The Lemon Index2020 Toyota Highlander.
The 2020 Toyota Highlander is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 94 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 47, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 23 to 36 mpg combined. The best Toyota Highlander year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 329 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Toyota Highlander year. 2020 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 5K to 67K miles on the car (64 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 59K–100K miles
Recalls 4
- airbags 2023
A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
- body structure 2023
During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching.
- airbags 2020
Incorrect seat trim covers on one or both of the front seats can prevent the seat-mounted side air bag from deploying properly.
Show all 4 recalls
- fuel system, gasoline 2020
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 186 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- REVISION NOTICE July 03, 2019 Rev1: ?
- Currently under investigation
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1800–2800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Random loss of braking feeling and jolting forward when stopping due to regenerative braking letting off. Happened randomly since purchase. Happens around 20mph mark
2020 Toyota Highlander owner · NHTSA complaint 11543608
More owner reports
Unable to completely fill fuel tank. When fuel light comes on and I go to fill it, I get no more than 13 gallons in my tank. The fuel gauge only reads 3/4 full. Never completely full.
NHTSA complaint 11397191
Vehicle went into limp mode reieved code p0300 reduced engine power on highway when accelerating
NHTSA complaint 11387820
Quick answers
Is the 2020 Toyota Highlander reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 2.1× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 47; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Highlander year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2020 Toyota Highlander problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (21%), fuel or ev drive system (18%) and engine (10%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2020 Toyota Highlander have?
4 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Toyota Highlander get?
23 to 36 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2020 Toyota Highlander safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2020 Toyota Highlander problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 5,000 and 67,100 miles. The middle report was at 20,500 miles, from 64 complaints.
Does the 2020 Toyota Highlander have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2020 Toyota Highlander cost in fuel a year?
About $1800 to $2800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2020 Toyota Highlander have?
2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Toyota Highlander year is better than the 2020?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works