Why You Cannot Get a Tow Hitch for Some 2020 Toyota Highlander Models

The lack of the tailgate window not opening with the tailgate closed is more of an issue with me. How do you get in the back if you have (as I will) a powered wheelchair trailer on the back. That's moving me towards a 2018-2019 model, not the 2020.

I have been waiting and planning to purchase a 2020 Highlander for several months...specifically a Platinum or Limited model. However, this is a deal breaker for me. I must have a trailer hitch. If I am not able to have a factory trailer hitch and maintain all functions, I will shift my focus to another vehicle. Although I’m only a single purchaser, this issue will cause Toyota to lose this customer. I can’t believe that a major automaker of Toyota’s caliber would make this mistake.

Same here. We are looking at the 2020 Highlander and thought we'd go for the XLE, but the extras on the Limited looked to be worth the upgrade for us. It is a deal breaker without the factory hitch. It's really a foolish problem. I would think almost everyone looking at a Highlander would need the hitch. I hope they find a solution soon!

Are you saying that the tailgate window doesn’t open at all?

I recently purchased a 2020 Highlander Limited and personally don't care if I lose the under rear kick option for the rear gate. I found both Curt and Draw-Tite (76156) have hitches that will work and I much prefer the lower hitch than one hidden in the bumper. Ordered one today.

I'm sorry but a factory installed hitch hidden in the bumper is much cleaner looking.
I am extremely picky about how my vehicles look and if Toyota can not manufacture a 2020 Highlander Limited/Platinum with a factory tow hitch, I will purchase a Kia or
Hyundai Limited that comes with a factory hitch. I'm sure I'm not the only potential buyer who geeks this way! BMW finally got with the program and started to manufacture X3's in 2018 and X5's in 2019 with factory tow hitches because they were losing so many customers.

I was at the dealer last week and found out about this issue as well. I too was looking at the Limited Hybrid to purchase. First I want to say some folks want a 2nd row bench seat even with Platinum grade luxury. I considered the Lincoln Aviator Plug In Hybrid since it had 2nd row bench with the similar luxury(Lincoln is really comfy and quiet) but felt the Toyota Highlander was a better buy at around 34 MPG for the AWD Hybrid. Also I wasn't too excited about all of the issues the Aviator had after the launch. Lincoln should have better quality control and better engineering. All were stupid issues but some were really detrimental like shifting issues and parking issues.

The Toyota manufacturer tow hitch that cannot be installed is a big issue for me since I was going to get a small trailer and also I need my bike rack to go on the tow hitch since I travel for triathlons. I will more than likely look elsewhere for my car like Hyundai Palisade or Kia Telluride and even consider the Aviator again if they get their act together. Toyota, this is an extremely stupid problem and you are losing sales since I was ready to pull the trigger and put down a deposit to order mine with the color and options.

Also the 12.3 inch screen needs an update! Why can't the temperature information and 1/3 of the screen go away? Some people want Android Auto, Apple Car Play all across the screen. Whoever designed the user interface needs to fix this issue. At least give the driver the option to hide this screen unless it is needed to display the temperature. This issue made me think to take the standard size screen but now I don't get the 360 birds eye camera option. Also what is the point of the initial 360 rotate view when you turn on this mode? I just want to see the top view of the car so I can check the lines in a parking lot or for parallel parking. The 360 rotational view cannot be used efficiently when parallel parking on a busy street. Or again give us an option on how this is implemented for the driver.

Last gripe on the Limited and XLE model. Who decided to place the 2nd row conditioning vents in the passenger's face. It's literally right above the head area. The LE models and Platinum models have it on the side but XLE and Limited have it in a really awkward location. Blows straight into your face and really can't direct it anywhere else. WHY DID YOU DO THAT!?

Some positives though:
1.) Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is nice since now it can work in California traffic conditions in full range speed.
2.) Hybrid warranty increase is awesome. Good way to fight back against Tesla and their all electric car battery warranty. I feel way more comfortable with Toyota's hybrids than Tesla's.

So close to purchasing the car but can't drop $50K+(it's an expensive car!) with these issues. What a shame since I've been a Toyota and Lexus loyalist for over 2 decades. Unfortunately issues like these create conquest buyers to other brands.

I had a Toyota hitch installed on my 2020 Highlander Platinum. The kit came from Toyota dealer. They missed the fact that a converter is needed to complete wiring. The kit had a heavy box with tow receiver with wiring harness, a 5 foot long box with a black plastic lower bumper cover (replaced silver cover), two boxes with lower covers left and right, and then the converter. They printed instructions and the converter has separate instructions. Besides the converter snafu that costs me $100 to diagnose no power to wiring harness it went well. It is a might do it yourself but hitch is heavy so you need two people. Toyota wants 4 hours to install.

I own Highlander 2020 Platinum and need a hitch. Cannot we install Toyota original hitch for XLE AWD model and remove/disable a foot kick sensor opener for the back door. What is wrong with this approach

Hitch with wiring harness: PT228-48200 210 HLDR TOWH $425
RH Rear Undercover PT228-48203 207 HLDR CLOS $ 35
Lower Bumper Cover PT228-48204 207 HLDR TOWH $ 45
LH Rear Undercover PT228-48202 207 HLDR CLOS $ 39
Converter PT725-48200 HLDR TOWIREHAR CO $93

Like one of your other responders, I too held off on a purchase of the 2019 Highlander Limited, simply becuase I knew that the redesign would be coming in the 2020 model. I need the towing capability without any questions, and currently drive a Limited trim Highlander, so I am not about to drop down a level to the XLE trim. If this problem is not corrected by May 2020 I will have no other option but to explore other vehicles. I've been driving Toyota's for over fifty years (my first was a 1968 four-door Corona sedan) and would hate to have to switch to a different brand, but I absolutely need to have the towing capability that the lower grade trim lines provide.

Bill,

I am in the same boat waiting for a hitch. Can you tell me which Toyota dealer you used?

terrible planning. I want ventilated seats as well which are only in platinum. I also want a hitch for jet ski, bikes, etc. Terrible planning

This is a deal breaker for me. I definitely desire the convenience and performance options standard in the Limited trim, but I will not buy an SUV that does not have a factory installed tow hitch. What a bonehead move, Toyota. Can't a hole be drilled the hitch mounting structure on one side of the receiver tube and mount the lift gate sensor there?

Bill - did you have to cut a hole in the bumper to fit the hitch? Our toytota dealer told us that in addition to the foot sensor problem the they'd have to cut a hole in the bumper to install the hitch!