What Toyota Highlander owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Toyota Highlander safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| 2025 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 |
| 2024 | 42 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 81 |
| 2023 | 191 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 130 |
| 2022 | 265 | 17 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 160 |
| 2021 | 538 | 16 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 180 |
| 2020 | 326 | 15 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 186 |
| 2019 | 495 | 22 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 162 |
| 2018 | 272 | 24 | 2 | 25 | 0 | 253 |
| 2017 | 270 | 18 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 265 |
| 2016 | 117 | 14 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 269 |
| 2015 | 196 | 17 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 318 |
| 2014 | 138 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 418 |
| 2013 | 212 | 26 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 369 |
| 2012 | 191 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 320 |
| 2011 | 186 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 315 |
| 2010 | 238 | 19 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 331 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Toyota Highlander complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
Catastrophic mechanical transmission failure in 2019 Toyota Highlander. Diagnosed by Toyota dealership. Said to be the same issue as the recalls submitted for 2018 and 2021 Highlanders due to them having the same transmission
Vehicle engine is running rough and threatened to stall in traffic due to a failed low-pressure fuel pump. This model year is under a major fuel pump recall, but my VIN was excluded. The gauge isn't reading correctly either
The component involved was the vehicle's seat belt/restraint system. While my daughter was wearing the seat belt, it became stuck around her waist/abdomen and became extremely tight. The belt continued to tighten and would not loosen or release normally. The seat belt had to be cut in an emergency to free my daughter. My daughter was sitting in the second row to the right. The seat belt became stuck and extremely tight around her waist/abdomen. After she moved the shoulder portion of the seat belt behind her shoulder and then unbuckled the seat belt. Even after she unbuckled it, the belt did not loosen or release. Instead, belt continued retracting/tightening and pulled her body upward tow…
I was driving on the highway and the car stopped allowing me to accelerate which almost caused major issues with an accident. I was luckily able to pull off and coast to a safe area to stop. No warning lights ever came on. It appears to be a transmission failure. Iâm very lucky it didnât occur 5 minutes prior. Currently at dealership for inspection.
Toyota issued a safety bulletin in reference the issue with front carrier assembly pinion shaft in the UA80E and UA80F transmissions. They know there is an issue with the transmission and have known since 2/9/2021 when the vehicles were manufactured. But refuse to issue a recall. Toyota Safety Bulletin Ref # T-SB-0008-21
I own a 2021 Toyota Highlander Platinum AWD equipped with the 3\.5L V6 and approximately 77,000 miles\. The vehicle developed a humming/whining, airplane\-like noise from the front drivetrain while accelerating\. The noise increases with vehicle speed and stops when the accelerator is released\. There is no vibration, and the vehicle makes the same noise while traveling straight\. I took the vehicle to an authorized Toyota dealer, Kerry Toyota, and the dealer diagnosed the transmission as the source of the noise and recommended replacement of the transmission\. The quoted replacement cost is approximately $7,600 plus tax\. Toyota previously issued Technical Service Bulletin T\-SB\-0008\-2…
On September 23, 2026, at approximately 7:30 AM, I was driving the vehicle in a parking garage at an estimated speed of approximately 10 mph. While driving over a curve in the parking garage and applying the brakes to slow the vehicle and maneuver into a parking space, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own despite the brakes being applied. The vehicle struck the metal wire safety fence and then came to a stop. Prior to this incident, over the preceding 2â3 months, I had experienced intermittent problems with the transmission. Specifically, when shifting from neutral to reverse, the transmission would occasionally become temporarily stuck or fail to engage properly. It would then beg…
The Airbag and the windshield piller A trim was not properly repaired by Yark Toyota in [XXX] after an accident prior to selling it to the next customer on XXX. Inspection of car finding this out was on XXX INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
OBSOLETE NOTICE August 20, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0051-26.
Although the flow shut-off valve is covered by Toyotaâs New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customersâ ownership experience. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to Flow Shut-off Valve Coolant Leak.
2026 model year Toyota vehicles are equipped with driver side floor mat retainers to secure the floor mat in the correct position. In addition, some models may also utilize retainers for passenger side and rear seat floor mats. During Pre-Delivery Service (PDS), follow the appropriate Installation Procedure to attach the driver side, and if applicable, the passenger side and rear seatfloor mats to the vehicle carpet using the floor mat retainers.
Some 2020 â 2026 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a water leak from the roof rack attachment clips. This may be caused by the sealant in the roof channel obstructing the proper seating position for the clip gasket.
During the manufacturing process, tires are mounted on the vehicle as matched sets to help reduce conditions such as pulling or drifting. If the wheels are replaced or refinished before vehicle delivery, it is important that the tires remain on the vehicle in the same location and in the same direction of rotation.
A battery in a stored vehicle is subject to conditions that can reduce its performance and service life. These conditions include storage period, temperature, parasitic drain, and battery load. Because of these factors, battery inspection and maintenance are required in order to ensure proper operation and optimal battery life.
Long-term or off-site storage requires special care to maintain vehicle condition. The following guidelines should be performed to minimize vehicle component/part degradation due to extendedvehicle storage conditions. Long-term storage can affect a vehicleâs systems and components. Any problems that are found should be corrected immediately.
Although the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyotaâs New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customersâ ownership experience. Toyota is providing extended coverage under this Customer Support Program for repairs related to excessive corrosion to the wire harness connections at the Rear Motor Generator. Excessive corrosion can cause AM Radio Static during certain drive cycles, or the vehicle may not start.
Some 2020 â 2024 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the air conditioner does not cool due to a leak and/or corrosion in the rear underbody air conditioner tube and accessory assembly. The anti-corrosion material has been updated to reduce the possibility of this condition.
OBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries. This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year Repair Manual while performing a rescue charge. The GRX-5100 should be used wherever the Repair Manual references the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) charger.
OBSOLETE NOTICE February 13, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0009-26.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opens these when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Many end in a recall.
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-spe
On November 16, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an Engineering Analysis (EA18-006) as an upgrade to a Preliminary Evaluation (PE18-005). The investigation focused on allegations of steering wheel separation from the lower steering column after using the tilt and/or telescoping mechanism. Given the separation occurring when operating the tilt and/or telescoping function and failure of both shear capsules to maintain the lower steering column mounting position, potential f
On May 4, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE18-005 to investigate three allegations of steering column separation for Model Year (MY) 2008 through 2013 Toyota Highlander vehicles. Two (2) of the 3 complaints were received by ODI in April 2018 and occurred while the vehicle was in motion. Since opening PE18-005, one (1) additional VOQ involving steering column separation has been received. This incident occurred while the vehicle was stationary.As par
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2026, owners most often name: power train, unknown or other, electrical system. 3,689 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
