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2020 Toyota Highlander

HybridGas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
D
Safety Signal
65 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns5
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA320
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA36 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2020 Toyota Highlander is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact 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 D. Owners have filed 320 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Highlander HybridHybridFWD2.5L 4-cyl + 288V Ni-MH363536$1,750
Highlander Hybrid AWDHybridAWD2.5L 4-cyl + 288V Ni-MH353535$1,800
Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLATHybridAWD2.5L 4-cyl + 288V Ni-MH353435$1,800
HighlanderGasFWD3.5L 6-cyl212924$2,600
HighlanderGasFWD3.5L 6-cyl202823$2,700
Highlander AWDGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl202723$2,700

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

Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 Toyota Highlander is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

23TA15, 23LA03
999,901 vehicles
ProblemToyota 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.RiskAn air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.FixDealers 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 campaign 23V865000reported Dec 20, 2023Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
▲high

Structure

23TB12 / 23TA12
750,795 vehicles
ProblemToyota 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.RiskA detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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 campaign 23V720000reported Oct 26, 2023Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
○minor

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

22TA03, 22LA01
458,110 vehiclesHybrid only
ProblemToyota 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."RiskDriving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V239000reported Apr 13, 2022Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
▲high

Air Bags

20TB14 / 20TA14
3,121 vehicles
ProblemToyota 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.RiskImproper deployment of the seat-mounted side air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.FixToyota 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 campaign 20V633000reported Oct 14, 2020Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

20TA06
38,810 vehicles
ProblemToyota 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.RiskImproper fuel supply programming can result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.FixToyota 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.
NHTSA campaign 20V162000reported Mar 19, 2020Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

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 matt

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
320complaints filed

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

Filed per year: 2020: 18 · 2021: 28 · 2022: 22 · 2023: 26 · 2024: 59 · 2025: 106 · 2026: 61

Most-cited components

Power Train125
Unspecified41
Service Brakes38
Air Bags36
Structure32
Fuel/Propulsion System19

What owners describe

“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.”Jun 24, 2025 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report
“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 reco…”Apr 28, 2025 · Structure · NHTSA owner report
“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. The dealer was mad…”Mar 26, 2025 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report

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.

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.

Compare the 2020 Highlander with

2020 Tesla Model Y →2020 Honda CR-V →2020 Chevrolet Equinox →2020 Nissan Rogue →

Other Highlander model years

A

2026 Toyota Highlander

0 recalls · 2 complaints

B

2025 Toyota Highlander

3 recalls · 9 complaints

F

2024 Toyota Highlander

7 recalls · 42 complaints

F

2023 Toyota Highlander

9 recalls · 186 complaints

D

2022 Toyota Highlander

6 recalls · 244 complaints

D

2021 Toyota Highlander

5 recalls · 520 complaints

B

2019 Toyota Highlander

3 recalls · 483 complaints

C

2018 Toyota Highlander

4 recalls · 269 complaints

C

2017 Toyota Highlander

3 recalls · 267 complaints

B

2016 Toyota Highlander

2 recalls · 115 complaints

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). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

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

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