Toyota Highlander 2020–presentCommon problems, reliability & repair costs

Symptoms: Hesitation off the line, delayed or harsh 2–3 upshifts, clunking in low-speed stop-and-go, torque-converter shudder at light throttle, and in some cars a high-pitched whine that grows with road speed. Worst cases end in complete transmission replacement.

Fix: Start cheap: Toyota issued software recalibrations and TSBs for shift quality, and a fluid service plus reflash settles many complainers. Shudder cases often need a torque converter (~$2,500–$4,500 at an independent shop). Genuine internal failures (the reported counter-gear retaining-nut assembly defect) mean a replacement transmission — $5,000–$9,000 independent, more at a dealer. A class-action lawsuit over the UA80E/UA80F covers 2017-onward Highlanders; check for open litigation or goodwill coverage before paying out of pocket.

Sources: CarComplaints news — Toyota 8-speed transmission lawsuit, CarComplaints — 2020 Highlander power train complaints, Torque News — 2020–2024 Highlander V6 transmission failures

Symptoms: A/C suddenly blows warm, often after highway driving. Inspection finds a small puncture or bent fins on the condenser, which sits tall and exposed behind the Highlander's wide-open grille.

Fix: Condenser replacement plus refrigerant evac/recharge. Dealers routinely deny warranty coverage, calling a rock strike 'outside influence,' so owners eat the bill. The condenser covers far more of the frontal area than on rivals like the Pilot, which is why this rare failure is common on this truck. A $30 mesh screen behind the grille is cheap insurance — see the repairs section.

Sources: CarComplaints — 2020 Highlander A/C condenser damage, ToyotaNation — A/C condenser damage, 2020 Highlander

Symptoms: The center display freezes, reboots to the Toyota logo while driving, goes black intermittently, or won't wake at startup — taking the back-up camera, audio, and sometimes climate display with it. The camera flashing between image and black screen in reverse is a common variant.

Fix: First step is free or cheap: a hard reset and the dealer software update (TSB T-SB-0055-22) resolve many cases. Cars whose head units keep failing — the Denso-built units have the worse reputation — need the display/receiver assembly replaced, which is painful out of warranty. Because reversing with a dead screen means no camera, NHTSA complaints treat this as a safety issue, not an annoyance. Late 2025 added two related recalls with free software fixes: 25V-595 (the 12.3-inch gauge cluster can be blank at startup, 2023–2025 trucks) and 25V-744 (the back-up camera display can freeze or go blank in reverse, 2023–2025 trucks with the Panoramic View Monitor — part of a 1,000,000+ vehicle Toyota/Lexus recall). If a screen misbehaves on a 2023+ car, check those campaigns by VIN before paying for anything.

Sources: ToyotaNation — infotainment screen freeze and shut down, ToyotaNation — audio and nav screen blank, Go-Parts — 2020–2024 Highlander display: reboots and blank screens, Lemon Law Experts — Toyota instrument panel display recall (NHTSA 25V-595), Fox 5 Atlanta — Toyota recalls 1M+ vehicles for rearview camera freeze (NHTSA 25V-744)

Symptoms: Windshield cracks from small chips that would be a non-event on other cars, and some owners report cracks spreading from the bottom edge with no impact point at all. Owner groups are full of second- and third-windshield stories.

Fix: Replacement is the only fix once a crack runs. The upper end of the range is an OEM windshield plus the forward-camera (Toyota Safety Sense) recalibration it requires. Aftermarket glass is cheaper but get the calibration done regardless — the lane-keep and pre-collision cameras look through this glass. Worth adding glass coverage to your insurance on this car.

Sources: Torque News — Highlander windshields crack more than they should, ToyotaNation — windshields keep cracking

Symptoms: The engine hesitates when you tip into the throttle, then surges forward — a bucking, unpredictable response most noticeable in around-town acceleration on early 2023 cars.

Fix: Toyota issued TSB T-SB-0087-23 with revised ECU calibration, and owners report the reflash fixes it — free under warranty, an hour of labor out of it. Beyond this, the T24A-FTS has shown no widespread failures so far; it is a young engine, so long-term data is thin. Note this is NOT the twin-turbo V35A V6 with the Tundra's well-publicized problems — different engine, different truck. Through mid-2026 the later turbo cars stay quiet: the 2025 model year shows a single-digit NHTSA complaint count with zero on CarComplaints, and the 2026 has one complaint and no recalls recorded.

Sources: ToyotaNation — 2023 Highlander 2.4 turbo surging and bucking, CarComplaints — 2024 Toyota Highlander, CarComplaints — 2025 Toyota Highlander (no complaints on file)

Symptoms: After the second-row seat back is folded or adjusted, the recliner teeth may not fully engage, leaving the seat back unlocked. It can look and feel normal, then fail to hold in a crash or hard stop. Root cause is a supplier design change combined with spring orientation and component clearance inside the recliner.

Fix: Free recall work — NHTSA campaign 26V-128 (Toyota 26TB06/26TA06), announced March 2026 and covering 550,007 Highlanders and Highlander Hybrids from 2021–2024. Dealers replace the return springs in the second-row recliner assemblies. Owner letters started mailing April 20, 2026. Until it's done, push on the seat back after any adjustment to confirm it latched, and run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Sources: CBS News — Toyota recalls 550,000 Highlander SUVs over seat back locks, NHTSA recall 26V-128 owner notification

Tools: Plastic trim removal tools, 10mm socket, Zip ties or stainless wire, Scissors / tin snips

1. Buy a roll of black aluminum or plastic gutter-guard mesh, or a pre-cut Highlander grille screen kit.
2. Remove the plastic push clips along the top of the grille/radiator cover and pop the upper grille surround loose with trim tools.
3. Cut the mesh to match the grille openings, leaving an inch of overlap on all sides.
4. Secure the mesh behind the grille with zip ties through the grille lattice — snug, not stressed, so it can't rattle.
5. Reinstall the surround and clips, then confirm nothing touches the condenser fins and airflow paths are clear.

Tools: None (hands only for both filters)

1. Open the glovebox, squeeze the sides to release the stops, and lower it fully.
2. Unclip the cabin filter cover, slide the old filter out, and insert the new one with the airflow arrow pointing the right way (marked on the housing).
3. Under the hood, release the metal clips on the airbox lid and swing it open.
4. Swap in the new engine air filter, seat the lid, and re-clip.

Tools: Ramps or jack + jack stands, Oil filter cap wrench (64mm, cartridge-style housing), 14mm socket (drain plug), Drain pan and funnel

1. Warm the engine briefly, raise the front, and remove the under-tray access panel to reach the drain plug and filter housing.
2. Drain the oil (about 5.8 qt on the V6, 4.8 qt on the 2.5L hybrid) and reinstall the drain plug with a new gasket.
3. Unscrew the cartridge filter housing with the cap wrench, swap the filter element and O-rings from the kit, and torque the housing by hand plus a nudge.
4. Refill with 0W-16 (hybrid) or 0W-20 (V6) full synthetic per the oil cap, run the engine, check for leaks, and top to the full mark.
5. Reset the maintenance reminder in the gauge-cluster menu.