Model year record

2020 Toyota Highlander

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 561 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 23V865000

Air bags: sensor: occupant classification

Component
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected
999,901
Reported to NHTSA
2023-12-20
Owners notified
2024-10-31

Defect description

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 23V720000

Structure: body: bumpers

Component
Structure: body: bumpers
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected
750,795
Reported to NHTSA
2023-10-26
Owners notified
2024-04-22

Defect description

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 20V633000

Seats

Component
Seats
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected
3,121
Reported to NHTSA
2020-10-14
Owners notified
2020-12-11

Defect description

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 20V162000

Engine

Component
Engine
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected
38,810
Reported to NHTSA
2020-03-19
Owners notified
2020-05-15

Defect description

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Power train22378,000 mi
Unknown or other614,800 mi
Air bags49
Service brakes4815,592 mi
Structure: body244,190 mi
Electrical system234,800 mi
Engine214,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system214,100 mi
Vehicle speed control134,000 mi
Structure1130,000 mi
Seat belts859,000 mi
Suspension789 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking5
Forward collision avoidance: warnings4
Steering4300 mi
Structure: body: bumpers451,260 mi
Lane departure: blind spot detection34,800 mi
Seats3
Service brakes, hydraulic315,000 mi
Visibility/wiper3
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera2153,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)2
Lane departure: assist2
Latches/locks/linkages211,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission271,233 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields2
Back over prevention: warnings1
Electrical system: instrument panel: fuel gauge1
Electrical system: starter assembly: relay157,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner1
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control1
Power train: driveline: constant velocity joint1130,000 mi
Power train: driveline: differential unit159,000 mi
Tires120,000 mi
Visibility115,600 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior130,000 mi
Wheels1

The 2019 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2021 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.