2021-2023 Toyota Highlander Body Bumpers Recall (23V720)
Toyota Motor Corporation · 750,795 vehicles · Reported October 26, 2023
Toyota Motor Corporation is recalling 750,795 2021-2023 Toyota Highlander; 2021-2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching. A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V720 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V720000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 23TB12 / 23TA12 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | October 26, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Toyota Motor Corporation |
| Vehicles | 2021-2023 Toyota Highlander; 2021-2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid |
| Units affected | 750,795 |
| Component | Structure > Body > Bumpers |
| Safety risk | A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2023 Toyota Highlander in recall 23V720?
During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching.
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.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2023 Highlander with recall 23V720?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the bumpers.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V720?
Recall 23V720 covers 750,795 vehicles: 2021-2023 Toyota Highlander; 2021-2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
NHTSA lists 750,795 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2023 | Toyota | Highlander |
| 2021-2023 | Toyota | Highlander Hybrid |
What is the fix for the Highlander body bumpers recall?
Yes. Dealers will repair or replace the upper and lower front bumper covers as necessary, free of charge.
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.
Manufacturer recall number: 23TB12 / 23TA12.
When was recall 23V720 announced?
Toyota Motor Corporation reported recall 23V720 to NHTSA on October 26, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 26, 2023 | Toyota Motor Corporation filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V720000. |
| April 22, 2024 | Letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 35 months ago. If your Highlander was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Highlander is part of recall 23V720?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V720 is open on your Highlander, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 23V720000 is open on your Highlander, it will be listed there, along with Toyota recall number 23TB12 / 23TA12. You can also ask any Toyota dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Highlander owners do about recall 23V720?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V720000 applies to your Highlander.
- Call a Toyota dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the bumpers happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Highlander owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 989 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 80 of them about the body, doors and seats.
Since recall 23V720 was reported on October 26, 2023, owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA about the body, doors and seats on these vehicles. 3 of them (4%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the body, doors and seats and were received on or after October 26, 2023, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related body, doors and seats issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 989 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 80 of them involve the body, doors and seats. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Toyota Highlander: 521 complaints in total, 15 about the body, doors and seats
- 2022 Toyota Highlander: 257 complaints in total, 28 about the body, doors and seats
- 2023 Toyota Highlander: 181 complaints in total, 30 about the body, doors and seats
- 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: 15 complaints in total, 3 about the body, doors and seats
- 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: 9 complaints in total, 4 about the body, doors and seats
- 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: 6 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that the mounting pad on the driver's side front bumper had detached and fallen off the vehicle. The dealer was made aware of the failure.
2022 Toyota Highlander owner, MA, NHTSA complaint 11669022, filed June 24, 2025
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving in inclement weather, water was leaking from the overhead console on the driver's side, where the sunglasses holder was located. Additionally, water stains were on the headliner above the driver’s side rear third row seats.
2022 Toyota Highlander owner, NH, NHTSA complaint 11732479, filed April 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V720000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.
2022 Toyota Highlander owner, HI, NHTSA complaint 11563130, filed January 2, 2024
Can recall 23V720 make my Highlander a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this bumpers recall means their Highlander qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Body and latch defects on the 2021-2023 Toyota Highlander may seem minor until a door opens while driving or a seat will not lock. Problems that return after repair belong in your records.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021-2023 Toyota Highlander has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Highlander been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Toyota Highlander recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V720
Did the recall 23V720 fix work?
Since recall 23V720 was reported on October 26, 2023, owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA about the body, doors and seats on these vehicles. 3 of them (4%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 23V720000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Highlander is part of recall 23V720000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 23V720000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Toyota. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.