LexusRX450h2020Overview/lexus/rx450h/2020/base/

2020 Lexus RX450h

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 RX450h.

Transmission Automatic (AV-S6)

The 2020 Lexus RX450h pairs a 4.8-quart oil capacity using 0W-20 viscosity with an Automatic (AV-S6) transmission, achieving an EPA-estimated 31/28/30 mpg. With 46 total owner complaints, the top area being Air Bags, and a single recall, this model year sits within a complaint history spanning 2011 to 2023 where the highest was 55 in 2017 and the lowest just 1 in 2023, indicating a relatively moderate reliability standing for its generation.

Model year202520242022202120202019201820172016

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy31/28/30 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI S55D23R Hybrid · 360 CCA battery, 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.

Battery groupBCI S55D23R Hybrid · 360 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnOFFOEM · verified
Tire size235/65R18 106VOEM · verified
Wheel / rim8 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9030179006 alt 9672335028
Engine air filter178010P090
Fuel filter2330031241 alt 2321731090
Spark plug9091901263
BatteryG951048122
Front wiper blades852220E081 alt 852120E081
Serpentine belt9091602729
Thermostat1632631050 alt 1603131040
Cabin air filter871390E040

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S6)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined31 / 28 / 30 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.8 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, 75W-85 · GL-5 in the differential, SAE J1703 · DOT 3 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 Capacity1.9
Brake FluidSAE J1703 · DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-85 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.0 qt
Engine CoolantHOAT
Engine Oil0W-20
Engine Oil Capacity4.8 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 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)15.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)31.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)15.0 ft-lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts61.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts91.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub217.0

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)1000 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug TypeFK20HBR8
Spark Plug Gap0.0276 to 0.0315 in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Standard BCI Group NumberS55D23R Hybrid
Standard BCI Cranking Performance360 cca

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum196
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum1800
Residual Pressure98
Engine Compression109-145 PSI. 15 Maximum variation PSI
Engine Compression200
Engine Oil Pressure40
Engine Oil Pressure RPM200

Brakes

Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 114; Rear: 111
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 7.0; Rear: 7.0
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.0394; Rear: 0.0394 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: 0.984; Rear: 0.650
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: 0.00196; Rear: 0.00591

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
118.0 ft. lbs.18 ft. lbs
290°
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 1-827 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 3 stages
1Cap bolts45 ft. lbs
2Cap bolts90 degrees
338.0

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) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Hybrid Inverter (inspect coolant level)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (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 2020 Lexus RX450h cannot be directly assessed because the year-by-year federal record provided contains no data for 2020—it jumps from 2019 directly to 2023. The nearest neighbors show a stark contrast: 2019 logged 36 complaints and 1 recall against 14 TSBs, while 2023 recorded only 1 complaint and 0 recalls with 14 TSBs, suggesting a sharp decline in reported issues as the generation aged. Across the broader generation (2011–2019), complaints ranged from a low of 13 (2014) to a peak of 55 (2017), with 2 recalls occurring in 2016 and 1 in 2019, indicating sporadic but present safety actions mid-generation. For the target year specifically, airbag-related complaints dominate the top issue areas at 19 of 27 total complaints, with 7 crash-related complaints and zero fire complaints noted; the data does not specify a root cause for the airbag concerns. The overall trend across this generation shows that complaints generally trended downward after 2017, with 2023 suggesting the model aged into a low-complaint profile. Without 2020-specific federal data, it is impossible to determine whether the target year aligned with the 2017 spike or the improving trend. The takeaway: the 2020 RX450h likely benefits from the generation's overall refinement and the 2023 data point's very low complaint rate, but the airbag complaint concentration in the target year data warrants a pre-purchase inspection to confirm that system is fully resolved.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
110
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
46
Owner complaints
7 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 46 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags19
Unknown Or Other8
Tires4
Air Bags,Forward Collision Avoidance2
Electrical System2
Wheels1
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Power Train,Electrical System,Engine1

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 110 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 RX450h. 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 RX450h take?

4.8 qt of 0W-20 ILSAC multigrade engine oil, per the factory manual.

Does the 2020 RX450h have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the RX450h get?

EPA figures are 31 city / 28 highway / 30 combined mpg.