Toyota Highlander Complaints

958 consumer complaints on file.

#11697980November 6, 2025
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the liftgate had failed to open or to close intermittently. The contact stated that the liftgate made an abnormal grinding sound while opening and would open 3-inch at a time while the contact continuously pressed the power liftgate button manually. The contact stated that the dealer had reset the liftgate; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11697299November 3, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Started with a transmission whining. Now is setting check engine light and jerking. Toyota knows there is a manufacturing defect in the UA80 transmission in these vehicles, but continued to sell them even after the released TSB# T-SB-0008-21, and refuses to repair this under warranty. Toyota is the only company offering replacement transmissions and therefore can set there own price to scam consumers. Please help us get a resolution.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11696386October 29, 2025
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
Blind spot feature is detecting a vehicle two lanes over from the lane I’m driving on. This has caused to almost result in a crash due to this safety hazard. Blind spot is always detecting a vehicle driving two lanes over. Blind spot signal on driver mirror flashes as well when such vehicle two lanes over is detected and I am about to move over to my adjacent lane.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11696328October 29, 2025
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
See attached document for complaint.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11696163October 28, 2025
POWER TRAIN
2022 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER TRANSMISSION IS MAKING A HIGH PITCH WHINING SOUND AND IS GETTING WORSE. MY WIFE DRIVES 20 MILES A DAY, 6 DAYS A WEEK AT 65 MPH TO WORK AND THE TRANSMISSION NOISE IS GETTING LOUDER. IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS AND LOCKS UP, IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO FINDLAY TOYOTA IN PRESCOTT AZ. AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS DEFINITELY FAILING BUT WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE ISSUE BECAUSE SHE WAS 2500 MILES PAST THE 60K WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11696000October 28, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
When I am slowing down and coming to a stop, my car will surge forward. It feels like my brakes stop working for a second and that I pressed the accelerator. It has happened on flat road, hills and turns.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11695804October 27, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Transmission is making a loud whine when accelerating. Dealer says the transmission cannot be repaired and must be replaced
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11695803October 27, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Transmission is making a loud whine when accelerating. Dealer says the transmission cannot be repaired and must be replaced
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11695564October 25, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
lift gate stuttering at 49K bought new. available for inspection. Have yet to bring to dealer because they need the vehicle for the whole day. No warnings etc just loud opening. Concerned it could give way when I am grabbing groceries at any time. Seems like a widely reported issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11695508October 24, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The car was parked at work and noticed the shattered panoramic moonroof when I got into leave.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11695503October 24, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On or about Oct, 3rd, 2025 , my vehicle experienced the 'Check Engine' light and all the warning lights lit up, the hybrid system failed to engage, the vehicle would say “park somewhere safe /take to dealer” . I immediately took the vehicle to the authorized Toyota dealership, Wonderies Toyota Alhambra , for diagnosis. They said they could not find anything, reset the sensors, and told us to come back if the problem persisted, and one hour later the system lights lit up again. We returned the same day and the dealership informed me that the issue is a severe corrosion of the underbody wiring harness , specifically citing external damage or 'spillage' as the cause. The estimated cost for a complete replacement of the wiring harness is approximately $6- 7,000.00. I contend that this corrosion is not the result of customer spillage but rather a manufacturing defect related to inadequate design, covering, or routing of the wiring harness, which makes it highly susceptible to road hazards, moisture, and environmental contaminants. Crucially, this issue appears to be covered under the Toyota Limited Service Campaign (LSC) related to wiring harness deterioration (LSC25TD01 / LSC-J02). Toyota states my vehicle is not covered however Toyotas own website states the Highlander HV 2024 has been added recently in Sep.2025 . I request that NHTSA review my case in light of this known issue to determine if the defect presents an unreasonable risk to safety and to urge Toyota to properly remedy this problem under the terms of the applicable coverage or warranty enhancement. I formally request that Toyota honor the spirit of the Limited Service Campaign LSC25TD01 and cover the full cost of the replacement wiring harness and labor. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] 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
#11695475October 24, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The rear hatch of the vehicle started malfunctioning right when the three year manufacture's warranty was expiring on 08/2024 (very convenient). It would only open part way, barely or sometimes not open at all. One instance, my dog's tail got stuck in the hatch and it would not open. I had to force it open and thankfully I am able to do that. January of 2025 I took the car into Will's Toyota in Twin Falls, ID (where I purchased it new) and they told me that my option was to replace the hydraulic struts that were $1000 for the service. I took the car in on 10/23/25 due to the issue getting worse to have them replace the hydraulic struts. The dealership said they've had a lot of cars with the same issue. I just do not understand how a company can sell a car and a major part of the car fail conveniently when the warranty is to expire. Oh and I called Toyota customer service to complain and they said they don't keep track of this kind of thing...
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694782October 21, 2025
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694643October 21, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES
There is a wobbling sensation on my Highlander during braking at highway speeds. There is no such feeling while driving around city. It appeared after my trip on highway in heavy rain. There was no traffic, and I were using cruise control. Suddenly, doing nothing from my side but steering, I started to feel heavy break impacts, which scared me (I was with my family). I switched off cruise control, and those break impacts disappeared. Then switched it again, and I started to feel the same, thus I switched off cruise control and drove the rest of rain area with my foot on accelerator pedal. After that I started to feel wobbling during braking at highway speeds. It seems - more on the right side. Maybe there was more water layer under the right side of the car, and the Electronic Stability Control tried to hold car on the straight line, or camera detect water on the windshield as an obstacle and applied breaks from time to time, which might case warped rotors. To my understanding it has to be warranty issue, as Toyota manual said that driving during heavy rain can cause unproper action of cruise control, but it does not say it can damage the car or warp the rotors.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694379October 19, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
UNKNOWN - 2024 Toyota Highlander makes a drumming or hooting sound when driving over normal to slightly rough roads. It is not related to expansion joints in the road. 1st dealer said it was a rt. wheel bearing, changed it and it did not work. He then said it was in all Toyota's with 20" wheels. I paid to change tires and wheel to no avail. 2nd dealer said it was normal even though mechanic heard the noise. His supervisor said it was fine and they would do nothing to try to isolate the noise. Noise is very obvious.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694306October 18, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I have a 2023 Toyota Highlander Platinum. For some unknown reason, the dashboard suddenly stopped working. Because the dashboard is not working, I have no information on things like when the gas will run out, what speed I’m driving, or if any parts are malfunctioning. This creates a dangerous situation for me. So, I went directly to Toyota and had the car inspected. They confirmed that the dashboard was indeed not working. I have the document from Toyota. Before the issue occurred, there were no warning signals or alerts, it just went completely blank. I want to drive my car calmly and safely without any worries. Please help me with this.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694237October 18, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
My 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has a braking issue identified in Toyota Service Bulletin T-SB-0059-23, Hybrid Regenerative Brake Transition Feeling Improvement. When going downhill and applying the brake, the vehicle lurches forward temporarily as the braking system transitions from regenerative to hydraulic braking. The first time my vehicle did this, it was very alarming and I had to take additional measures to slow my vehicle as I was driving downhill. My vehicle frequently demonstrates this problem, however, I did not report it to my local Toyota dealer because I read in an online chat group that it was a characteristic of this vehicle. Although the TSB recommends a Reprogram of the Brake Actuator Assembly Control Module, the repair is only covered under the Toyota Basic Warranty which is in effect for 36 months or 36k miles, whichever occurs first. My vehicle is past the warranty limit, and because I did not report it to my dealer previously, this repair is not covered under the TSB or the Toyota Basic Warranty. Toyota Highlander Hybrid model years 2020-2022 are affected. The Technical Service Bulletin was issued August 29, 2023, so if a 2020 model Highlander Hybrid has this problem, 2020 models would have already passed the warranty limit by the time the TSB was issued and thus would not be covered. This is a safety risk as drivers can lose control of the vehicle when braking, particularly when going downhill. The Warranty should be extended, or this problem should be elevated to a RECALL so that older affected vehicles, or those with higher mileage can be covered under warranty. Drivers should not have to pay for a recognized problem that affects the safety of this vehicle and has been identified in a Technical Service Bulletin. This problem puts drivers at risk of losing control of the vehicle and the problem can be mediated with a software reprogram. T-SB-0059.23 should be elevated to a RECALL, or extended regardless of age or mileage.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11693834October 16, 2025
POWER TRAIN
2021 Highlander XLE started making a whining noise when accelerating. Noise stops when you let off the gas. Took it to Toyota who said the transmission needed to be replaced. Although everywhere you look this is apparently a known problem, Toyota has yet to cover it or recall the part making the owners have to pay 9k to replace a transmission.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11693766October 16, 2025
SEAT BELTS, SEATS
Car seats and booster seats for infants and children with the age and weight requirement for seats in a vehicle do not meet safety requirements. The second row and the third row you literally have to pick the car seat up to buckle the seatbelt in appropriately. I have asked on numerous occasions if there is a seatbelt extension that can be purchased and I was told no. My concern is for safety of children/infants. We should not have to pick a car seat or booster seat up after a child is placed in the car seat to be able to buckle the car seat in appropriately or the booster seat appropriately. In the third row, my son literally has to stand behind the hatchback to get the seatbelt for the booster seat in the third row Locked in place. This is a safety concern. I brought it up to two dealerships and Toyota’s customer complaint who actually gave me this website.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11693669October 15, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
>While exiting a highway my vehicle surged forward crashing into the vehicle in front of me.Engaging the brake, my car smashed into the van again. I had no control over the forward momentum of the car. >Both the driver & I were in danger of injury >The problem has not been addressed as my damaged car is being repaired >The vehicle has not been inspected >I was given no warning that the incident was forthcoming
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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