Toyota Grand Highlander Complaints

314 consumer complaints on file.

#11699345November 14, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Inconsistently but on numerous occasions, this vehicle has experienced harsh shifting, hesitation, or jerking during low-speed acceleration (e.g., 20-40 mph) or gear engagement. This was a known and reported issue with the 2024 model for which Toyota provided a fix. They have not provided one for the 2025 models. This issue is a safety risk while driving because with the surge you feel you must quickly let off the pedal, and with the hesitation you let off the brake indicating you will move forward yet the vehicle doesn’t accelerate.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11699123November 13, 2025
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and reversing, there was an abnormal banging sound coming from the vehicle. While attempting to reverse, the vehicle failed to move, but the vehicle was restarted and operated as designed. While driving, there was an abnormally loud clanking sound coming from the vehicle with the “WRENCH SYMBOL” displayed. There were other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle would be taken back to the local dealer for additional diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11698699November 11, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
On 11/02/2025 with the cruise at 55mph all glass closed. Heater on with no vehicles around, the sunroof exploded. It pushed up from the inside. With less than 9k miles on the vehicle. It took my dealer 8 days to look at it then Toyota denied the warranty. Then Quoted me over $2,100 to replace. This vehicle isn't safe to drive as told to me from the dealer.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11697688November 5, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I recently purchased a Toyota Grand Highlander just two days ago, and I’m experiencing a serious issue that is affecting my ability to drive the vehicle safely. At speeds between 25–40 mph, there is a significant cabin boom and echo inside the vehicle. This creates a pressure sensation in my ears, causing nausea, disorientation, and physical discomfort. I’ve only driven about 50 miles, and the symptoms are severe enough that I cannot continue driving the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11697495November 4, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
There is a coolant leak in the hybrid radiator caused by a puncture. When taken to the dealer, they said a rock must have punctured it. The dealer currently has the part. Me, my husband, and 2 children were driving on I-5 when the car stopped accelerating and a "hybrid malfucntion" code and "engine malfunction" code started flashing. Prior to this, there were no warnings. I was thankfully able to full over safely, but we were stuck on the side of I-5 for at least an hour waiting for a tow. I am reading online that this is an issue with the car and seems to be a design flaw. The gaps in the grill are too large, and there is no mesh or anything else behind the grill to protect the front end of the car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11695992October 28, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Poor acceleration from 0 to 40. Vehicle will start shuttering at a dead stop. The engine has shut off once with this issue. It happened around 4800 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694480October 20, 2025
ENGINE
All lights and warning system alerts suddenly came on. Hybrid System Malfunction. Once towed to dealership; stone came through large gap in front grill and put a hole in internal radiator. Not covered under warranty. Design flaw appears to be a problem in front grill.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694215October 17, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
center infoscreen blacked out while driving on 2 occasions weeks apart. screen rebooted after restarting car each time.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694213October 17, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
fuel guage does not accurately indicate the amount of fuel in the tank. when guage showing completely empty the car takes about 12 gallons to fill, tank capacity shown in manual is 17.2 gallons.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11693925October 16, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Sun roof shattered unprovoked in 2 month old vehicle while driving slowly in parking lot. We didn't know what happened at first but then opened interior lining and the shattered glass fell into the cabin; nobody was hurt. when we took this to dealership, we were told this wasn't under warrantee and we had to get it fixed independently. I filed a complaint with Toyota Care but they denied covering cost to fix the shattered sun roof. We did not have the shattered sun roof inspected by anybody else but it has been fixed by glass shop.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11692289October 9, 2025
POWER TRAIN
When accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle intermittently fails to respond when pressing the gas pedal. It feels similar to when a bicycle chain slips—you press the pedal, but the vehicle doesn’t move forward—then suddenly it catches, causing a noticeable lurch. The duration of this lag varies, and it has been increasing over time. Most recently, the hesitation lasted long enough that I was nearly involved in a collision. I pulled out from a stop sign to make a right-hand turn, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as expected. The car behind me nearly rear-ended me due to my sudden lack of movement in the lane. No warning lights, error messages, or other indicators appear before or during the event. I have been reporting this issue to my dealership for over a year during regular service appointments. The dealership has been unable to reproduce the problem and has attempted a software update, which did not resolve it. The malfunction has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. The issue has occurred multiple times, including but not limited to the following dates: -March 12, 2025 -March 24, 2025 -July 21, 2025 -September 18, 2025 -October 1, 2025 These dates reflect times when I documented the issue via text messages to my husband; it has also occurred on many additional occasions not recorded above. Online owner forums and NHTSA complaints indicate that other Toyota Grand Highlander owners are experiencing the same issue, suggesting it may be a widespread defect affecting vehicle safety.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11691388October 4, 2025
SEAT BELTS
On the 3rd row left side seat belt has jammed, will not release . You can not pull the seatbelt it has looked , even pulling on it 3 times it does not release.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11691128October 3, 2025
AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle Safety Complaint — 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander My 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander has experienced multiple serious defects, including two official recalls: • 25TA08 — instrument cluster failure • 24TA09 — airbag defect This week, the instrument display failed completely, making it impossible to view speed or system warnings. I’ve been unable to work since then, causing financial hardship for my family. Earlier, I also had to replace the entire drive shaft at my own expense (~$2,500), which is highly unusual for a new vehicle. These repeated issues raise serious concerns about safety and reliability. I’ve submitted a formal complaint to Toyota Brand Engagement Center, and it has been acknowledged and assigned to a Case Manager. The dealer is still searching for a suitable loaner vehicle that meets my work requirements. Given the severity and recurrence of these defects, I request that NHTSA investigate this pattern and consider whether the vehicle qualifies for buyback or replacement under applicable consumer protection standards. • VIN: [XXX] • Mileage: 96150 miles INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11690211September 28, 2025
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
My car accelerated very fast as I was attempting to pull into a parking spot. At first attempt brake did not work. Was able to avoid an accident. No sensors went off. Best described as an out of control amusement ride.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685936September 9, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield is prone to cracks and chips. Experienced multiple chips/cracks going at various speeds with precaution to other vehicles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685533September 7, 2025
ENGINE, STEERING, POWER TRAIN
Toyota T-SB-0082-24 / Rotational Clicking Noise From Front Drive Shaft Assembly ( CV JOINT) CV joint defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, especially if it fails while you are driving. An unreasonable risk is one where the potential for harm is much greater than the potential benefit of taking the risk. Driving with a compromised CV joint fits this definition because it can lead to a complete loss of vehicle control, which can result in a serious accident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685012September 4, 2025
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander. The contact stated that there was a small crack on the windshield on the driver's side at the top where the windshield meets the frame. The contact stated that the crack had started to expand. The contact recently noticed another crack in the center of the windshield, starting at the bottom. The contact stated that both cracks were approximately 5 inches long and expanding. The contact had not struck a rock or road debris for the windshield to crack. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer to be diagnosed and was advised by the dealer that the cracks were the result of small stones being kicked up by other vehicles. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact had been experiencing failures of the infotainment screen going black, and the side-view mirror Blind Spot warning lights not functioning as designed. The vehicle had been taken to the same dealer several times, and the dealer resolved the issue. The contact stated that the infotainment screen failure had reoccurred. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11684736September 3, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE
Description of Issue: I have experienced repeated incidents where the accelerator pedal becomes unresponsive (“dead pedal”) after coming to a stop. When pressing the pedal to accelerate, the vehicle does not respond at all for several seconds. Then, without warning, it suddenly surges forward with excessive acceleration once the power engages. This problem happens intermittently throughout a drive each day, often enough to be concerning. It occurs after being stopped at an intersection or in traffic. No warning lights or error messages appear before or during the issue. The delay followed by a sudden surge is dangerous, as I expect the car to move when I press the pedal, but it hesitates instead. When the vehicle finally responds, it accelerates quickly, which could cause me to lose control or collide with another vehicle. Safety Concern: This malfunction creates a significant safety risk. It puts myself, passengers, and other drivers in danger when the vehicle fails to accelerate as expected in high-risk scenarios such as crossing intersections, merging into traffic, or making left turns. The hesitation can leave the vehicle exposed in traffic, and the sudden lurch forward can cause unintended movement or rear-end collisions. Status: The problem has occurred multiple times under similar conditions and is ongoing. It has not yet been inspected or confirmed by a dealer or service center, but I have an apt Aug 24th. However, the malfunction is real, reproducible, and presents a serious hazard that could lead to an accident if not corrected. Many others with the same vehicle have expressed the same concern as well on forums and reported no fix after dealership appointments.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11683665August 28, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am told my 2025 Grand Highlander has a hole in the AC Condenser from "road debris" according to a Toyota dealership leading to no air conditioning. I've never taken the car off-roading. A simple google search shows that others are having this issue and are buying extra netting to protect it from happening again. I'm told I need to pay $1,800 to have this fixed when I haven't even had the car for a year. This seems like a design flaw that needs to be addressed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11683022August 25, 2025
POWER TRAIN
I have experienced intermittent transmission issues. Specifically, the car often fails to shift gracefully from first gear, resulting in rough or hard shifts that are jarring and unsafe, particularly during acceleration or in stop-and-go traffic. On multiple occasions, the vehicle has refused to shift correctly, requiring me to pull over, turn the car completely off, and restart it to restore proper shifting functionality. This issue is not only inconvenient but also poses a significant safety risk, especially when merging into traffic or navigating busy roads. For a vehicle marketed as a reliable and family-friendly SUV, these transmission problems are unacceptable. The transmission issues have significantly undermined my confidence in the vehicle’s safety and reliability, particularly as I rely on it for family transportation. The need to pull over and restart the car to address shifting problems is not only inconvenient but also dangerous in certain driving conditions. Furthermore, the reports of similar issues among other owners indicate that these problems may persist without proper intervention from Toyota.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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