Engine And Engine CoolingTSB: This Service Bulletin provides a procedure to properly perform the Techstream…
LSB002121Rev12022-06-20Engine And Engine CoolingTSB: This Service Bulletin provides a procedure to properly perform the Techstream…
Safety Recall 222022-04-13EquipmentLexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022
L-SB-0004-222022-02-24Air BagsTSB: Some 2005 ? 2022 model year Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may…

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 IS300. 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

Does the 2020 IS300 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the IS300 get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 30 highway / 24 combined mpg.