2020 Toyota Highlander Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 20about this part
- Share
- 6%of 322 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 5,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the fuel system of the 2020 Toyota Highlander, 6% of the 322 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 5,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“Toyota advertises and represents that the Highlander hybrid′s fuel tank capacity is 17.1 gallons, and based on its 35 mpg rating, the range should be about 600 miles. However, I am not able to fill the tank by more than 12 gallons thus reducing my range to 420 miles. I believe there is a defect in the newly designed saddle tank which prohibits the tank from being filled completely thus cheating me out of about 180 miles of driving range.”
NHTSA complaint #11322170, filed 2020-04, 700 miles“My new 2020 Highlander hybrid has a big issue with the gas tank. I get only 460 miles, even if I top it off with the gas spewing out. Toyota advertised a 600 mile range to the Highlander hybrid. The 600 mile fuel range seems very off with the 2020 Highlander hybrid. I have the xle and always have kept it in eco mode. I've driven over a thousand miles on the car, but the mile range estimate on the car is inaccurate and seems to be off a lot if it's supposed to get 600 miles to a tank. …”
NHTSA complaint #11323593, filed 2020-05, 950 miles“Unable to completely fill fuel tank. When fuel light comes on and I go to fill it, I get no more than 13 gallons in my tank. The fuel gauge only reads 3/4 full. Never completely full.”
NHTSA complaint #11397191, filed 2021-02, 9,000 miles“The vehicle is sold as having a 17 gallon fuel tank. I've driven the vehicle for 5000 plus miles now. I have never been able to get more than 13 gallons of fuel into the tank. I have waited until the gage said there was only 12 mile until empty. Still could only fill up with on 13 gallons of fuel. The gage say's it's full. I have made the Toyota dealership aware of the issue. But they said there was nothing on their system about a recall or needed repair. If the vehicle is advertised as having a 17 gallon tank I should be able to use that whale 17 gallons of fuel. …”
NHTSA complaint #11399660, filed 2021-03, 5,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10240057Jun 8, 2023TSB: Some 2020 ? 2023 model year Highlander Hybrid and 2021 ? 2023 model year RAV4 Hybrid, RAV4 Prime, Sienna Hybrid, and Venza Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a MIL ON condition…
- 10236191Apr 5, 2023DP: Although the high-pressure fuel pump is covered by Toyota?s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the…
- 10234314Mar 6, 2023TSB: Some 2019 ? 2022 model year Avalon, 2018 ? 2023 model year Camry, 2017 ? 2022 model year Highlander, and 2017 ? 2020 model year Sienna vehicles equipped with a 2GR-FKS…
- 10230385Dec 22, 2022TSB: Some 2019 ? 2022 model year Avalon, 2018 ? 2023 model year Camry, 2017 ? 2022 model year Highlander, 2017 ? 2020 model year Sienna, and 2016 ? 2023 model year Tacoma…
- 10230364Dec 9, 2022TSB: Some 2020 ? 2022 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid and 2021 ? 2022 Sienna Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a MIL ON condition with Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P0087 (Fuel…
- 10202492Sep 21, 2021TT: Special Service Campaign 21TC05 applies to the following condition: The fuel gauge needle and the ?distance to empty? estimated in the vehicle display accurately indicate the…
Fuel system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | 19% |
| 2023 | 17 | 9% |
| 2022 | 10 | 4% |
| 2021 | 31 | 6% |
| 2020 | 20 | 6% |
| 2019 | 109 | 21% |
| 2018 | 36 | 13% |
| 2017 | 37 | 14% |
| 2016 | 4 | 4% |
| 2015 | 4 | 2% |
| 2013 | 15 | 7% |
| 2012 | 3 | 2% |
| 2011 | 1 | 1% |
| 2010 | 4 | 2% |
| 2009 | 2 | 1% |
| 2008 | 13 | 3% |
| 2007 | 6 | 5% |
| 2006 | 12 | 4% |
| 2005 | 6 | 3% |
| 2004 | 7 | 2% |
| 2003 | 10 | 4% |
| 2002 | 2 | 1% |
| 2001 | 5 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2020 Toyota Highlander
126 complaintsOther or unknown
46 complaintsBrakes
41 complaintsAir bags
32 complaintsBody and structure
30 complaintsElectrical system
18 complaintsEngine
17 complaintsVehicle speed control
10 complaintsForward collision avoidance
7 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaintsSteering
6 complaintsLane departure
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2020 Toyota Highlander
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology