2020 Toyota Highlander: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 318 complaints
318
Total Complaints
12,995mi
Median Mileage
Power Train
Top Issue
19
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
4,025
25th Percentile
12,995
Median Mileage
56,500
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Power Train
96
Unknown Or Other
36
Air Bags
31
Service Brakes
30
Fuel/Propulsion System
17
Engine
16
Body
16
Electrical System
12
Structure
10
Vehicle Speed Control
9
Severity Assessment
19
Crashes
0
Fires
21
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"AFTER LEAVING A SHOPPING CENTER ON FEBRUARY 29 2020, WE PULLED OUT ONTO A ROAD TO HEAD TOWARDS HOME. WE WERE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR IN TRAFFIC AND RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION ON THE SCREEN THAT SAID THE ENGINE WAS OFF, PUT CAR IN PARK. THERE WAS ALSO A WARNING LIGHT THAT CAME ON FOR THE ELECT..."
"AFTER LEAVING A SHOPPING CENTER ON FEBRUARY 29 2020, WE PULLED OUT ONTO A ROAD TO HEAD TOWARDS HOME. WE WERE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR IN TRAFFIC AND RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION ON THE SCREEN THAT SAID THE ENGINE WAS OFF, PUT CAR IN PARK. THERE WAS ALSO A WARNING LIGHT THAT CAME ON FOR THE ELECT..."
"SUSPENSION IS VERY LOUD AND TIGHT, THE CABIN NOISE IS VERY NOISY IT CAN HIT 95 DECIBELS ON SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL METER. THE NOISE IS SO BAD THAT I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLES ANY MORE UNLESS I TURN THE RADIO VOLUME UP AND I CAN NOT HEAR EMERGENCY VEHICLES.THE SERVICE PEOPLE SAID THAT IS NORMAL...."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Power Train
96 complaints
25th: 70,750 mi
Median: 88,000 mi
75th: 101,825 mi
Unknown Or Other
36 complaints
Median: 4,800 mi
Service Brakes
30 complaints
25th: 4,000 mi
Median: 15,592 mi
75th: 21,000 mi
Fuel/Propulsion System
17 complaints
25th: 762 mi
Median: 4,550 mi
75th: 5,000 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 53
TX: 24
NY: 17
PA: 16
WI: 14
FL: 14
OH: 14
WA: 13
NC: 10
MD: 10
Who Files Complaints?
0.9%
Original Owners
99.1%
Second+ Owners
Toyota Highlander — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (4)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Air Bags
Campaign 20V633000 | 14/10/2020
Improper deployment of the seat-mounted side air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
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.
Delivery
Campaign 20V162000 | 19/03/2020
Improper fuel supply programming can result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Bumpers
Campaign 23V720000 | 26/10/2023
A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Occupant Classification
Campaign 23V865000 | 20/12/2023
An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
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 con
Extend Your Transmission Life
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Change transmission fluid at manufacturer intervals — not 'lifetime' fluid
- Come to a full stop before shifting from reverse to drive
- Don't ride the brakes on hills — use a lower gear
- Check transmission fluid level and color monthly — dark fluid needs changing
- Address slipping, hard shifts, or delayed engagement immediately
Compare Toyota Highlander
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28