AI Damage2020 Toyota Highlander: common problems
Owners of the 2020 Toyota Highlander filed 321 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and service brakes. The maker issued 170 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 321
- involving a crash
- 16
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 170
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 39% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 13% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 10% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 9% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 6% of all complaints
- 6 Electrical system 6% of all complaints
- 7 Engine 5% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 3% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 126 complaints (39% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Service brakes: 41 complaints (13% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Air bags: 32 complaints (10% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Structure: 30 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 36.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 19 complaints (6% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 2.5 L · hybrid · 4 cyl
- automatic, 8-speed
- CVT
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 321 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 126 | 2 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 41 | 7 | 8 |
| Air bags | 32 | 3 | 4 |
| Structure | 30 | 1 | 36 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 19 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 18 | 2 | 48 |
| Engine | 17 | 2 | 9 |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 2 | 1 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Steering | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| Visibility | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| Lane departure | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Suspension | 5 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
There were no dashboard warning lights or known system malfunction indicators before the crash. I purchased the Toyota Plus service package after completing the required maintenance during the initial coverage period. All scheduled maintenance and inspection
Prior to the accident, the vehicle had been exhibiting multiple symptoms: an intermittent airbag warning light had illuminated briefly on the dashboard on a few occasions, and the vehicle had begun requiring noticeably longer physical distances to come to a complete stop at traffic signs and lights when not using…
No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that she sustained pain in her right chest, head, and left arm, and medical attention was sought. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a local tow lot, where it remained for further investigation.
my wife was pulling into a driveway slowly approximately 5 mph when she went to stop the Toyota Highlander sped up to full speed and smash the tree while my wife was depressing the brake.
It was brought to my attention the mirrors are large and placed high in regards to the passenger window. I noted others sighted their height as part of the problem. I have a bad back and kept my seat low to ease getting in and out of the vehicle.
With the engine turned off there was no power steering, no brakes, and no way to unlock the steering wheel. The collision caused my car to bounce back and slowly free roll back to the stop sign as though I never entered the roadway.
The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off and in the park position in order for their mother to unload the trunk, the vehicle suddenly rolled away in reverse. The vehicle rolled over their mother. Once the incline of the street was more of a plato the vehicle coasted to a stop.
The severe mechanical wear and metal-on-metal degradation inside the transmission create an imminent hazard where the vehicle can experience sudden slipping, severe hesitation, or a complete, unexpected loss of motive power while traveling at highway speeds.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 198 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 9% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Highlander has 229 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 321, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some 2020 – 2026 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a water leak from the…
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…
- Some 2020 – 2024 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the…
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…
- OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026
This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation 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.
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- Some 2020 – 2023 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the…
Some 2020 – 2023 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the Power Back Door (PBD) will not open or close and/or stops moving while opening or closing. A modified PBD unit…
- Although the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle…
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’…
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air…
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and…
- To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to…
To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to recover MMR data from the head unit. The following steps are instructions on how to retrieve the data from the…
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix…
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and…
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used…
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from…
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical…
Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal…
NHTSA lists 170 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
- How to reset Hard codes after collision, warning lights not going off! 2020 Toyota Highlanderamount per author: 70 UNSPECIFIED_DOLLAR
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Toyota Highlander?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, service brakes, air bags. Total complaints: 321. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (26%), warning lights, check engine (16%), transmission slipping (13%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2020 Toyota Highlander?
NHTSA lists 170 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2020 Toyota Highlander from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2020 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.