2020 Toyota Highlander Recalls, Problems & MPG
NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 330 owner complaints for the 2020 Toyota Highlander. The EPA rates it 23 to 36 MPG combined, depending on engine and drivetrain.
- Recalls
- 5
- Owner complaints
- 330
- Crashes / fires reported
- 16 / 0
- EPA combined
- 23–36 MPG
2020 Toyota Highlander recalls
Air BagsDec 20, 2023 · NHTSA 23V865000+
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
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.
StructureOct 26, 2023 · NHTSA 23V720000+
Risk: A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
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.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)Apr 13, 2022 · NHTSA 22V239000+
Risk: Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
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."
Air BagsOct 14, 2020 · NHTSA 20V633000+
Risk: Improper deployment of the seat-mounted side air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: 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.
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.
Fuel System, GasolineMar 19, 2020 · NHTSA 20V162000+
Risk: Improper fuel supply programming can result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
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.
Recall repairs are free. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours still needs one.
Most reported 2020 Toyota Highlander problems
Owner complaints to NHTSA by system. One complaint can name more than one system.
- Power Train126
- Unknown or Other45
- Service Brakes43
- Air Bags36
- Structure31
- Fuel/Propulsion System19
- Electrical System18
- Engine17
2020 Toyota Highlander gas mileage
EPA ratings for each version (city / highway / combined).
| Version | Engine | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlander Hybrid | 2.5 L 4 cyl, Automatic (AV-S6) | 36 | 35 | 36 | $1,800 |
| Highlander Hybrid AWD | 2.5 L 4 cyl, Automatic (AV-S6) | 35 | 35 | 35 | $1,850 |
| Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT | 2.5 L 4 cyl, Automatic (AV-S6) | 35 | 34 | 35 | $1,850 |
| Highlander | 3.5 L 6 cyl, Automatic (S8) | 21 | 29 | 24 | $2,700 |
| Highlander | 3.5 L 6 cyl, Automatic (S8) | 20 | 28 | 23 | $2,800 |
| Highlander AWD | 3.5 L 6 cyl, Automatic (S8) | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,800 |
Real-world mileage depends on how and where you drive. Logbay compares your actual MPG with these EPA numbers.
Questions
Does the 2020 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2020 Toyota Highlander, most recently for the air bags (Dec 20, 2023). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2020 Toyota Highlander problems?
Owners filed 330 complaints with NHTSA. The most reported areas are power train (126), unknown or other (45), service brakes (43).
What gas mileage does the 2020 Toyota Highlander get?
The EPA rates the 2020 Toyota Highlander at 23 to 36 MPG combined (best version: 36 city / 35 highway).
Sources: NHTSA recalls and owner complaints (api.nhtsa.gov), EPA fuel economy (fueleconomy.gov). Updated Oct 26, 2026. Complaint counts are unverified owner reports.