Overall rating (best variant)
Safety ratings
2020 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV AWD
- Lane departure warningStandard
- Forward collision warningStandard
- Electronic stability controlStandard
2020 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV FWD
- Lane departure warningStandard
- Forward collision warningStandard
- Electronic stability controlStandard
Crash test videos & photos
No public crash-test footage is available for this vehicle.
Recalls (4)
- STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERSCampaign 23V720000 · 26/10/2023
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.
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.
- AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONCampaign 23V865000 · 20/12/2023
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.
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.
- AIR BAGSCampaign 20V633000 · 14/10/2020
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.
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.
- ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARECampaign 22V239000 · 13/04/2022
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."
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.
Owner complaints
Most-reported areas
- AIR BAGS4
- SERVICE BRAKES2
- HYDRAULIC1
- VISIBILITY1
- TIRES1
- STRUCTURE1
Read individual complaints (9 most recent)
These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.
- 11/20/2023· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal would depress to the floorboard and the vehicle would fail to stop. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the mechanic repaired the brake calibrations and brake alignment. Despite the repair, the contact stated that the failure returned. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
- 10/27/2023· VISIBILITY
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that the climate control system failed to defrost the windows during rainy or cold weather conditions. As a result, the contact was unable to defrost the windows, making it difficult to see the roadway. The contact was concerned for his safety while operating the vehicle. An undisclosed dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.
- 06/24/2025· SERVICE BRAKES
After driving on an interstate and having my foot on the brake - the car jumps forward and accelerates. It has done this for a couple years, and it continues to happen more frequently. Sometimes it just jumps forward when you are driving through town and go to slow down. This seems like a safety issue.
- 05/05/2021· TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR TIRES, TIRE LINE: EAGLE, TIRE SIZE: 235/55/R20, DOT NUMBER: M68AJM1R0720. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE TREAD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR SEPARATED, CAUSING THE TIRE TO EXPLODE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VANCOUVER TOYOTA (10455 NE 53RD ST, VANCOUVER, WA 98662, (360)944-3001) WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
- 04/28/2025· STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 75 MPH, the front passenger’s and driver’s side top shield assembly and the engine cover under components became detached from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to recover the parts. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the was no reason for the parts to have detached from the vehicle unless there was a crash. The contact emphasized that the parts had detached while driving. The components were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired; however, the contact believed that the repair was not appropriate because there were zip ties left underneath the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
- 03/26/2025· AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- 03/21/2025· AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- 01/21/2025· AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- 01/21/2025· AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.