2020 Toyota Highlander vs 2021 Toyota Highlander
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2020 Toyota Highlander | 2021 Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 314 | 512 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 186 | 180 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 15 | 16 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–36 | 23–36 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 30,000 mi | 29,055 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Toyota Highlander | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 125 | 219 |
| Service Brakes | 37 | 66 |
| Structure | 29 | 51 |
| Air Bags | 32 | 42 |
| Engine | 16 | 44 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 19 | 31 |
| Electrical System | 18 | 26 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 8 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Hesitation / surging | 20 | 33 |
| Stalling | 11 | 19 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 12 |
| Loss of power | 6 | 25 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 6 |
| Vibration / shaking | 6 | 19 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 8 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 6 |
2020 Toyota Highlander
2021 Toyota Highlander
Compare all Toyota Highlander vs Toyota Highlander years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.