Toyota Grand Highlander Complaints

375 consumer complaints on file.

#11709659January 8, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V595000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the instrument panel failed to show critical information as intended. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the failure was recall-related; however, the parts were not available for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709267January 6, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving under normal conditions, the air conditioning system in my Toyota Grand Highlander suddenly stopped working. The vehicle was inspected by a Toyota dealership, which determined that the AC condenser had a hole/puncture that caused a refrigerant leak and complete AC failure. Toyota denied warranty coverage, classifying the damage as “road hazard,” despite acknowledging that this is a common issue with the Grand Highlander. There was no collision, no unusual road event, and no warning prior to failure. The condenser appears to be positioned in a highly exposed and vulnerable location, allowing small road debris to puncture it easily. Based on discussions with the dealership and reports from other owners, this issue is occurring repeatedly and results in expensive repairs (approximately $1,500–$2,000). This appears to be a design-related vulnerability, not an isolated incident or abnormal use. A failure of the air conditioning system significantly impacts vehicle safety and operability, particularly in extreme heat conditions. I am reporting this issue to document a pattern of premature AC condenser failure in Toyota Grand Highlander vehicles and to request further investigation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709124January 6, 2026
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
The defroster on the vehicle does not work properly. When starting the car and the window is frosting, the drivers side of the front window defrosts normally but the right side does not defrost properly and it lags by 15-20 minutes. You cannot operate the vehicle safely with your entire passenger side frosted over. I reported this to Toyota as well as dealer and they are advising that it is working normally. I have pictures that show that the passenger side does not defrost properly, it was reproduced by the dealer, and Toyota's thermal imaging scan confirms lack of heat on the far side. However, Toyota is standing by that it is working as designed despite their testing showing it isn't working properly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708716January 5, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
My vehicle has been out of service since October 7, 2025 due to a complete failure of the instrument cluster (combination meter). This issue is related to SAFETY RECALL 25TA08. The instrument panel is fully non-functional, making the vehicle unsafe and inoperable. The vehicle has been at Toyota dealership for approximately three months, with no repair completed and no clear timeline provided. The dealership stated they are awaiting instructions from Toyota Corporate and cannot proceed independently.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707549December 29, 2025
POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
I have taken my vehicle to Wilde Toyota (2 time) for the same issue . The car either moves/slids to the left or right. They adjusted the wheel alignment in November and now again I am having the same issue. Took the car again to Wilde Toyota and they are asking me for 185 USD for the wheel alignment. I told them this looks like a drive train or suspension issue but there were hesitant to check it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11706794December 23, 2025
POWER TRAIN
While accelerating from low speeds and turning, the car exhibits a rotational clicking noise from one or both front drive shaft assemblies. Seems to be the identical issue noted in the 2024 Grand Highlander that was presumably fixed during later production lots (T-SB-0082-24). That issue was seemingly solved with driveshaft replacement. The dealer said they “could not duplicate” the issue; however, it happens often while I am driving the vehicle and others have reported it to the same dealer as well. It seems to be an existing related safety issue that the dealer, and potentially the manufacturer, are ignoring until we get past the warranty.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11705448December 16, 2025
SEATS
Third row seating bottom (back side) has loose flap material end the bottom, when closing and opening the seat it’s can get stuck. It’s also possible the seat can probably even collapse while in use or in driving. The dealer tried to help but there doesn’t seem to be any solution for this from Toyota. This seems to be model wide issue as I was told by dealer. They had another one with same issue. The bottom back of the seat is literally loose flap material. The only solution was they replaced the cargo tray which was actually slightly BENT at front possibly due to seat struggling to close and opening due to faulty design. THIS IS A FAULTY DESIGN! ITS LITERALLY A LOSSE FLAP PLASTIC MATERIAL ON A SEAT BACK. The dealer told me to be careful when handling these seats bc the material can break easily and there isn’t solution from Toyota on this unless there is recall or safety notice.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11705284December 16, 2025
CHILD SEAT
The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander with an Evenflo Revolve 360 Slim car seat, Model Number: 36812470A, Manufactured Date: December 12, 2022, installed in the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25C010000 (Child Seat). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the child secured in the car seat, the contact became aware that there was an object in the child’s mouth. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and removed a foam piece from the child's mouth. The contact inspected the car seat and became aware that the foam was from the headrest. Medical attention was not needed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure, but the contact stated that the manufacturer mailed tape to cover the exposed areas of the car seat.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11705092December 15, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I am filing a complaint regarding a safety recall on my Toyota vehicle. Toyota issued the recall notice on September 11, 2025, but as of today there is still no available remedy. Due to this recall, my vehicle has been deemed unsafe and undriveable and has been out of service since October 8, 2025. While a rental vehicle has been provided, I have been without my own car for several months with no clear timeline or resolution. I am concerned about the extended delay in providing a recall remedy for a safety-related defect and the lack of transparency regarding next steps. I am requesting that NHTSA review Toyota’s handling of this recall, including the prolonged lack of a remedy and the impact on vehicle owners. I believe this delay is unreasonable and warrants further oversight.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704630December 11, 2025
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
My Toyota Grand Highlander develops severe interior window fogging and condensation, affecting the windshield, front side windows, and occasionally rear windows. This occurs during normal driving, especially in cool or humid conditions. The fogging appears rapidly, and the HVAC/defrost system often fails to clear the windows effectively, even when set to full defrost with outside air intake. Interior moisture buildup is excessive compared to other vehicles I’ve owned, and the issue repeats regularly. This creates a significant visibility hazard, forcing me to adjust climate controls constantly while driving or pull over to clear the glass manually.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11703651December 8, 2025
SUSPENSION
My car is a 2024 Grand Highlander I bought in May of last year. It currently has 20,000 miles on it. A few weeks ago I started hearing a knocking sound when I turned left or right. I looked at some Toyota forums and found that other people were having this issue and had to have both front axles replaced. I took my car to Toyota and sure enough, they said the parts they used to assemble the car were not machined properly and they replaced both of my front axles. Having said that, I have 2 issues. One, why hasn't a recall been issued on this. It seems as though quite a bit of people have had this problem and this is a big safety issue. There have been 2 other recalls, one about the screen going blank and airbags, but to me, axle is a much bigger safety issue, so why no recall on this? Also, the technician recommends an alignment after chaning the axles which I am expected to pay $150 for but this should be included since my axles should not need changing at 20,000 miles. They consider alignment normal wear and tear and not under warranty which I would normally agree with but I only need an aligmnent because they changed my axles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702200December 1, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On 11/24/25 I gave permission to my friend to drive my 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander SUV from my house to Newark international airport, while my friend was driving my 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander SUV on a New Jersey Turnpike , the vehicle suddenly dropped the speed and within moments caught fire. I live in Pennsylvania, but the incident occurred on New Jersey Turnpike . The fire started while the car was in motion, creating a serious safety hazard. The vehicle was properly maintained, and no prior warning lights or issues were noted before the incident. I have done vehicle inspections/ service this month, and they told everything is perfect. This poses a severe risk to driver and passenger safety, and I am reporting it for investigation. Whole car got burned out within 5-10 mins only
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11700965November 22, 2025
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Shortly after powering on the GHHM vehicle, driving a short distance, coming to a stop and depressing the accelerator the vehicle does not accelerate as though no power is getting to the drive train. This does not often happen but has always happened when the EV battery level is 3 bars or less and the vehicle is in its Normal mode (as opposed to Sport or ECO). This acceleration failure event lasts for a few seconds. No warning indicators are displayed prior to, during or after this happens. The dealer checked the vehicle on 30AUG2025, was not able to reproduce, but applied a firmware update TSB-0040-25, which has not solved the problem. Took it back to dealer on 14OCT2025, but the dealer was again not able to reproduce the problem. It poses a safety risk when attempting to cross intersections or entering round-abouts and the vehicle can only move at a coasting speed instead of the expected normal acceleration.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11699755November 17, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving at approximately 50 MPH with no other vehicles around, there was a loud bang and then the sound of air. We identified that the panoramic sunroof had exploded. We pulled over immediately and took photos of the sunroof which at that time was shattered but intact. There was a clear bulge upward and no sign of impact from an outside force. We then continued driving to our home approximately another 40 miles, during that drive shards of glass flew onto the roadway leaving a hole in the sunroof of approximately 10-12 inches. We brought the vehicle to Toyota dealership for a warranty repair. Toyota refuses to cover under warranty, stating outside influence. I am confident there was no outside influence causing the glass to explode. The vehicle is a 2025 Grand Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited with approximately 9000 miles on it, the incident happened on Nov 2nd. 2025 around noon. Weather was mild, 50-60 degrees F, no precipitation or severe winds.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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

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