Is the 2020 Toyota Highlander a bad year?
323 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 127, 13× a quiet Highlander year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 50k–94k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 2 of 127 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2020 Highlander owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 66,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 127 (39%) | 50k–94k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Body structure | 30 (9%) | 5k–36k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 20 (6%) | 2k–13k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Electrical system | 18 (6%) | 2k–52k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Engine | 17 (5%) | 4k–35k miles · mostly behind | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 41 (13%) | too few with a mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Air bags | 32 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 10 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 66,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 323 complaints: 16 mention a crash · 13 report an injury · 15 say the car was towed.
91 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2020 Toyota Highlander: 4
A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying. An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching. A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Incorrect seat trim covers on one or both of the front seats can prevent the seat-mounted side air bag from deploying properly. Improper deployment of the seat-mounted side air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
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. Improper fuel supply programming can result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 105
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2020 Toyota Highlander. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 - 2025 model year Toyota vehicles
Some 2018-2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with an A25A-FKS, A25A-FXS, M20A-FKS, or M20A-FXS engine may exhibit one or more of the following…
Some vehicles may exhibit a knocking noise from the vacuum pump at idle
Some vehicles may exhibit a MIL ON condition with Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P0087 (Fuel Rail/System Pressure…
Neighbouring years
2019 Highlander: 509 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2021 Highlander: 537 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Toyota Highlander year
2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Highlander years side by side
Other Toyota models: Toyota 4Runner · Toyota Avalon · Toyota C-HR · Toyota Camry · Toyota Camry Hybrid · Toyota Camry Solara · Toyota Celica · Toyota Corolla · Toyota Corolla Cross · Toyota Corolla Matrix · Toyota Echo · Toyota FJ Cruiser · Toyota Grand Highlander · Toyota Highlander Hybrid · Toyota Matrix · Toyota Prius · Toyota Prius c · Toyota Prius v · Toyota RAV4 · Toyota RAV4 Hybrid · Toyota RAV4 Prime · Toyota Sequoia · Toyota Sienna · Toyota Sienna Hybrid · Toyota Tacoma · Toyota Tundra · Toyota Venza · Toyota Venza Hybrid · Toyota Yaris. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2020 Toyota Highlander a bad year?
323 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 127, 13× a quiet Highlander year. At 66,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 50k–94k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 2 of 127 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Toyota Highlander?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (127), body structure (30), fuel system (20), electrical system (18), engine (17). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 50k–94k miles.
How many recalls does the 2020 Toyota Highlander have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 23V-865), Body structure (NHTSA 23V-720), Seats (NHTSA 20V-633), Fuel system (NHTSA 20V-162). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.