Toyota Highlander Complaints (2022)

272 consumer complaints on file.

#11654997April 16, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
This is a widespread issue of these models leaving the factory with their headlights aimed too high which is leading other drivers to flash their brights thinking the bright lights in the Highlander are on. This needs to be sent to Toyota as a safety recall!!!! It is unsafe for oncoming traffic!!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11650706March 26, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The power liftgate does not close. This is an intermittent problem that is increasing in frequency to the point that I can hear internal components in the strut that are failing. This was reported to Toyota within the warranty period, and they claim that parts are on backorder. It has been over three months, and the problem is still not corrected. Toyota appears to be refusing to honor its warranty on this vehicle. The concern is that this failure occurs during a road trip or in an inconvenient location leaving us stranded with no ability to move the vehicle or obtain assistance.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11648263March 14, 2025
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
r 2022 Toyota Highlander was involved in a motor vehicle incident wherein the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and front airbags may not have functioned as expected.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#11642069February 11, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Internal failure (dealer indicated a bearing as cause) on transmission leading to entire transmission replacement required. Happened just outside warranty. Problem confirmed by dealership. Warning signs are whining/revving noise when accelerating (starts at about 20mph).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11635754January 13, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
All Toyota Highlanders with the LED projector headlights come from the factory with the lights aimed far too high.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11633596January 2, 2025
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
Drivers side mirror vibrates during car operation and limits visibility. This is extremely hazardous during lane changes on multiple lane roads. I have reached out to Toyota multiple times about a resolution but their continued response is that they are aware of the issue but do not seem to be concerned.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11632035December 22, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES
Sudden acceleration when applying the brakes. This has happened several times
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11628602December 3, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V720000 (Structure). The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal popping and dragging sound coming from the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and inspected the vehicle. The contact stated that the driver’s side bumper had detached, and the passenger’s side bumper was hanging down. The front bumper was popped back into place and the contact continued to drive. The contact stated that while continuing to drive the bumper fully detached and ripped the covering under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the upper and lower bumpers needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11624202November 8, 2024
TIRES
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V419000 (Tires); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the TPMS warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side wheel was deflating. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 33,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11620999October 21, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact's wife owns 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 70 MPH, the vehicle shut off with the "Maintenance Required Visit Your Dealer" message displayed. The contact’s wife restarted the vehicle and immediately pulled over to the shoulder. Despite the failure, the contact's wife was able to drive back to the residence. The contact stated that prior to the failure, a similar warning light illuminated and disrupted the contact's ability to use the GPS feature. The contact called the local dealer and scheduled an appointment. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11621001October 21, 2024
STRUCTURE
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 front lower bumper cover had detached. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the front lower bumper cover separated, flew underneath the vehicle and into traffic, causing the contact to temporarily lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where the contact was informed that there was a cost for the repair of the front lower bumper prior to the recall repair. The contact declined to pay for the repair because it was a minor bump. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11620788October 19, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES
We have noticed that when we brake the vehicle, it intermittently LURCHES FORWARD very fast while you are breaking and trying to stop! This is extremely unsafe! We need to stop and brake and not go forward. It does this unexpectedly with no notice and does not always do it consistently but we have noticed it is getting worse and worse and we are worried we will hit another car in front or even a person because the car will not stop on time. When I looked online, this is a well known issue on Toyota Highlanders, especially hybrids like ours and Toyota has done nothing to fix this dangerous problem. They have even told car owners to drive slower but I can tell you it doesn’t seem to matter if I’m going 25 mph or faster or slower- the car gives no notice and goes FASTER while you are trying to stop!!!!! Please help us Toyota Highlander owners!!!! This car gives us no warning whatsoever. It is not consistent. But when it does this it is VERY scary!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11619151October 10, 2024
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated while the brake pedal was depressed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on several different occasions to be diagnosed; however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11617056September 28, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES
When braking the brakes will occasionally “quit”, causing unexpected acceleration. They kick back on if I stomp hard on the brake, causing the occupants to jolt forward. It could easily cause a collision if an unexpected vehicle or pedestrian were in the way, and could cause a rear end collision were I to have someone following close behind and hard brake unexpectedly. This has been reported to the dealership but they have been unable to replicate it. It happens intermittently, primarily when braking on a slight downhill slope. The issue has been since the vehicle was new. No warning lights or alerts activate inside.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11616994September 28, 2024
AIR BAGS
On or about 9/22/24 I was driving on a parkway and was alerted by a high pitched alarm in the vehicle’s dashboard that the airbag had a malfunction and that the seatbelt was not engaged. I removed my seatbelt and clipped it back in but that did not stop the alarm. The vehicle continued to beep and say the airbag was malfunctioning. I made an appointment with Toyota service for 9/26/24 and when I arrived I was told they do not do diagnostic tests on Thursdays. They proceeded to give me a new appointment for today 9/28/24, and when I arrived they once again turned me away explaining that today was not a good day for a diagnostic. They mockingly told me that my vehicle warranty was about to expire. Furthermore, the Toyota has refused to fix the recall issue, and now is refusing to even run a diagnostic test to see what the problem is with the airbags. I am afraid the airbags will fail if I am in an accident. This is a very dangerous situation. Please help me!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11616208September 24, 2024
POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
As my wife had the wheels turned and was pulling up to the curb stop in a parking spot the car suddenly lurched forward without putting the accelerator on and went up and over the curb. Stop and hit a pole. my thoughts are is that the engine possibly changed from hybrid to gas or vice versa and as my wife’s foot was let off on the brake to inch forward to the curb stop it suddenly lunged forward as previously stated.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11615057September 17, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS, STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS:ACTIVE SHUTTERS/GRILL, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the driver’s side of the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and became aware that the front lower bumper had detached on the driver's side and was dragging on the road. The bumper was attached by one screw. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V72000 (Structure). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and repaired under the recall. The dealer informed the contact that the grill shutter had been damaged and needed to be repaired. The contact stated that after retrieving the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was informed that the grill shutter had not been repaired correctly causing the check engine warning light to be illuminated. The dealer repaired the vehicle again. The contact stated that after repairing the vehicle, while driving approximately 40 miles down the road, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact inspected the vehicle and became aware that underneath the grill shutter had not been repaired. The dealer had been contacted and informed that the failure had reoccurred. The vehicle had not been returned to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired again. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the repair would be up to the dealer to repair the vehicle. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11611935August 31, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES
Degenerative breaking. When breaking sometimes it jolts- seems to lose braking power. This is a safety hazard. It could cause a crash.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11611843August 30, 2024
AIR BAGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
My father in law drove my highlander car and got into an accident on 8/27/2024. Front of the car was damaged but did not deploy the airbags. And as far I know it is equipped with automatic braking system but the damaged looks really bad.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11609670August 20, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and approaching a traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the engine surged. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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