2020 Toyota Highlander problems and complaints
Owners have filed 323 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Toyota Highlander. The most-reported areas: Power Train (127), Unknown Or Other (46), Service Brakes (41).
Key takeaways
- 323 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 16 involve a crash, 0 a fire, 20 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 127 | 39% |
| Unknown Or Other | 46 | 14% |
| Service Brakes | 41 | 13% |
| Air Bags | 32 | 10% |
| Structure | 30 | 9% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 19 | 6% |
| Electrical System | 18 | 6% |
| Engine | 17 | 5% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 3% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 7 | 2% |
| Steering | 6 | 2% |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2020 Toyota Highlander
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
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| 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 2026-10-30
I am reporting a premature transmission failure in my 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE AWD at approximately 72,000 miles. The vehicle exhibited transmission-related symptoms beginning before I purchased it. During the test drive at Chapman Ford on May 26, 2025, I noticed a whining noise that sounded like it was coming from ...
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-10-28
Premature transmission failure with the only option to replace to rectify the issue. Toyota refuses to assist with any portion of the cost even though there are TSB's published noting the ongoing premature transmission failures. Toyota corporate cited routine maintenance not being done at a Toyota dealership as their r...
Unknown Or Other,service Brakes,forward Collision Avoidance - filed 2026-10-19
Thanks for your service, which is much appreciated. I had a terrifying experience with my 2020 Toyota Hylander Hybrid on XXX. I was traveling slowly on the right Eastbound lane of [XXX] trying to exit onto [XXX], when a car suddey merged from my left, near my front bumper. I put on my brakes with enough room to spar...
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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.