2020 Toyota Highlander: wrong fuel gauge reading

Filed Feb 8, 2022 · Electrical, Fuel system · WA

Fuel gauge is inaccurate, leading to potential safety issues. The fuel gauge does not show as full, when the car is refueled, and likewise shows as empty when there is enough fuel to drive hundreds of miles. This has led to situations where the fuel light is on, and car is indicating no remaining miles left, but there is plenty of fuel. Toyota knows there is a problem. I started a Lemon Law claim with the Washington State Attorney's General office and notified Toyota. They have offered to replace my vehicle, which is currently in process.

Filed Nov 15, 2021 · Fuel system · WA

Since purchasing this vehicle I began to notice that the fuel gauge is inaccurate. This issue is sporadic. Often after filling the gas tank completely, the gauge will only register as 3/4 full. Like wise, it is inaccurate when the tank gets low, showing that there is 1/4 tank, when in fact it is nearly empty. The "remaining miles" indicator that displays is likewise inaccurate and often the low fuel indicator light comes on when it shouldn't, and doesn't display when it should. I have had it to the deal 4 times now for repair. Initially they told me nothing was wrong, then indicated that a software update was necessary. When that didn't fix it, I returned the vehicle and they indicated an instrument panel sensor chip needed to be replaced. I waited a month for that to happen and it didn't fix the issue. I then opened a trouble incident with Toyota USA and after several weeks received a call back from the dealer indicating this is a known (presumably still developing) issue and has something to do with a faulty gas tank that causes the readings to be inaccurate. The dealer indicated that they know this will require the gas tank to be replaced but that they don't have parts to do this and will contact me at some point in the future. This is a serious safety issue, as it could lead to the vehicle running out of gas while driving, without any indication that the fuel is low. The only way to have any certainty regarding the fuel level is to do a calculation each time you drive based on the estimated fuel economy and # of miles driven since the last fill up.

Filed Feb 21, 2021 · Fuel system · 9,000 miles · CO

Unable to completely fill fuel tank. When fuel light comes on and I go to fill it, I get no more than 13 gallons in my tank. The fuel gauge only reads 3/4 full. Never completely full.

Filed Jan 25, 2021 · Fuel system · 5,000 miles · PA

When re-fueling the vehicle with dte of less than 30 miles, the fuel shuts off around 12 gal. 2nd click for fuel stoppage may yield another 0.5 gal. Nothing adds up to 17.1 gal of fuel in the tank. Going beyond the 1st click is bad for the system, yet only fills the car up to 7/8 full on the fuel gauge.

Filed Jan 21, 2021 · Fuel system · VA

Fuel gauge does not properly register full hybrid fuel tank (design) and/or defective fuel level sending unit. Toyota service report (6032680/1- 25 sep 2020); toyota service report (6046594/1- 21 jan 2021).

Filed Oct 15, 2020 · Fuel system · 473 miles · MN

I purchased a 2020 toyota highlander hybrid awd in may 2020. In june 2020, I noticed a discrepancy between the gas gauge ABS the distance to empty indicator. The gas gauge said there was 3/4 of a tank left but the dte said I had only 43 miles. I went to the gas station today (october 2020) to fill up my vehicle and filled it until the gas shut-off tripped. I turned on my car and noticed that my gas gauge said it was only 7/8th full. Thinking it tripped too soon I refilled it again but only 0.5 gallons went into tank before the shut-off tripped again. When I turned on the car this time the gas gauge indicated it was full. I doubt the gas gauge is functioning properly.