2020 Toyota Highlander Problems, Recalls & Reliability
363 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2020 Toyota Highlander, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 62/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 75,500 miles.
Below average
Where 2020 sits among all Highlander years
What owners report
“Transmission began whining and hesitating around 62K miles. Transmission is the 8AT.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Highlander
“While driving on the highway, our sunroof spontaneously exploded. We heard what sounded like a gunshot and found a giant hole in our sunroof glass.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Highlander
“On more than 50 occasions while coming to a stop or slowing down I have experienced a surge forward while applying the brakes. It has happened at stop signs, stop lights, going downhill. I cannot duplicate on demand. Several times it has surged me past a stop sign/stop light while I still had my…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Highlander
“The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Highlander
“I know there is a recall for my 2020 Highlander. My VIN isn't listed. The front bumper is coming off and can't be pushed back in.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Highlander
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 66 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 17,800 miles. Half of those reports fall between 5,000 and 67,080 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (4)
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…
Fix: 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…
Toyota 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.
Fix: Dealers will repair or replace the upper and lower front bumper covers as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 22, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at…
Toyota 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.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats and replace the seat trim covers as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota…
Toyota 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…
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECU, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this…
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2020 Toyota Highlander reliable?
The 2020 Toyota Highlander drew 363 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 62/100, scored against the model's worst year (2008).
What are the most common 2020 Toyota Highlander problems?
The top reported problems for the 2020 Toyota Highlander are transmission & drivetrain (121 complaints), other (44), and brakes & stability (36).
At what mileage do 2020 Toyota Highlander problems show up?
Owners most often report 2020 Toyota Highlander problems around 17,800 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 5,000 and 67,080 miles.
Does the 2020 Toyota Highlander have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2020 Toyota Highlander. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.