Safety Score
62
Average
Recalls
2
Complaints
50
NCAP Stars
—
Recalls (2)
| Date | NHTSA ID | Component | Units | Completion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-10-14 | 20V633000 |
SEATS | 3,121 | — | Details |
| 2020-03-19 | 20V162000 |
ENGINE | 38,810 | — | Details |
Owner Complaints (showing up to 50)
| Date | Component | Crash | Injuries | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-03 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | My 2020 Toyota Highlander experiences transmission jerking and hesitation during low speed acceleration. The issue was… |
| 2026-02-19 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | 1. The vehicle’s transmission appears to be failing. I was driving my 2020 Toyota Highlander on the freeway at about 75… |
| 2026-02-17 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | No | 0 | Vehicle: 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE Purchased: August 2020 Owner: Original owner Transmission: UA80F Dealer quote for “… |
| 2026-02-16 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | My 2020 Toyota Highlander, with 83k miles, started making a whining noise when accelerating. I took the vehicle to a lo… |
| 2026-01-30 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | THE TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY. |
| 2026-01-07 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | Transmission is presenting a high-pitched whining noise. |
| 2026-01-06 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | The sunroof suddenly exploded while stopped at a stoplight. Luckily I had the interior slide shut otherwise we would ha… |
| 2026-01-05 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | Our 2020 Highlander with 45,000 miles started making a whining noise when accelerating. After the Toyota garage looked … |
| 2026-01-02 | BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera screen display… |
| 2025-12-31 | SERVICE BRAKES | No | 0 | My 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has a braking issue identified in Toyota Service Bulletin T-SB-0059-23, Hybrid Regener… |
| 2025-12-26 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | The vehicle is a 2020 Toyota Highlander experiencing a transmission system malfunction, specifically involving the auto… |
| 2025-12-22 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | Whine noise when you accelerate coming from the automatic transmission. Car is hesitant in shifting gears when needing … |
| 2025-12-22 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | Transmission stutters. Only has 32000 miles. |
| 2025-12-21 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | While driving on the highway, our sunroof spontaneously exploded. We heard what sounded like a gunshot and found a gian… |
| 2025-12-19 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | Transmission whines in low gear. |
| 2025-11-24 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | Premature transmission failure. Vehicle had less than 100K miles. Took the vehicle in for an oil change before a long… |
| 2025-11-20 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | Lift gate does not close and it just beeps. Needs to be closed manually. Toyota has known this issue for a long time bu… |
| 2025-11-18 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | TRANSFER CASE MAKING ROTATIONAL BEARING NOISE FLUID HAVE LOTS OF METAL DEBRI |
| 2025-11-16 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | Transmission malfunction that left us on the highway with no power and in an unsafe situation. Not confirmed as of yet.… |
| 2025-11-16 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | While driving and/or accelerating you can feel some harsh shifts as well as slipping and shuttering with only 84k miles… |
| 2025-11-12 | SERVICE BRAKES | No | 0 | When braking, and decelerating through 25 to 20 MPH, the brakes temporarily stop functioning. There is a noticeable cha… |
| 2025-11-10 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | The vehicle’s automatic transmission (power train) has developed a loud whining/whirring noise under acceleration. This… |
| 2025-11-03 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | We were driving on the highway and heard what sounded like a gun shot. Our sunroof had exploded. Luckily the interior d… |
| 2025-11-01 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | The 8 speed automatic transmission is failing at 100k miles. Whining noises are heard and after being taken to Toyota d… |
| 2025-11-01 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | My 2020 Highlander developed a whining or grinding noise consistent with the Technical Service Bulletin. I took it to a… |
| 2025-10-27 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | Transmission failure. Noticed whining when driving, took to local Toyota dealership and they diagnosed transmission fai… |
| 2025-10-21 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | No | 0 | At approximately 120,000 miles, the vehicle began exhibiting a pronounced shudder or vibration between 40–50 mph under … |
| 2025-10-17 | STRUCTURE:BODY | No | 0 | We own a 2020 Toyota Highlander, and both of the exterior door handles for the backseat have broken. The first in Jan … |
| 2025-10-14 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | No | 0 | The rear hatch door will not close or open and just sit there.And dings, you have to manually close it and open it most… |
| 2025-10-11 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | No | 0 | DOOR LOCKS DO NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH THE CAR FOB, NOW ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK WITH THE FOB, YOU HA… |
| 2025-10-08 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | The car started making whining noises when pressing the gas pedal. Toyota reported "noise from transaxle final drive. r… |
| 2025-10-06 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | I am filing a complaint with the NHTSA regarding persistent transmission slipping in my 2020 Toyota Highlander LE equip… |
| 2025-10-04 | ENGINE | No | 0 | While on the freeway vehicle stalled when accelerating and engine stopped, I had to pull over to the side of the road t… |
| 2025-10-01 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | UNKNOWN, dealers are reporting 1-2 2020-2022 Highlanders are needing completely transmission replacements at 8-10k in c… |
| 2025-10-01 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | At around 45,000 miles, my 2020 Toyota Highlander started making a whining noise on acceleration. This condition seemed… |
| 2025-09-19 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | Whining noise when accelerating. Took it to toyota dealership and confirm it was the transmission .toyota corporate w… |
| 2025-09-18 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | After my 75000 mile inspection at my Toyota dealership, which is required and I have been bring my vehicle in every 5,… |
| 2025-09-15 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | The vehicle’s transmission makes an audible whining noise during acceleration and intensifies as the car increases spee… |
| 2025-09-15 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT |
| 2025-09-11 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | Transmission is defective. I do have a warranty that I purchased but I am aware that this is a faulty transmission f… |
| 2025-09-09 | AIR BAGS | No | 0 | Vehicle: 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE VIN: [XXX] Mileage (approx): 78,000 Problem Description: My vehicle displays an S… |
| 2025-09-04 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | Lift gate not closing Car gas a whining noise upon acceleration |
| 2025-09-02 | ENGINE | No | 0 | On September 2, 2025, the vehicle’s Hybrid System shut down on cold start and the vehicle would not start. A dealer ins… |
| 2025-09-01 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | Road noise was very loud. I thought it was a bearing and I took it to the shop and found out that the 'transfer box' on… |
| 2025-09-01 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | Transmission whine Owners of 2017–2022 Toyota Highlanders, 2017–2020 Siennas, and 2018–2020 Camrys are experiencing se… |
| 2025-08-28 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | Transmission failure at 78,000 miles |
| 2025-08-26 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | 2020 toyota highlander l Transmission..whining noise it gets louder when accelerating |
| 2025-08-26 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | Transmission Planetary Gears in 2020 Toyota Highlander. Makes a "whining" noise when accelerating. No warning lights or… |
| 2025-08-18 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | Whining noise upon accelerating. Diagnosed as bad transmission by a Toyota dealership. No warning indicator 62,500 miles |
| 2025-08-13 | STRUCTURE:BODY | No | 0 | Went to close the right rear passenger door and heard splashing. Door is leaking from somewhere and running down to th… |