Lemon Law Check › 2020 Toyota Highlander

2020 Toyota Highlander Problems, Recalls & Complaints

The 2020 Toyota Highlander has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 287 owner complaints filed with federal regulators, with complaints concentrated in power train. Owners whose Highlander has needed repeated repairs for the same warranty problem may qualify for a buyback or compensation under state lemon laws.

Most-reported problem areas

Complaint counts by vehicle system, from 287 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Toyota Highlander:

Power train110 complaints
Air bags32 complaints
Unknown or other30 complaints
Service brakes28 complaints
Structure25 complaints
Fuel/propulsion system14 complaints

What owners told federal regulators

"The contact's wife owns a 2020 toyota highlander. the contact stated that soon after purchasing a new set of tires, the vehicle made an abnormal rattling sound upon acceleration. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for an oil change and tire rotation, and the contact was informe…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2025
"My 2020 toyota highlander hybrid has a braking issue identified in toyota service bulletin t-sb-0059-23, hybrid regenerative brake transition feeling improvement. when going downhill and applying the brake, the vehicle lurches forward temporarily as the braking system transiti…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2025
"Case #11497584, all 4 tires brigestone 235/55r20 102v cracked(dot 4919, thread 6/32-7/32). numerous report of this tires exploding. load index 102 is max load 1874 lb at 44 psi. manufacturing label is 36 psi, gawp rr 3405. at 36 psi(load inflation table) tire capacity is 1620 …"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/30/2022

NHTSA recall campaigns (4)

Air bags
14/10/2020 · 20V633000
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…
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery
19/03/2020 · 20V162000
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 suppli…
Structure:body:bumpers
26/10/2023 · 23V720000
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…
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
20/12/2023 · 23V865000
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, 2…

Recall repairs are performed free of charge at franchised dealers. Check your specific vehicle with the free VIN recall checker.

Has your Highlander been in the shop repeatedly?

If the same warranty problem has needed 2+ repair attempts — or your Highlander has spent 30+ days out of service — it may qualify for a buyback, replacement, or cash compensation under your state's lemon law. Manufacturers pay the legal fees in most states, so the case review costs you nothing.

Check My Highlander — Free →

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2020 Toyota Highlander?

Based on 287 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas for the 2020 Toyota Highlander are power train, air bags, unknown or other.

How many recalls does the 2020 Toyota Highlander have?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2020 Toyota Highlander. Recall repairs are always free at franchised dealers regardless of warranty status.

Is the 2020 Toyota Highlander a lemon?

A specific vehicle qualifies as a lemon based on its own repair history, not the model's overall record. If your Highlander has had power train or other warranty problems repaired 2–4 times without success, or has spent 30+ days in the shop, it may qualify under your state's lemon law — attorneys evaluate this free of charge.

Researching this car as a buyer instead? Read the full Carivo review of the 2020 Toyota Highlander.

All recall and complaint figures on this page come directly from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) federal records for this make, model, and year, fetched at page build time and cached daily. Complaint excerpts are owner-submitted reports to NHTSA, lightly truncated. Carivo is an independent data site, not a law firm; lemon law eligibility is determined solely by attorneys under your state's statute.