2020 Toyota Highlander problems and complaints
Owners have filed 315 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Toyota Highlander. The most-reported areas: Power Train (125), Unknown Or Other (43), Service Brakes (39).
Key takeaways
- 315 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 15 involve a crash, 0 a fire, 20 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 125 | 40% |
| Unknown Or Other | 43 | 14% |
| Service Brakes | 39 | 12% |
| Air Bags | 32 | 10% |
| Structure | 29 | 9% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 19 | 6% |
| Electrical System | 18 | 6% |
| Engine | 17 | 5% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 3% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 6 | 2% |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 2% |
| Steering | 5 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV AWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2020 Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV FWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Power Train - filed 2026-09-17
My Highlander started making a whining noise while accelerating. Took it to my local dealership and was told I need a new transmission. I have 87,000 miles on it! Total cost = $8,000.
Electrical System,unknown Or Other - filed 2026-09-17
develop a high-pitched whine, shuddering, or harsh shifting between 25 and 45 mph, which can lead to premature wear or complete failure. Also, On/ Off from no where and stopped in the middle of the road
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-09-17
I was traveling on hwy US1 South about 56-58 mph when I heard what sounded like a gunshot. I immediately slowed down and pulled off the road. As I drove off road on grass/gravel I heard crumbling of glass above on sunroof. The sunroof glass exploded. I called the nonemergency 911 for a police officer to come to the sce...
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More for the 2020 Toyota Highlander
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.