Complaint volume
284 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2020 Toyota Highlander Complaints
284 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Toyota Highlander, grouped by component category.
284 Total complaints
12 Crash reports
0 Fire reports
9 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are power train, air bags, unknown or other. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 12 crash reports, 0 fire reports, 9 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 55 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 37,738 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to power train, air bags, unknown or other?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2020 Toyota Highlander?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2020 Toyota Highlander
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2020 Toyota Highlander complaints?
12 Crash
0 Fire
9 Injury
0 Fatality
10 Towed
7 Medical attention
What are the most common 2020 Toyota Highlander complaint categories?
POWER TRAIN 102
AIR BAGS 29
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 28
STRUCTURE 22
SERVICE BRAKES 21
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 4
SUSPENSION 4
ENGINE 3
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 3
284 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1- Most of the time my rear hatch will not close unless you use the inside button - cost 1,198.10 to repair. 2- my car started making a whining noise on acceleration. Took it Toyota and they said that I need to replace my transmission that it has an internal failure. Of course my warranty was of no use b/c it stopped at 100,000 miles. At the time of the inspection I was at 104,000. To get a new transmission it will be 7,425.60 (not including the labor). I really wish the dealership could have been honest about this year model transmissions failing. I would have passed on this car. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Final drive failing in transmisssion | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | AIR BAGS | No remedy for a recall that is 524 days old. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | So there was a service bulletin put out by Toyota in December 2020, about its AC repair. Well no notice was given to Toyota owners about this. Well fast forward to yesterday May 21, 2025, my mechanic told me that the AC lines to the rear were leaking and needed to be replaced as it was leaking refrigerant into the environment. Well after reading reviews and other folks problems it seems Toyota knows there is a problem with the ac lines and the type of material they used. Toyota should be issuing a recall notice on these cars to replace the ac lines so it does not pose an environmental hazard inside or outside the vehicle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | 8 speed automatic transmission started whining at 45k miles (purchased new), has been inspected, dealer confirmed transmission is bad and part is on back order (date keeps moving out), | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | AIR BAGS | The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. 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 and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Began hearing a high-pitched whining sound when I accelerated. Took it into the dealer and they casually told me that I needed a new transmission. My car was less than four years old, but had more than the 60,000 miles that would apply under a warranty. I am now reading online. This is a widespread problem involving Toyota Highlanders. Can’t get a new transmission for three months or more. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | 2020 Toyota Highlander l developed a whining noise and after extensively researching this sound it seems like its common on highlanders with the UA80 transmission and leads to transmission failure. There is a Toyota forum where owners have gathered about this issue not only for this year highlander but early models when the specific transmission above started being used. Quotes to replaced this transmission range from $6,000-$13,000 at the dealer. Toyota has been called and they have been of no help to anyone. Even worse it seems all places are backordered on these transmissions and owners are left without a car. To quote a toyota member who called to get hemp with the issue, this is what Toyotas response was: “ Toyota refuses any support stating that "we can't predict an average life expectancy for any specific part of component", This only means life expectancy on their parts does not exist? Shouldnt they have a target life expectancy on parts? A lot of dissatisfied toyota owners as toyota is hiding from this issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | AIR BAGS | The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Around 90,000 miles, the transmission has started to whine really bad. This seems to be a common problem with this 2018 to 2021 Highlanders, but 2020 has no recall or service bulletin. My mechanic priced a transmission from a dealership and was told it would be 3 months at least to get a reman transmission. There is a good chance of catastrophic failure before we can get a new transmission installed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | POWER TRAIN | At about 85,000 miles, the transmission developed a whine noise, and two dealers and a transmission shop all state it needs replacement. However, the backlog for replacement is enormous and I risk the transmission failing catastrophically while driving. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | AIR BAGS | Known recall and Toyota is not correcting it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Faulty Transmission that Toyota doesn’t want to cover fixing. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, there was a whining sound coming from the transmission. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the internal bearings had failed, and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced Technical Service Bulletin: TSB-0008-21 as a possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 99,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 99,000 |
| Apr 2025 | AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS | Currently having issues for my active recall with no remedy available | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The transmission is making a whining noise at 104;368 miles. We own another 2020 Toyota Highlander and it had to have the transmission replaced for the same reason. It is available for inspection. It’s a safety hazard because it’s a bearings in the transmission that’s failing. The transmission will eventually stop working. The issue was confirmed by a Toyota dealer and one of our transmissions has already had to be replaced. Toyota has a service bulletin out for this known problem. There were no warning signs for the transmission noise. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | POWER TRAIN | There is a whining noise coming from the power train/transmission. It only happens when the accelerator pedal is pressed. We had a couple of mechanics look at it. The transmission oil was changed twice, with the vehicle less than 78,000 miles. Neither mechanic can find any issue with any other item, including the engine. The noise still persists. There are no warning lights on. We have researched the web. Toyota is aware of the problem and has replaced some transmissions still under warranty. They have issues a TSB (TSB008-21) in February 2021, but did not issue a recall or notify owners of a potential problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | AIR BAGS | The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. 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 made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Around 92k miles my transmission started makining a whining noise while driving. Dealership diagnosed a transmission problem and it needed to be replaced. They said eventually the transmission will go bad and stop working, potentially leaving me stranded or causing an accident. Spoke with Toyota HQ who would not offer financial assistance or assist with getting a part. UA80F transmissions are on a nationwide backorder. They also would not acknowledge that there is a problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The 8-speed automatic transmission was making a whirring, whining noise. Transmission could failed completely and stranded occupants including children. Vehicle has been serviced every 5,000 miles and no warning lights or indicators ever came on. Dealer inspected and diagnosed an internal component failure necessitating complete transmission replacement. Vehicle is 4 years and 2 months old with 65,000 miles on it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission going out afraid it will come apart or lose power while driving. Toyota dealership told me that we could put new transmission in but it will be the same as the one that is in it and that problem with them has not been corrected and it probably won't hold up long either. Our vehicle only has 71000 miles and we bought it new. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle was making an abnormal whining sound. The contact stated that the failure occurred at various speeds. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: T-SB-0008-21 Whine Or Grind Noise from Transmission (Power Train). The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 98,000 |
| Mar 2025 | AIR BAGS | The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. 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. Parts distribution disconnect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | AIR BAGS | There was a safety recall for this airbag issue, and Toyota estimated the remedy can be available in Quarter 3, 2024, however, till date nothing was completed. Toyota failed to resolve this matter in a timely manner. Every time I ask the dealer, they say no remedy yet! This is very unacceptable. This is affecting my personal finance. I need this to be resolved ASAP. Thank you. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Complete transmission and transfer assembly failure at 72,000. Just outside manufacturer warranty. Toyota Dealership and Corporate refused to acknowledge responsibility, stating that the transmission and transfer assembly met warranty requirements, and that they would not entertain assistance. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |