Toyota Highlander Complaints (2019)

514 consumer complaints on file.

#11667909June 19, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Transmission started making a whining noise. Auto shop confirmed it will need a new transmission.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11668011June 19, 2025
ENGINE
Whining sound when when pushing the gas to accelerate. When you let go of the gas it stops.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11666348June 11, 2025
POWER TRAIN
A wine and hard shifting, toyota does not agree. I experience this issue several times a day. Taking it into the dealership again to try to diagnose.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11664298June 2, 2025
POWER TRAIN
There has been a high incidence of this model of Toyota Highlander having faulty transmissions. My vehicle had 129,000 when the transmission failed. It was metal shavings in the fluid. I’m hoping you will put pressure on Toyota to recall or help replace these transmissions. Thank you.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11663520May 28, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
When I start the Highlander, there is a loud (hurts your ears) feedback noise through the speakers, and the red and green lights near the SOS button flash multiple times. This happens intermittently, and when it doesn't happen the SOS button only flashes red/green once. My wife, the primary driver of the car, has slowly developed tinnitus and this is the only loud, ear piercing, noises she have been exposed to. This noise can also bring on extreme headaches. I can't imagine the damage it could do to a child. We have tried to get this fixed at the mechanic and Toyota says the part is backordered. When we go to Toyota they state they have not heard of the issue. When we search the internet it is easy to find threads of this same issue on the same model, Toyota seems to be hiding this is a known issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11663071May 27, 2025
POWER TRAIN
• Transmission Failure. Inspection is available upon request. • We do not know if we are at risk if the transmission fails while driving. • Certified Toyota Dealership diagnosed and deemed failure – recommends full replacement • Component was inspected by a certified Toyota dealership • No warning lights
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11662944May 24, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Less than 95k miles. Dealer says transmission needs replaced and cooler. Bought new- owned 5 years and 2 months. Many other 2019 highlanders online stating same problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661165May 15, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Upon acceleration, the engine revved high and a whine sound started once the car (2019 Highlander XLE) approached 25-40 miles per hour. It appears that this is a transmission issue that Toyota was aware about years before selling the 2019 (and later) Highlander and other models (according to consumer complaints online). The car has 92,700 miles on it and is thus out of warranty. It had a recall in 2020 though I do not know exactly what was allegedly fixed. Had Toyota disclosed these serious transmission issues, I would not have purchased the car. My local mechanic has advised that the transmission will need to be replaced at a high cost.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661323May 15, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Hello, it seems that my vehicle is having a whirling noise when accelerating at different RPMs. When I researched, it isn’t an isolated incident because many others online are experiencing the same issue with most of them being told that the transmission must be replaced. And further investigation, I found that the issue could be the trans axle assembly component which can cause issues if not replaced.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11660678May 13, 2025
POWER TRAIN
2019Toyota Highlander = Transmission whine and hard shift at times, Needs replacement transmission at 106,000 mile , no codes stored
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11660681May 13, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When starting the vehicle, and extremely loud feedback noise is emitted from the front right speaker. This happens intermittently. Sometimes it's every 5th time you start it, and sometimes every 29th start. This started happening after the dealer-provided SOS Safety subscription expired. The noise is extremely loud and very disturbing especially for individuals like our daughter who has special needs. I would not be surprised if it is damaging our hearing. It would likely be especially harmful to children! It has been confirmed by the dealer and is currently back at the shop whule they are further investigating the cause.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11660682May 13, 2025
POWER TRAIN
At approximately 85K miles my 2019 Highlander began to exhibit a high pitched “whirring” sound upon accelerating. The noise stops once you take your foot off the gas. I brought the vehicle to my local Toyota dealership to investigate the noise. They concluded that it is the transmission and I would need to replace the entire transmission. There are no warning lights or other indications aside from the sound. Transmission fluid is clear of any shavings or other indicators of an issue. Toyota service stated they could not tell me if or when the transmission might fail, just that it should be replaced. There are multiple reports of similar occurrences on online Toyota forums. There are also recalls for the exact same sound for the 2018 Highlander. I opened a case with Toyota customer service and was told there was nothing they could do to assist.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11660270May 11, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Complaint Regarding DCM Module Failure in 2019 Toyota Highlander Platinum Our 2019 Toyota Highlander Platinum is experiencing severe audio system malfunctions, beyond simple Bluetooth and connectivity failures. The vehicle sporadically emits an extremely loud screeching feedback sound upon startup and at unpredictable times while driving. This deafening noise is highly distracting to the driver, posing a significant safety risk. Toyota has been aware of this issue for years and documented it in Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0112-20, which identifies the faulty vehicle assembly locations. However, despite widespread reports from owners and the high cost of repairs, Toyota has failed to issue a recall. Given the clear safety hazards associated with this defect, I firmly believe Toyota should recall affected Highlanders and provide immediate replacements for the defective DCM module. Owners should not be forced to cover costly repairs for a known issue that compromises driver safety.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11660277May 11, 2025
POWER TRAIN
A whinning noise can be heard from car while driving. Vehicle has just under 60k miles and dealer is saying the transmission is failing and it would need to be replaced. There was no warning lights or indication on display.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11660085May 9, 2025
POWER TRAIN
2019 toyota highlander bought 3/15/25 with approximately 82,000 miles. Started making whining noise 4/7/25. On 4/9/25 took vehicle to dealer 4/11/25 notified need new transmission and transaxle seal need on new transmission. 2 weeks later on 4/25/25 picked up vehicle drove home 3 days later noticed gear oil leaking and sprayed all over under chassis. Vehicle brought back to dealer on 4/29/25. On 4/30/25 notified needs new transaxle seal on new transmission. Notified on 5/9/25 new transmission will need to be replaced again. They stated there is gouging/nicks where transaxle and transmission connect. Dealer is saying there is no transmission to put in. Toyota has put a stop to all transmissions. So now I have a vehicle with only 82,000 miles and no way to fix it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11659135May 5, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Transmission failed while driving down the highway almost causing an incident. These transmissions are very unsafe and should be recalled. Toyota refuses to take responsibility for this year Highlander although it is the same 80ua transmission that was recalled in the 2017 and 2018. While Toyota has said this problem has been remedied in the later years it is very false. Please do an investigation on this before people get hurt from accidents if they haven’t already.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11657441April 29, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware of an abnormal whining sound coming from the vehicle, and the transmission was shifting hard. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11657215April 28, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Transmission makes a whine noise and also experiencing some harsh shifting. Dealership confirmed the whine noise is an indication of transmission failure and they recommend replacing the transmission. Toyota needs to do a recall on this transmission!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11655809April 21, 2025
POWER TRAIN
the transmission completely failed. it is at Spitzer Toyota in Monroville. PA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11655662April 20, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving my Hybrid System Malfunction, check AWD, check engine, and Pre-Collision System Malfunction all came on simultaneously, it also said to put in P. It wouldn’t accelerate so I had to have it towed to the dealer since it had only been 3 days since I bought it. It was sent to a Toyota service center where it took 3 weeks for them to diagnose and replace the high pressure fuel pump. I got the vehicle back, it drove fine for a week until the same thing happened again. It stopped accelerating, said to shift into P-only the Hybrid System Malfunction, check engine, and Pre-Collision System Malfunction came up this time. I had it towed back to the Toyota service center since the problem clearly wasn’t solved and am awaiting a new diagnosis.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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