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2020 Toyota Highlander Electrical Problems

12 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data

12
Complaints
Jan 2021Dec 2025
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (12)

mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,SEATS
Filed: Dec 2025

The rear hatch door will not close or open and just sit there.And dings, you have to manually close it and open it most times and it never fully sucks up and latches fully and it doesnt notify you on the hood display of the car , so when we were driving down the road, we heard loud hissing and road noise coming from the rear and come to find out the rear hatch had never fully closed or latched itself fully.And it hangs up constantly.

NHTSA #: 11704988
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2025

DOOR LOCKS DO NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH THE CAR FOB, NOW ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK WITH THE FOB, YOU HAVE TO UNLOCK FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE

NHTSA #: 11692847
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
Filed: Jul 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that upon turning off the vehicle and locking the vehicle with the key fob, the doors were intermittently unlocked upon returning to the vehicle. The contact stated that over the years, the failure had become more frequent, but had become constant. The contact called two dealers and informed the dealers about the failure and was informed that a callback would be returned; however, the contact had yet to receive the callback. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.

NHTSA #: 11673318
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jun 2025

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.

NHTSA #: 11665219
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2024

Loud screeching noise from stereo speakers. Very loud.

NHTSA #: 11589036
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Nov 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to jumpstart the vehicle and the vehicle operated normally. The contact had taken to the vehicle to a certified mechanic who tested the battery and alternator but found no failure. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 57,000.

NHTSA #: 11557585
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
Filed: Sep 2022

ECU system failure. Dealer ship is stating ECU system was damage from soda or coffee which is not accurate found a recall on this vehicles with the same issue our vehicle is having.

NHTSA #: 11482705
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2021

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander equipped with a Tekonsha Prodigy RF Electronic Brake Control with Bluetooth kits, part number 902501. The contact purchased the unit to use for towing a trailer. The contact purchased the part at an independent mechanic and had the equipment installed by another independent mechanic. When the contact first attempted to use the brake kit, her and her husband had connected the equipment per the instructions and brake kit showed the letter "C" which meant the part was connected. As the contact started driving the vehicle, a NC (not connected) message had appeared on the brake kit. The contact decided to drive the vehicle back to her home and attempted to reconnect the brake system as instructed but the failure persisted. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the equipment had been placed under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20E033000 (Electrical System). The contact reached out to the independent mechanics, the one who sold the part and the other that installed it, and neither were aware of the recall. The contact also called the manufacturer and had written a letter to obtain the replacement part however, the contact had not heard back from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 0.

NHTSA #: 11422560
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Feb 2021

VEHICLE WILL NOT START WITHOUT A JUMP AFTER 3-5 HOURS. THE BATTERY STAYS CHARGED LESS THAN ONE DAY, BUT TYPICALLY STARTS AGAIN WITHOUT A JUMP IF DRIVEN AGAIN WITHIN A 3-5 HOUR PERIOD. THE VEHICLE STAYS RUNNING ONCE JUMPED. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATES A SOFTWARE UPDATE MAY BE REQUIRED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE PURCHASE ON JUNE 7, 2020. DATE BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT DATE IT OCCURRED.

NHTSA #: 11395569
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2021

VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE REIEVED CODE P0300 REDUCED ENGINE POWER ON HIGHWAY WHEN ACCELERATING

NHTSA #: 11387820
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,LANE DEPARTURE
Filed: Nov 2020

BLIND SPOT MONITORING IS NOT WORKING. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP THY SAID IT NEEDED RE-CALIBRATION BUT IT STILL DOESN'T SEE SEMI TRUCKS. MY WIFE ACCIDENTALLY RAN ANOTHER WOMEN OFF ROAD BECAUSE SHE TRUSTED THIS TOYOTA SYSTEM. SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY STILL WORKING INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA #: 11374846
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: May 2020

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

NHTSA #: 11325952

Other 2020 Toyota Highlander Issues