2020 Toyota HIGHLANDER: complaints, problems and recalls

AFTER LEAVING A SHOPPING CENTER ON FEBRUARY 29 2020, WE PULLED OUT ONTO A ROAD TO HEAD TOWARDS HOME. WE WERE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR IN TRAFFIC AND RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION ON THE SCREEN THAT SAID THE ENGINE WAS OFF, PUT CAR IN PARK. THERE WAS ALSO A WARNING LIGHT THAT CAME ON FOR THE ELECTRONIC STEERING ASSIST WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT. WE WERE ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TRYING TO MANEUVER THROUGH TRAFFIC OF 4 LANES. WE PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE. IT WOULD TURN OVER, BUT NOT START. WE CALLED …

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11315755 at NHTSA ↗

SUSPENSION IS VERY LOUD AND TIGHT, THE CABIN NOISE IS VERY NOISY IT CAN HIT 95 DECIBELS ON SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL METER. THE NOISE IS SO BAD THAT I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLES ANY MORE UNLESS I TURN THE RADIO VOLUME UP AND I CAN NOT HEAR EMERGENCY VEHICLES.THE SERVICE PEOPLE SAID THAT IS NORMAL.THE VEHICLE NOISE CAN BE UNBEARABLE AT TIMES.IWONDER WHAT IT DOING TO MY HEARING.THE VEHICLE WAS LIKE THIS SINCE I BOUGHT NEW.

Owner-reported narrative. 89 miles reported. Look up ODI 11320379 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE SUSPENSION IS VERY TIGHT AND CABIN NOISE IS VERY LOUD.ICAN HIT 95 DECIBELS ON MY SOUND PRESSURE METER. HAVE TO TURN THE RADIO UP SO I DO NOT HEAR IT . CANNOT HEAR EMERGENCY VEHICLES. WONDER IT IS DOING TO MY HEARING. THIS A NEW VEHICLE TOOK IT TO TWO DEALERSHIPS AND THEY SAY IT IS NORMAL, THAT CAN NOT BE NORMAL IT SOUNDS LIKES TRUCK. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11320381 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11322170 at NHTSA ↗

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. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHEN THE TANK IS EMPTY (THE DASH SAYS I …

Owner-reported narrative. 950 miles reported. Look up ODI 11323593 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE HESITATES, STALLS AND HAS BUCKING LEAPING FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY, ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS A VERY LOUD WHINING NOISE UPON SHIFTING THE CAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND BACK AGAIN FROM DRIVE TO PARK, AT A STAND STILL. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH A NEE CAR, MY WIFE AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE WHILE DRIVING IN THIS CAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 11325952 at NHTSA ↗

THIS VEHICLE WILL LET YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF IN DRIVE WITHOUT SHIFTING TO PARK. IF YOU DO THIS AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, IT WILL ROLL AWAY AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET BACK TO IT AND INTO IT IN TIME TO GET YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THEN SHIFT IT INTO PARK. THIS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED. YOU SHOULD HAVE TO SHIFT TO PARK BEFORE THE ENGINE CAN BE TURNED OFF. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11328585 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELT SENSORS AND ALERTS FOR ALL SEATS, YET FAILS TO ACCURATELY REPORT WHICH SEATS ARE BUCKLED OR NOT WHEN OCCUPIED. THIS ALERT IS SUPPOSED TO OCCUR WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE AND BEFORE SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. MANY TIMES, WITH JUST THE DRIVER SITTING AND NO PASSENGERS IN THE CAR, IT REPORTS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE SEATED WITH AN UNBUCKLED SEAT BELT. OTHER TIMES WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE SEATED AND UNBUCKLED THE SYSTEM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT AND NO ALERT APPEARS. THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE THAT IS ADVERTISED FOR SALES BUT DO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11329026 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2020-03-19 (March 19, 2020)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020 Highlander vehicles equipped with a 3.5 L, V6 (2GR-FKS) gasoline engine. Due to an Engine Control Unit (ECU) programming error, fuel may not be correctly supplied to the engine while using the stop and restart feature.

Consequence: Improper fuel supply programming can result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECU, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA06.

Reported: 2020-10-14 (October 14, 2020)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020 Highlander and Highlander hybrid vehicles. Incorrect seat trim covers on one or both of the front seats can prevent the seat-mounted side air bag from deploying properly.

Consequence: Improper deployment of the seat-mounted side air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats and replace the seat trim covers as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB14 / 20TA14.

Reported: 2023-10-26 (October 26, 2023)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Highlander & Highlander Hybrid vehicles. During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching.

Consequence: A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace the upper and lower front bumper covers as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 22, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB12/23TA12.

Reported: 2023-12-20 (December 20, 2023)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.

Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.