2018 Toyota Highlander vs 2020 Toyota Highlander
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Toyota Highlander | 2020 Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 258 | 302 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 253 | 186 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 22 | 13 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 22–28 | 23–36 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 17,500 mi | 30,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Toyota Highlander | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 60 | 120 |
| Service Brakes | 53 | 34 |
| Air Bags | 19 | 32 |
| Engine | 33 | 16 |
| Structure | 12 | 29 |
| Electrical System | 24 | 16 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 22 | 18 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 10 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 18 | 7 |
| Stalling | 17 | 8 |
| Hesitation / surging | 10 | 19 |
| Vibration / shaking | 8 | 5 |
| Won’t start | 5 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 6 |
| Shifting problems | 5 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 5 | 5 |
2018 Toyota Highlander
2020 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.