Toyota Grand Highlander Complaints

375 consumer complaints on file.

#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
#11682380August 22, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
“Apple CarPlay Escape” is not available through software update for this vehicle although other cars of the same model year and 2025 models have this option to quickly navigate between Apple CarPlay screen and Toyota settings screen. As a result, More swipes/touches are needed on the screen to navigate which is unsafe and distracting while driving
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11682281August 21, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The car only accepts 11-13 gallons of gas when refueling an empty tank despite the advertised 17.2 gallon capacity. I believe this is a fuel gauge or DTE system problem. I’ve seen many many similiar complaints on the forums. Fuel gauge issue could leave drivers stranded on the road.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11682016August 20, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apparently, a rock flew into the front grill striking the radiator (which is located directly behind the grill) and put a hole in it. This caused fluid to leak and fortunately during a routine maintenance check (my first service) on 8/15/25, it was discovered. The car was deemed not safe to drive until repairs were made. I submitted it to my insurance company and they inspected it and verified the issue. The radiator was replaced by Toyota at the dealership where I purchased the vehicle. They said they heard of a few cases, but I went online and discovered several vehicles that had this happen. Apparently the grill on the new highlanders is the issue - it has wide openings and the radiator is directly behind it. I am purchasing a bra and some mesh to place behind the grill in order to prevent another incident. No warning lights or indicators came on and the dealership said it would've eventually when it got hot enough. Fortunately, most of my driving was local after the incident occurred so the vehicle didn't have time to overheat. I am thankful it was discovered before I was stranded.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11681923August 20, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I've had consistent issues with the vehicle accelerating and shifting. These include sluggish acceleration, loss of power, sputtering, and limp mode. We've almost been hit by other vehicles almost 10 times because the vehicle has failed to accelerate when pulling into a roadway. The vehicle will start to accelerate slowly, then stop, then 5-10 seconds later will surge forward will the engine revs very high and is delayed shifting into 2nd gear. I've told my Toyota dealership about this numerous times but they keep telling me that there's no issue but there clearly is being that many others are experiencing the same exact problems. There's never been a warning lamp or message when this happens. This is a huge safety issue and my family is extremely lucky that we haven't been involved in a serious accident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11680783August 14, 2025
ENGINE
AC condenser has a leak and AC cooling not working-blowing hot air, making vehicle very hot inside. Toyota claiming from road debris damage, front grill not protecting condenser unit enough to allow this not to happen and will not cover under warranty. Seems like a manufacturer grill design problem not consumer. Toyota has no fix to the problem to protect condenser unit from this happening over and over again.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677818August 1, 2025
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Description of Issue: We have experienced multiple episodes of violent shaking in our 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander while stopped at red lights or in intersections. Both my wife and I have had this happen independently, around two to three times each. Most incidents occurred while our young children were in the vehicle. The most recent incident occurred today, when my wife experienced it twice in a row while stopped at an intersection. Our children were not in the vehicle during today’s event. Component or system involved: UNKNOWN at this time. We suspect a major mechanical or drivetrain-related failure. The entire vehicle shakes violently and feels unstable. We are willing to make the vehicle available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: The severity of the shaking is extreme and it feels as though the car may explode or fall apart. We have had to put the car in park, shut it off immediately, and in some cases, exit the vehicle in the middle of intersections or while stopped at a red light. This places everyone in the vehicle at serious risk, especially our children, and could result in a crash or secondary accident due to the abrupt stop and unexpected behavior in active traffic. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center? The issue has not yet been reproduced by the dealership. We brought the vehicle to Toyota of Escondido after a previous incident. They inspected it but stated they could not find anything wrong. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by others? The vehicle was only inspected by the dealership (Toyota of Escondido). It has not been reviewed by any other parties such as law enforcement or insurance representatives. Warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the issue: There were no warning lights, error messages, or abnormal behavior prior to the onset of the violent shaking. The issue occurred suddenly each time, without warning.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota Grand Highlander