The Lemon IndexAll cars · Toyota Highlander · 2020
2020 Toyota Highlander. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 4
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid | Auto (AV-S6) | FWD | 36 / 35 / 36 | Regular | $1,750 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid | Auto (AV-S6) | AWD | 35 / 35 / 35 | Regular | $1,800 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | Auto (S8) | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 | Regular | $2,700 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | Auto (S8) | AWD | 20 / 27 / 23 | Regular | $2,700 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 5,000 and 67,100 miles. Median 20,500, from 64 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission & drivetrain | 73,000 | 59,000–100,100 | 15 |
| Brakes | 15,600 | 3,000–33,300 | 5 |
| Body structure | 30,000 | 5,600–55,600 | 9 |
| Fuel or ev drive system | 4,600 | 600–6,000 | 10 |
| Electrical | 11,000 | 100–57,000 | 7 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Brakes | 21% |
| Fuel or ev drive system | 18% |
| Engine | 10% |
| Body structure | 10% |
| Electrical | 9% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 329 | 16 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 15 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 4
23V865000 Dec 2023 Air Bags / Sensor / Occupant Classification
Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Risk. An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy. 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 contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Le
23V720000 Oct 2023 Structure / Body / Bumpers
Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Highlander & Highlander Hybrid vehicles. During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching.
Risk. A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. 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.
20V633000 Oct 2020 Air Bags
Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020 Highlander and Highlander hybrid vehicles. Incorrect seat trim covers on one or both of the front seats can prevent the seat-mounted side air bag from deploying properly.
Risk. Improper deployment of the seat-mounted side air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy. 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.
20V162000 Mar 2020 Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery
Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020 Highlander vehicles equipped with a 3.5 L, V6 (2GR-FKS) gasoline engine. 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.
Risk. Improper fuel supply programming can result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. 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.
Manufacturer communications 186
Toyota filed 186 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- REVISION NOTICE July 03, 2019 Rev1: ?
- Currently under investigation
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Standard | Standard |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
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