UsedScore

2020 Toyota Highlander: Solid

Owners filed 139 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Toyota Highlander in its first five years on the road, about 64 for every 100,000 sold: 0.8× the rate of a typical Highlander year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the brakes (21% of complaints, median 21,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.8×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Highlander year
Rank
3rd of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
139
first five years; 64 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
5
campaigns
4th generation, 2020–2026 (first year of the generation; redesign years often run worse) · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2020 Toyota Highlander XLE AWD

Photo: 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE AWD · Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Brakes21% · 29 complaints · median 21,000 miles
  2. Powertrain12% · 17 complaints · median 73,000 miles
  3. Air bags9% · 12 complaints
  4. Fuel and propulsion12% · 17 complaints · median 5,000 miles
  5. Engine7% · 10 complaints · median 6,000 miles
  6. Body and structure14% · 19 complaints · median 12,000 miles
  7. Steering2% · 3 complaints
  8. Driver assistance5% · 7 complaints
  9. Electrical6% · 9 complaints · median 5,000 miles
  10. Speed control4% · 5 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Air bags

Many 2020 Highlander owners report a persistent SRS airbag warning light and seat belt chime linked to a recall on the passenger occupant sensor. Most say dealers had no repair parts available, leaving the warning unresolved for extended periods.

Warning signs:
Owners report the SRS airbag warning light illuminating and the seat belt chime sounding continuously, sometimes even when the passenger seat is empty.
What shops did:
Dealers frequently told owners that recall repair parts were not yet available; one owner was quoted a fee for a fix, and another reported symptoms returning after the recall was marked complete.

“The SRS airbag system malfunction went off and the seat keeps beeping for a long time before finally stopping”

“The letter states that the airbag system may not deploy correctly and that the remedy is not yet available.”

Brakes

Many owners of this hybrid SUV describe brakes that briefly seem to let go or hesitate before catching again, sometimes with a forward jerk, particularly at low speeds or downhill. Dealers often couldn't reproduce the issue, though some referenced a bulletin about the regenerative-to-hydraulic brake transition.

Warning signs:
Many report a brief pedal drop or feeling that braking has stopped, especially at low speeds, downhill, or when transitioning from regenerative to hydraulic braking, sometimes with no warning light.
What shops did:
Some dealers reprogrammed the brake control computer per a service bulletin with partial improvement, while many others could not duplicate or diagnose the issue and made no repair.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 40,000 miles, among 8 complaints that give it

“A very noticeable moment between regenerative braking disengaging and traditional brakes engaging.”

“The pedal feels like it drops and the car ceases to brake. You press down hard quickly, and it takes a second for the car to then brake again.”

Powertrain

Many owners of the 2020 Highlander report their transmission developing a whining noise during acceleration that dealers diagnose as internal failure requiring full replacement, often costing thousands of dollars. Owners describe long wait times for backordered parts and frustration when Toyota declines to cover repairs after the powertrain warranty expires.

Warning signs:
Owners report a whining, whirring, or humming noise from the transmission during acceleration, sometimes with hesitation or delayed acceleration, usually with no warning lights.
What shops did:
Dealers typically diagnosed internal transmission failure and recommended full transmission replacement, though many owners report parts on backorder and warranty coverage often denied once out of the 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Mileage:
most between 65,000 and 100,000 miles, among 15 complaints that give it

“whining sound when the vehicle is in forward motion; any speed. No sound noticed when in reverse.”

“There is a whining noise coming from the power train/transmission. It only happens when the accelerator pedal is pressed.”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (5)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 23V865000December 2023999,901 vehicles

    Air bags: sensor: occupant classification

    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 Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.

    Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 23V720000October 2023750,795 vehicles

    Structure: body: bumpers

    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.

    Risk: A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will repair or replace the upper and lower front bumper covers as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 22V239000April 2022458,110 vehicles

    Electronic stability control (ESC): control module: software

    Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."

    Risk: Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will update the Skid Control ECU software, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 20V633000October 20203,121 vehicles

    Seats · Air bags

    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.

    Risk: Improper deployment of the seat-mounted side air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats and replace the seat trim covers as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 20V162000March 202038,810 vehicles

    Engine · Fuel system, gasoline: delivery

    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 using the stop and restart feature.

    Risk: Improper fuel supply programming can result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECU, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Toyota sent NHTSA 236 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2020 Highlander. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 24TE04 · August 2026 · Warranty extensionAlthough the flow shut-off valve is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience.
  • 22TE09 · May 2026 · Warranty extensionAlthough the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about…
  • TSB010421 · February 2024TSB: Some 2018 ?
  • TSB005923 · August 2023TSB: Some drivers of 2020 ?
  • TSB003220 · August 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ?
  • T-SB-0094-21 Rev · November 2022TSB: Some 2005 ?
  • TSB004321Rev2 · July 2022TSB: Some 2020 model year vehicles equipped with Audio Plus (version 1021) or Premium Audio (version 1021) or earlier may exhibit one or more of the following conditions: ?Barge in function defaulted…
  • TTT063620 · March 2022TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions

All 2020 Highlander bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2020 Toyota Highlander reliable?
Owners filed 139 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Toyota Highlander in its first five years on the road, about 64 for every 100,000 sold: 0.8× the rate of a typical Highlander year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare Highlander years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2020 Highlander problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the brakes (21%), the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (12%) and the air bags (9%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2020 Toyota Highlander been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2020 Toyota Highlander, the most recent in December 2023 (air bags). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Toyota. The 2020 Toyota Highlander on NHTSA.gov · How we rate