CSR

Toyota · NHTSA safety record

2020 Toyota Highlander

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

305

Complaints

14

Crashes

0

Fires

15

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2020 Toyota Highlander have filed 305 safety complaints with NHTSA between March 2020 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 120 of them (39%). The typical failure was reported at 20,000 miles, the median across the 57 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints rose by half year on year: 101 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 66 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

23V865000 · December 20, 2023

The defect
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.
The risk
An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The remedy
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 mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 999,901 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

23V720000 · October 26, 2023

The defect
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.
The risk
A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
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 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB12/23TA12.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 750,795 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS

20V633000 · October 14, 2020

The defect
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.
The risk
Improper deployment of the seat-mounted side air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The remedy
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 customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB14 / 20TA14.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 3,121 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

20V162000 · March 19, 2020

The defect
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.
The risk
Improper fuel supply programming can result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
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 recall is 20TA06.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 38,810 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 305.

POWER TRAIN 120 39%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 41 13%
SERVICE BRAKES 36 12%
AIR BAGS 32 10%
STRUCTURE 29 10%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 19 6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17 6%
ENGINE 16 5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10 3%
SEAT BELTS 6 2%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 5 2%
LANE DEPARTURE 5 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 100.

2020 2025 2026
2020 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ENGINE

2 injured · crash · towed

In my 2020 Highlander I approached a stop sign at a "T" intersection behind 4 other cars. After stopping and looking to see road was clear of oncoming traffic, I pulled out and started my left turn. As I was turning into my lane the car engine turned OFF and the steering wheel was LOCKED in the left position. There was no power for the brakes, which left me jamming on the brake pedal as hard as I could only slowing the car slightly. The steering wheel was LOCKED LEFT and I thought I was going to break it trying to force it back. With no ability to move the steering wheel or brake, I braced myself as the Highlander continued turning in the left direction into the other lane. The result was a

NHTSA complaint 11417587, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed

While making a legal left turn on a green arrow, we were struck on the passenger side of our vehicle by a vehicle that did not stop at the red light.

NHTSA complaint 11432992. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed

Air bags didn’t deploy in severe accident. Vehicle is available for inspection. Air bags not deploying in accident could have led to injuries. No service or dealerships has seen the vehicle. Police didn’t inspect the vehicle. Insurance company is going to look at the vehicle on February 13, 2023. No indication of any service lights for air bags on vehicle’s dash.

NHTSA complaint 11505912. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

1 injured · crash · towed · 500 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND IN THE PARK POSITION IN ORDER FOR THEIR MOTHER TO UNLOAD THE TRUNK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THEIR MOTHER. ONCE THE INCLINE OF THE STREET WAS MORE OF A PLATO THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP. THEY WERE ABLE TO CATCH UP TO THE VEHICLE AND RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THEIR HOME THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEIR MOTHER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER FACE, RIGHT ARM, RIGHT HAND, LEFT RIB AREA, LEFT LEG, AND FOOT AREAS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER (HIGHLAND TOYOTA LOCATED AT 5500 45TH AVENUE DR, MOLINE, IL 61265;

NHTSA complaint 11375094, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
Coming to a stop or slowing down the vehicle has a spot where it feels like the brakes fail then come back on. Especially if going down a grade. This happens around 15 to 20 mph. Started off a slight moment when you are sure the brakes quit working for just a second. As the vehicle gets older it has brown to be more noticeable.

NHTSA complaint 11757477. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I am having fuel pump issues and my VIN was excluded from the recall from Toyota for similar issues. Toyota’s low-pressure fuel pump recall (originally announced Jan 2020, expanded multiple times through Jan 2025) covers vehicles across several model years, where a defective impeller made from inadequate resin material could swell and cause fuel starvation and sudden stalling. Highlander is mentioned as included for selected model years in some recall summaries

NHTSA complaint 11755654. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
We have a 2020 Toyota Highlander with 89K miles that we have owned since it was new. I was informed today to not drive it any long distances from the dealer due to an impending failure of the transmission, creating a large safety issue for me and my family. I understand there are related recalls of the UA80 transmission but none for this particular model; there are countless internet reports of failure. I implore the NHTSA to investigate and protect the motoring public.

NHTSA complaint 11753467. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious braking safety issue with my 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited, which currently has approximately 70,000 miles. I brought my vehicle to Victory Toyota of Canton (46352 Michigan Ave, Canton, MI 48188) and reported to Service Manager John Maddison that, at low speeds, the vehicle briefly surges or feels as though it accelerates when I press the brake pedal before it actually begins to slow down. This behavior is alarming and creates the impression that the vehicle is moving forward when I am attempting to stop. This is a serious safety concern that could increase the risk of a crash, particularly in parking lots, stop-and-go traffic, or

NHTSA complaint 11752951, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
While driving on a 75 MPH highway, the lower bumper cover, windscreen, and interior wheel well components spontaneously detached from the vehicle and got stuck under the car. There were no warming lamps, messages, or other symptoms; the vehicle was driving fine before the detachment. The vehicle has never been in a collision and had no visible damage to the bumper prior to the incident. The detachment was very quick and could have caused an accident, as it was quite physically jarring; additionally, the components got between the vehicle and the highway which caused them to smoke/burn as I tried to quickly slow and pull into the shoulder. A prior recall (#23TB12 / 23TA12) was for a very

NHTSA complaint 11752446, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · crash · towed

I pushed the brake and swerved and the car kept going and a greater speed and surged into a house.

NHTSA complaint 11750781. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Toyota Highlander

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 9 3
2024 39 7
2023 172 9
2022 230 5 1
2021 488 4
2019 472 3
2018 259 4
2017 262 3
2016 109 2
2015 189 1
2014 134 4 1
2013 205 3
2012 181 2
2011 181 5
2010 216 10

Other 2020 Toyota models

Every Toyota on this site — 272 vehicles, 370 recall campaigns and 3 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst