2020 Toyota Highlander Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 4 NHTSA recalls and 320 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

45/100

High Reported Activity — 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Toyota Highlander shows high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Review the issues below and have a thorough pre-purchase inspection done by an independent mechanic.

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NHTSA Recalls

4 recalls on record

320

Owner Complaints

Filed with NHTSA

Crash Reports

In NHTSA complaints

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NHTSA Recalls — 2020 Toyota Highlander (4)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Toyota dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Air Bags

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…

NHTSA #20V633000

🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery

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…

NHTSA #20V162000

🔧 Structure: Body: Bumpers

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…

NHTSA #23V720000

🔧 Air Bags: Sensor: Occupant Classification

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…

NHTSA #23V865000

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Most Common Problems — 2020 Toyota Highlander

Based on 320 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Power Train

125

Service Brakes

Unknown Or Other

Air Bags

Structure

Electrical System

Fuel/propulsion System

Vehicle Speed Control

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Toyota Highlander — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2020 model year is highlighted.

→ Recently checked Toyota Highlander VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2019, 2021 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2016, 2024 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2020 Toyota Highlander

Is the 2020 Toyota Highlander reliable?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 Toyota Highlander has 4 recall campaigns and 320 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How many recalls does the 2020 Toyota Highlander have?

The 2020 Toyota Highlander has 4 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.

What are the most common problems with the 2020 Toyota Highlander?

The most commonly reported problems for the 2020 Toyota Highlander are: Power Train, Service Brakes, Unknown Or Other, Air Bags. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.

Is the 2020 Toyota Highlander safe to buy?

The 2020 Toyota Highlander has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 4 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.

What year Toyota Highlander should I buy?

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Toyota Highlander are: 2016, 2024. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2019, 2021.

How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.

Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.