2020 Toyota Highlander Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year are dominated by a high-pitched whine or growl that owners trace to the transmission, which dealers have often diagnosed as needing replacement at relatively modest mileage. A second, mostly early-ownership cluster involves fuel filling — several owners say the tank accepts noticeably less than its stated capacity and that the gauge never reads full. Remaining reports are spread across brake behavior, a detaching front bumper cover, sunroof glass shattering, and occasional engine stalls.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission whine and reported transmission failure

   • 155 complaints (48%)
   • median 69,156 mi at 4.7 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $9,000 (median of 25 quotes)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe a high-pitched whine, whirring or humming from underneath the vehicle that appears while accelerating and often gets louder over time. Several say the vehicle then shifted harshly, lost power, or failed to accelerate, and that a dealer diagnosed internal bearing or transmission assembly failure and recommended replacement. Some report the repair was declined or only partly covered, and a few reference an internal Toyota customer support program or bulletin when discussing the sound. Mostly reported between roughly 55,000 and 140,000 miles, though a few owners noted noises at much lower mileage.

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the transmission fluid was serviced and whether any whine was inspected; listen for a steady whine during a test drive at 25-60 mph and on light acceleration.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2020 Toyota Highlander only has 68,826 miles on it. It began making a high-pitched whining sound three months ago. I have taken it to my mechanic and he said the transmission is about to go out. Toyota is not willing to fix it out of good faith/Goodwill since my warranty has ended. My argument is I bought that car thinking it would go 150,000 miles at least.”

   NHTSA complaint #11767181, filed 2026-09

   “develop a high-pitched whine, shuddering, or harsh shifting between 25 and 45 mph, which can lead to premature wear or complete failure. Also, On/ Off from no where and stopped in the middle of the road”

   NHTSA complaint #11765107, filed 2026-09, 141,597 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel tank will not fill to stated capacity

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report that the fuel nozzle shuts off well before the tank is full and that the gauge stops around three-quarters to seven-eighths, even when filling from near empty. Several describe the pump clicking off after roughly 12 to 13 gallons and note the resulting range is shorter than expected. Complaints say dealers told them nothing was on file about a repair, or did not resolve it. Almost all reported in the first few thousand miles, often on the first fill-ups after purchase.

   What to check: On a test drive, start near a low tank and try a fill-up yourself; note how many gallons go in and where the gauge lands, and ask the seller whether this was ever raised with a dealer.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Each time I fill up the car with gas I am unable to fill the tank to its listed capacity. The vehicle has a 17 gallon tank, but when the vehicle is near empty (1-2 gallons remaining) I can pump in only 12-13 gallons of gas. This greatly impacts the range of the vehicle. The date shown below is my most recent fill-up, but it has happened each time I fill up. I have reported this to my Toyota dealer.”

   NHTSA complaint #11405736, filed 2021-03, 4,100 miles

   “I purchased a 2020 Toyota Highlander hybrid awd in may 2020. In june 2020, I noticed a discrepancy between the gas gauge ABS the distance to empty indicator. The gas gauge said there was 3/4 of a tank left but the dte said I had only 43 miles. I went to the gas station today (october 2020) to fill up my vehicle and filled it until the gas shut-off tripped. I turned on my car and noticed that my gas gauge said it was only 7/8th full. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11364594, filed 2020-10, 473 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal feels soft or surges when braking

   • 30 complaints (9%)
   • median 18,296 mi at 2.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners report that the pedal sometimes needs extra pressure, feels stiff, or that the vehicle briefly seems to lurch forward while slowing through a certain speed range. Some describe a jerk or failure to stop as intended and say dealers could not duplicate the condition; others report a software update being applied. Reported from a few thousand miles up to around 100,000 miles, with several accounts tied to braking from highway speeds.

   What to check: During a test drive, brake firmly from 60 mph and again from about 25 mph on a safe road and note any pulsation, lurch or change in pedal feel; ask whether any brake-related software updates were done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was at a stop sign in my 2020 Highlander waiting to turn left onto a busy road. Upon turning left onto pa state highway 999, the Highlander engine turned off and the steering wheel was locked into a left position. This caused the car to continue turning into the opposing left lane resulting in a head-on collision with an on-coming car. With the engine turned off there was no power steering, no brakes, and no way to unlock the steering wheel. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11412850, filed 2021-04, 15,592 miles

   “I have been having intermittent issues with the brakes when turning on my car and going in reverse. On one occasion, after turning on the vehicle and putting it in reverse, the vehicle did not move despite being on level ground. I had to apply pressure on the accelerator and heard the car strain a little before I heard a sound come from the brakes and the car suddenly jerked backwards. I did not have my foot on the brakes and I did not have the emergency brake on. After this the bakes appears to function as usual. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11364598, filed 2020-10, 2,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Front lower bumper cover detaching

   • 11 complaints (3%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the front lower bumper cover coming loose or hanging down, sometimes flapping or dragging while driving and in some cases scattering debris or causing damage to the wheel well liners and undercarriage. Complaints state dealers tied the condition to a recall on the bumper cover, and some owners said the part was not available or that body work was required first. Reported from about 7,000 to 89,000 miles, often after minor contact with a curb or parking stop.

   Recall 23V720000

   What to check: Push on the front lower bumper cover at both corners and check for looseness, cracks or body-shop repairs; confirm with a dealer whether recall 23V720000 was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while inspecting the vehicle after an oil change, she noticed that the front lower bumper assembly was detached and was hanging down. Additionally, there was an abnormal sound coming from the front of the vehicle while driving. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11585285, filed 2024-04, 7,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MHP, the contact's husband became aware that there was unknown part had loosened on the front of the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact became aware that the front bumper assembly was detaching. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, the vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11600162, filed 2024-07, 30,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a highway-speed drive and a transmission listen is worthwhile on this model year, and it is worth confirming which open recalls have been completed. Owners who mostly do short trips may also want to verify the fuel filling behavior themselves before committing.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.