2020 Toyota Highlander recalls

5 safety recalls, 331 owner complaints and a 5-star NHTSA crash rating. Official NHTSA data.

5Recalls
331Complaints
16Crashes & fires reported
5/5NHTSA overall rating

Not every 2020 Toyota Highlander is affected by every recall. Check your VIN to see open recalls on your exact vehicle.

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2020 Toyota Highlander recall list

Air Bags recall

23V-865
December 20, 2023 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Problem
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.
Safety 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 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.

Structure recall

23V-720
October 26, 2023 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Problem
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.
Safety 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.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) recall

22V-239
April 13, 2022 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Problem
Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Safety risk
Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the Skid Control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA03. Lexus' number for this recall is 22LA01.

Air Bags recall

20V-633
October 14, 2020 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Problem
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.
Safety 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.

Fuel System, Gasoline recall

20V-162
March 19, 2020 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Problem
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.
Safety 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.

2020 Toyota Highlander owner complaints

331 complaints filed with NHTSA, including 16 crashes, 0 fires, 20 injuries and 0 deaths.

Problems by component

Power Train126
Unknown or Other46
Service Brakes40
Air Bags36
Structure31
Fuel/Propulsion System19
Electrical System18
Engine17
Vehicle Speed Control10
Forward Collision Avoidance7

Recent complaints

October 28, 2026Unknown or Other

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 reasoning for refusal to help and when asked if it was required to only use Toyota dealerships for routine maintenance, they stated that "they can't tell me to ONLY use Toyota but that it was the deciding factor." The cost is close to $10,000 which is catastrophic for most working families. There were no warning lights on the dashboard. Just the distinct high pitch whining sound

October 19, 2026Unknown or OtherService BrakesForward Collision Avoidance

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 spare to avoid a collision, however the Hylander overrode my controls, slammed on the brakes with a squeal of my tires, stopped my car completely, started doing a slow, repeating beep, and wouldn't move, though the engine was running. This left my husband and I in an active freeway lane with cars traveling in front of us, to the side of us, and coming up behind us, at 65-70 mph., unab

October 11, 2026Structure

My bumper detached from the vehicle on two separate occasions on the freeway. I learned about he bumper recall and brought it to Right Toyota Scottsdale (AZ), my local dealer. Right Toyota failed to follow Toyota's explicit recall protocol to replace the damaged bumper and only installed the upgraded hardware after the bumper had already completely detached. By slapping the hardware on the compromised plastic, they performed an incomplete repair that violates Toyota's legally binding instructions filed with federal regulations. They refused to replace the physically compromised bumper structure during the 23TA12 recall remedy. The dealer actively short-cutting a safety recall. Furthermore, t

October 4, 2026Service BrakesCrash

We were behind a vehicle that had come to a rolling stop because the vehicle in front of him had hit the person in front of him , we were going about 25 miles per hour and about 2 car lengths from him . I applied the brakes but the vehicle failed to stop . It was as if I did not press the brakes at all. We rearended the person in front of us . The person behind us hit us as well . It was like we were on ice but we were not .

October 2, 2026Power Train

• What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The UA80 8-speed automatic transmission assembly (specifically internal mechanical wear resulting from front carrier assembly bearing degradation/torque converter heat buildup). No, the component and the contaminated transmission fluid are currently being replaced at the dealership. • How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? 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 speed

2020 Toyota Highlander crash test ratings

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2020 Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
2020 Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
2020 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
2020 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Driver aids on the tested 2020 Toyota Highlander: electronic stability control standard, forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard. Rollover risk: 16.4%.

2020 Toyota Highlander recall FAQ

Does the 2020 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2020 Toyota Highlander. The most recent, filed December 20, 2023, concerns the air bags.

What are the most common 2020 Toyota Highlander problems?

Owners have filed 331 complaints with NHTSA. The most reported area is power train (126 reports), followed by unknown or other.

Is the 2020 Toyota Highlander safe?

The 2020 Toyota Highlander earned up to a 5-star overall safety rating in NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program crash tests.

How do I get a recall fixed on my 2020 Toyota Highlander?

Contact any authorized Toyota dealer. Recall repairs are free, even if you are not the original owner or the warranty has expired.

This page combines NHTSA records for: Highlander, Highlander Hybrid.