YearToAvoid

2020 Toyota Highlander Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

90/100

#3 most-complained of 21 Highlander years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2020 Toyota Highlander has 315 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 90 out of 100 — #3 highest of 21 Highlander model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is transmission & powertrain (125 complaints, 40% of the total). Complaints report 15 crashes and 20 injuries.

Complaints
315
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
15 / 0
Injuries / deaths
20 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
23
20 city / 28 hwy

Top 2020 Toyota Highlander problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain125 (40%)
  2. Other44 (14%)
  3. Brakes41 (13%)
  4. Airbags32 (10%)
  5. Structure & Body31 (10%)
  6. Engine25 (8%)
  7. Fuel System20 (6%)
  8. Electrical System18 (6%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras7 (2%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires7 (2%)
2020 Toyota Highlander complaints: complaints filed per quarter372020 Q12021 Q12022 Q12023 Q12024 Q12025 Q12026 Q1
371 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2020 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q3 (37).

2020 Toyota Highlander recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V865000Dec 20, 2023Airbags999,901 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.

    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.

  2. NHTSA 23V720000Oct 26, 2023Structure & Body750,795 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.

    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.

  3. NHTSA 20V633000Oct 14, 2020Structure & Body3,121 vehicles

    Seats

    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.

    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.

See all 4 recalls for the 2020 Toyota Highlander →

2020 Toyota Highlander fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2020 compared with other Highlander years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Caution70265422.5
2019Avoid95482322.5
2020Avoid90315423
2021Avoid100517423
2022Avoid85249523

All Toyota Highlander years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Toyota Highlander a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Toyota Highlander ranks #3 of 21 among Highlander model years (Complaint Index 90/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 315 complaints and 4 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Toyota Highlander?
The most reported problem areas are transmission & powertrain (125 complaints), brakes (41 complaints), and airbags (32 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 20,500 miles.
Does the 2020 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2020 Toyota Highlander, most recently reported 2023, covering airbags, structure & body, and engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Toyota Highlander?
EPA rates the 2020 Toyota Highlander at 23 MPG combined (20 city / 28 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.