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Toyota Highlander HybridModel year report

2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Problems

Complaints
9filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
28,500miles, 4 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
35 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl · hybrid AWD · 35 city / 35 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The part named most often is air bags, with 4 complaints (44% of the total), followed by brakes (2) and body and structure (1). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 75% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 28,500 miles. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 140 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the occupant classification and 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

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.”

NHTSA complaint #11649785, filed 2025-03

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.”

NHTSA complaint #11668825, filed 2025-06

Body and 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. …”

NHTSA complaint #11657262, filed 2025-04, 60,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

75% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 19,000 and 38,000 miles.

25%0–1025%10–2525%25–5025%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (4 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 28,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

2021202320256
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Highlander Hybrid · SUV AWD★★★★★4 / 4554 · 16.4% risk
Highlander Hybrid · SUV FWD★★★★★4 / 4554 · 16.9% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2020 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking standard.

Neighbouring years: 2019: same overall rating; 2021: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Highlander Hybrid FWD2.5L 4-cyl · hybridCVT363536$1,850
Highlander Hybrid AWD2.5L 4-cyl · hybridCVT353535$1,900
Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT2.5L 4-cyl · hybridCVT353435$1,900

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 140 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 140 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2023913,0006535—Too new
2022632,5004535—Not enough data
20211527,3004535—Rising
2020928,5004535—Not enough data
201966,8000529—Not enough data
201858500529—Not enough data
2016647,0120528—Not enough data
2013547,6000—28—Not enough data
2012986,0000—28—Not enough data
2011572,0001—28—Not enough data
20102243,5004—26—Stable
20094063,1004—26Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Stable
2008197110,0006—26Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Rising
2007110105,0002—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200637093,5506—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Toyota Highlander Hybrid model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid have?

NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 4 complaints (44% of the total), followed by brakes with 2.

Has the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid get?

The EPA rates the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid (Highlander Hybrid AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 35 mpg combined, 35 city and 35 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid reported?

Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 28,500 miles and the middle half falls between 19,000 and 38,000 miles; 75% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.