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Your vehicleHome›Toyota›Highlander› 2020
Toyota · Large SUV

2020 Toyota Highlander

Hybrid Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
73 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 5
Complaints16 crash · 20 injured reported 330
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 36 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2020 Toyota Highlander is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Highlander Hybrid, is EPA-rated at 36 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 330 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Toyota Highlander — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Toyota Highlander · Photo: Kevauto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Highlander HybridHybridFWD2.5L 4-cyl + 288V Ni-MH363536$1,850
Highlander Hybrid AWDHybridAWD2.5L 4-cyl + 288V Ni-MH353535$1,900
Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLATHybridAWD2.5L 4-cyl + 288V Ni-MH353435$1,900
HighlanderGasFWD3.5L 6-cyl212924$2,800
HighlanderGasFWD3.5L 6-cyl202823$2,900
Highlander AWDGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl202723$2,900

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42477, 42478, 42479, 42380, 42379, 42381.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Highlander Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid AWD, Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT7 / 10California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
Highlander, Highlander AWD5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors5
GVWR classClass 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2.5 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower185 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Transmission

Drivetrain4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: LE, Limited, Platinum, XLE). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length194.9 in
Width (body, without mirrors)76.0 in
Height68.1 in
Wheelbase112.2 in
Track, front65.4 in
Track, rear65.4 in
Curb weight4,123–4,553 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear54/46

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 5 configurations: 4-door SUV L FWD, 4-door SUV Le/Xle AWD, 4-door SUV Le/Xle Hybrid AWD, 4-door SUV Limited AWD, 4-door SUV Limited Hybrid AWD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2020 Highlander
Other years The 2026 Highlander Recalls Toyota recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 Toyota Highlander is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

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Recalls (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

23TA15, 23LA03
999,901 vehicles 58% reported repaired
Problem 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. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V865000 reported Dec 20, 2023 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Structure

23TB12 / 23TA12
750,795 vehicles 85% reported repaired
Problem 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. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V720000 reported Oct 26, 2023 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

22TA03, 22LA01
458,110 vehicles 98% reported repaired Hybrid only
Problem Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems." Risk Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the Skid Control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA03. Lexus' number for this recall is 22LA01.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V239000 reported Apr 13, 2022 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

20TB14 / 20TA14
3,121 vehicles 99% reported repaired
Problem 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. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V633000 reported Oct 14, 2020 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Fuel System, Gasoline

20TA06
38,810 vehicles 99% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk Improper fuel supply programming can result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V162000 reported Mar 19, 2020 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Highlander

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2020 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Toyota publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Toyota’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2020 Toyota Highlander, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2020 Toyota Highlander

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

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Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
330complaints filed

16 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 20 injuries · 0 deaths reported

23 per 10,000 built · Toyota reported 141,833 Highlander built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2020: 18 · 2021: 28 · 2022: 22 · 2023: 26 · 2024: 59 · 2025: 106 · 2026: 71

Most-cited components

Power Train 127
Unspecified 45
Service Brakes 43
Air Bags 36
Structure 33
Fuel/Propulsion System 20

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

After driving on an interstate and having my foot on the brake - the car jumps forward and accelerates. It has done this for a couple years, and it continues to happen more frequently. Sometimes it just jumps forward when you are driving through town and go to slow down. This seems like a safety issue
Service Brakes Jun 24, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11668825
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 75 MPH, the front passenger’s and driver’s side top shield assembly and the engine cover under components became detached from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to recover the parts.
Structure at 60,000 miles Apr 28, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11657262
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
Air Bags Mar 26, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11650788
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that the climate control system failed to defrost the windows during rainy or cold weather conditions. As a result, the contact was unable to defrost the windows, making it difficult to see the roadway.
Visibility/Wiper at 19,000 miles Oct 27, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11552220
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander hybrid equipped with goodyear tires, tire line: eagle, tire size: 235/55/r20, DOT number: m68ajm1r0720. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the tread on the passenger's side rear separated, causing the tire to explode. The contact pulled over and replaced the tire with the spare tire.
Tires at 9,000 miles May 5, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11415346
When re-fueling the vehicle with dte of less than 30 miles, the fuel shuts off around 12 gal. 2nd click for fuel stoppage may yield another 0.5 gal. Nothing adds up to 17.1 gal of fuel in the tank. Going beyond the 1st click is bad for the system, yet only fills the car up to 7/8 full on the fuel gauge
Fuel/Propulsion System at 5,000 miles Jan 25, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11389803

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Toyota itself: 117 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 2 killed, 159 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 82 per 100,000 built. Every Highlander model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 29k

miles, typically

Half the 61 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 7,000 and 67,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 21
10k–20k 7
20k–30k 3
30k–40k 4
40k–50k 3
50k–60k 5
60k–70k 3
70k–80k 4
80k–90k 3
90k–100k 2
100k–150k 5
150k + 1

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Power Train1678,0001.9×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2020-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported later: power train (1.9×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2018–2022 model years the Toyota Highlander ranks 37 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 0.92× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 16,982 miles against a fleet 23,512).

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 2 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Toyota warranty extension (10) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 326
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-08-20
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 307 service bulletins, 12 warranty extensions, 7 service campaigns

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Structure, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility.

  • T-SB-0110-20 Rev2 Service bulletin
    2026-08-20 · Engine
  • OBSOLETE NOTICE August 20, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0051-26.
  • 24TE04 Warranty extension
    2026-08-11 · Engine
  • Although the flow shut-off valve is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to Flow Shut-off Valve Coolant Leak.
  • T-SB-0040-24 Rev1 Service bulletin
    2026-06-25 · Structure — Body
  • Some 2020 – 2026 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a water leak from the roof rack attachment clips. This may be caused by the sealant in the roof channel obstructing the proper seating position for the clip gasket.
  • 22TE09 Warranty extension
    2026-05-14 · Electrical System
  • Although the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. Toyota is providing extended coverage under this Customer Support Program for repairs related to excessive corrosion to the wire harness connections at the Rear Mo
  • T-SB-0021-26 Service bulletin
    2026-03-18 · Electrical System
  • Some 2020 – 2024 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the air conditioner does not cool due to a leak and/or corrosion in the rear underbody air conditioner tube and accessory assembly. The anti-corrosion material has been updated to reduce the possibility of this condition.
  • T-SB-0104-21 Rev2 Service bulletin
    2026-02-27 · Engine
  • OBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
  • T-SB-0106-22 Rev2 Service bulletin
    2026-01-30 · Electrical System
  • OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
  • T-SB-0001-26 Service bulletin
    2026-01-28 · Electrical System
  • Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
B15DB
B15DB on Toyota →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment6 bulletins
B15FE
B15FE on Toyota →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment Adaptive/Mobility2 bulletins
P0087
P0087 on Toyota →		Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded.Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Toyota Highlander failed the emissions check on 0.57% of first inspections — lower than the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%).

New York inspections 0.57%

failed emissions

4,754 initial inspections of 4,653 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2020 HighlanderEvery 2020 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check0.57%2.2%4,744
Failed the safety inspection1.5%1.6%4,754
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.25%0.19%4,754
Miles driven a year10,8749,980odometer at inspection
Average odometer68,42362,630odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2020 vehicle” is every 2020 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Highlander by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2026 A 0 4 35 mpg2025 C 4 10 35 mpg2024 D 7 43 36 mpg2023 D 9 198 36 mpg2022 C 6 270 36 mpg2021 C 5 548 36 mpg2020 this page C 5 330 36 mpg2019 B 3 508 29 mpg2018 C 4 274 29 mpg2017 B 3 274 29 mpg2016 B 2 117 28 mpg

Common questions about the 2020 Highlander

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2020 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 5 recall campaigns for the 2020 Toyota Highlander. The most serious on file is 23V865000, covering Air Bags. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2020 Toyota Highlander?

NHTSA gave the 2020 Toyota Highlander 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (73/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Toyota Highlander?

Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2020 Toyota Highlander, the best EPA combined figure is 36 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2020 Toyota Highlander?

Transport Canada measured it at 194.9 in long, 76.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 68.1 in tall, on a 112.2 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,123–4,553 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2020 Toyota Highlander?

Owners have filed 330 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Toyota Highlander, most often about power train, unspecified, service brakes. Of those, 16 involved a crash, 20 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2020 Toyota Highlander?

The EPA smog rating for the 2020 Toyota Highlander runs 5 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV30, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2020 Toyota Highlander?

The manufacturer has filed 326 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2020 Toyota Highlander, most often covering equipment, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-08-20. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2020 Toyota Highlander do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Toyota Highlander failed the emissions check on 0.57% of first inspections — lower than the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations6 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates6 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls5NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints330NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings4 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins326NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA9 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2026 Highlander The Highlander model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Toyota recall on file All campaigns filed against Toyota vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Highlander by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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