2020 Toyota Highlander problems and recalls

Owners filed 183 complaints on the 2020 Toyota Highlander in the last three full years, out of 320 on record. The most cited component is the Power Train.

320
Complaints
4
Recalls
16
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
20
Injuries
67.8
Severity index

Severity index 67.8 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 67.8p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 33 of 104 by severity index among 2020 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 68% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2020 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Power TrainPower Train: 126 complaints (39.4%)126 39%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 45 complaints (14.1%)45 14%Service BrakesService Brakes: 41 complaints (12.8%)41 13%Air BagsAir Bags: 32 complaints (10.0%)32 10%StructureStructure: 29 complaints (9.1%)29 9%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 19 complaints (5.9%)19 6%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 18 complaints (5.6%)18 6%EngineEngine: 17 complaints (5.3%)17 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
POWER TRAIN12639.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4514.1%
SERVICE BRAKES4112.8%
AIR BAGS3210.0%
STRUCTURE299.1%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM195.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM185.6%
ENGINE175.3%

Complaints filed per year

0501002020: 182021: 272022: 222023: 242024: 592025: 1002026: 70 (partial year)20212223242510026
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
202018
202127
202222
202324
202459
2025100
2026 (year to date)70
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 2.7x those in 2020 to 2022 (183 against 67).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
20V63300014/10/2020AIR BAGSToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020 Highlander and Highlander hybrid vehicles. Incorrect seat trim covers on one or both of the front seats can prevent the seat-mounted side air bag from deploying properly.
20V16200019/03/2020FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERYToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020 Highlander vehicles equipped with a 3.5 L, V6 (2GR-FKS) gasoline engine. Due to an Engine Control Unit (ECU) programming error, fuel may not be correctly supplied to the engine while using the stop and r
23V72000026/10/2023STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERSToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Highlander & Highlander Hybrid vehicles. During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching.
23V86500020/12/2023AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONToyota 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 ve

Other Toyota Highlander model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-10-21. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.