Your vehicle report
2020 Toyota Highlander
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 321
- Received Mar 2020 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Transmission fails or loses power while driving74 complaints · 23% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps22 complaints · 6.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Glass shatters or cracks without impact21 complaints · 6.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #23V865000Toyota 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.
- Recall #23V720000Toyota 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Transmission fails or loses power while drivingFirst signal: Sep 2024
- Transmission shudders during acceleration at low speedsFirst signal: Feb 2026
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 16 crashes, 0 fires, 20 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
Other
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2021 | 27 |
| 2022 | 22 |
| 2023 | 24 |
| 2024 | 59 |
| 2025 | 100 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 71 |
| Total | 321 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 74 | 23% | 17× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Sep 2024 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 8.9% |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 22 | 6.9% | 12.2× | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 21 | 6.5% | 1.4× | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 12 | 3.7% | 2.2× | |
| Automatic emergency braking applies without reason | 12 | 3.7% | 2.2× | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 10 | 3.1% | 1.6× | |
| Fuel gauge reads erratically or incorrectly | 10 | 3.1% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 9 | 2.8% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 6 | 1.9% | – | |
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 5 | 1.6% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 5 | 1.6% | – | |
| Transmission shudders during acceleration at low speeds | 5 | 1.6% | 6× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Feb 2026 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.4% |
| Side mirrors give poor rear visibility | 4 | 1.3% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 4 | 1.3% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 4 | 1.3% | – | NHTSA recall #20V633000, #23V865000 |
| Air conditioner blows hot air or fails | 4 | 1.3% | – | |
| Water leaks into cabin during rain | 3 | 0.9% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 3 | 0.9% | 1.2× | |
| Rearview backup camera fails or goes black | 3 | 0.9% | – | |
| Brake booster fails, leaving stiff pedal | 3 | 0.9% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #23V865000December 20, 2023999,901 vehicles affected
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #23V720000October 26, 2023750,795 vehicles affected
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #20V633000October 14, 20203,121 vehicles affected
air bags; 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.
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.
NHTSA recall #20V162000March 19, 202038,810 vehicles affected
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.
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2020 Toyota Highlander.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN