Toyota Highlander 2020 recalls, problems, complaints and safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls issued for the Toyota Highlander 2020 and 319 complaints filed by owners. It has 28% more complaints than the average Toyota Highlander from 2016–2025 (249 per year).

These are recalls issued for this model and year, not for your specific car. A car may already be repaired or may not be included. Confirm with your VIN on NHTSA.

Recalls issued for the Toyota Highlander 2020

Air bags
NHTSA campaign 23V865000 · 2023-12-20

What happens

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.

Consequence

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

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.

The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.

NHTSA 23V865000

Structure and body
NHTSA campaign 23V720000 · 2023-10-26

What happens

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.

Consequence

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

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.

The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.

NHTSA 23V720000

Air bags
NHTSA campaign 20V633000 · 2020-10-14

What happens

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.

Consequence

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

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.

The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.

NHTSA 20V633000

Fuel system
NHTSA campaign 20V162000 · 2020-03-19

What happens

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.

Consequence

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

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.

The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.

NHTSA 20V162000

Complaints from other owners

319 complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of this model.

16 with a crash · 20 injuries

Most reported problems on the Toyota Highlander 2020

• Powertrain and transmission: 126 (39% of complaints)
• Brakes: 38 (12% of complaints)
• Air bags: 32 (10% of complaints)
• Structure and body: 29 (9% of complaints)
• Fuel and propulsion: 19 (6% of complaints)

Complaints are written by owners and NHTSA doesn't verify each one. They're useful to spot trends.

What to check before buying a Toyota Highlander 2020

• Confirm by VIN on NHTSA that the recalls on this list were repaired.
• On the test drive, check for smooth shifts with no jerks, slipping or noises; check the transmission fluid condition.
• Brake hard somewhere safe: the car shouldn't pull to one side and the pedal shouldn't sink; check rotors and pads.
• The air bag light should come on for a second at start-up and go off. Confirm by VIN that air bag recalls were done.
• Get an inspection from an independent mechanic before paying.

Safety rating (NCAP)

Toyota Highlander recalls by year

• 2016 : 2 recalls · 111 complaints
• 2017 : 3 recalls · 270 complaints
• 2018 : 4 recalls · 268 complaints
• 2019 : 3 recalls · 492 complaints
• 2020 : 4 recalls · 319 complaints
• 2021 : 4 recalls · 529 complaints
• 2022 : 5 recalls · 261 complaints
• 2023 : 9 recalls · 185 complaints
• 2024 : 7 recalls · 43 complaints
• 2025 : 4 recalls · 10 complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many recalls does the Toyota Highlander 2020 have?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls issued for the Toyota Highlander 2020. That doesn't mean every car has them open: confirm with the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The repair is free at the dealer.

What is the most common problem with the Toyota Highlander 2020?

In complaints filed with NHTSA, the most mentioned component is: powertrain and transmission (126 of 319 complaints). Complaints aren't verified one by one, but they show trends.