Toyota Highlander Complaints

958 consumer complaints on file.

#11663469May 28, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Transmission failure at 62000 miles. Toyota issued a service bulletin in Feb 2021. I bought the vehicle new in August 2021 and was not told of service issue. Also, I took vehicle to Toyota dealership for service every 5000 miles up to 55000. I was never told about service bulletin nor advised there could be a full imminent failure of the transmission.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11662993May 25, 2025
ENGINE
My 2021 with 73000 miles is now at a dealershop 700 miles away from home. I didn't drive far while away but a week into my vacation, i started hearing a whining sound upon accelerating. Sound seemed to get louder on second day of hearing the sound. Took it to a dealership in the Leesburg Virginia area....they charged me 203.00 for diagnostics and indicated need new transmission for near $11,000. Each time I went to my dealership in my area for an oil change, they indicated that I needed a transmission fluid change. I read that when Toyota installed a "Sealed Transmission System" these changes would not be needed or at least limited.... Because the so call system is sealed, only dealership techs can check your fluid levels. How do you know if, when they check it, do they replace what they took out and if they do this regularly and don't refill what they took out, your fluid would eventually be pretty low...there is no way to check because "Sealed Transmission System" is only check by the dealerships (no transmission fluid dip stick on 2021 highlanders (and 2022, 2024, 2025). So you can't check it like an oil dip stick. We're [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
#11662878May 23, 2025
POWER TRAIN
A whirring and grinding sound from transmission when put into gear. Intermittent sluggish when accelerating.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11662848May 23, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Routine maintenance was done 5000 miles ago. Routine maintenance. At 50,151 miles and routine 50,000 mile maintenance a whistling/whining sound was noted. I was told a new transmission is needed. PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL. PLEASE MAKE TOYOTA STOP CHANGING OUT TRANSMISSIONS AT 50,000 miles on the regular. There is a known TSB, but so many VIN's are outside of this range experiencing the exact same issue that it is inconceivable that Toyota doesn't know they have a problem. Having a warranty that covers it is a band-aid. The wear and tear on the overall engine and parts due to transmission failure means they are knowingly selling cars that will fail. Why isn't it told to every buyer to expect transmission failure at 30-50,000 miles at the time of purchase? TELL US AND THEN LET US DECIDE IF THAT IS HOW WE WANT TO INVEST OUR MONEY IN OUR CARS. My first Toyota and my last. AND what is worse, the NHTSA KNOWS about all these incidents and just lets it ride. We have lost the consumer in the values we hold as a country. Insurance doesn't mean insurance. Transmissions are only worth 30-50,000 miles when it should be 200,000+ by now. Quality standards are there for a reason. Having a powertrain warranty that protects the manufacturing IS NOT how it was intended. FORCE TOYOTA TO FIX THIS ISSUE. STOP SELLING CARS WITH FLAWED TRANSMISSIONS. I feel taken advantage of and am stuck with a car I no longer want, (because as the service advisor said, "if it happens again, you will still be covered at no cost to you?!") - this is not ethical or technically sound.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11662460May 21, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
When applying the brakes at speeds less than 40 miles per hour, the car will surge forward at a point during braking process. This happens regularly but not every time brakes are applied. This is an issue as the car surges forward during braking.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11662235May 20, 2025
POWER TRAIN
When accelerating there is a whining noise coming from the front of the vehicle. There was no warning lamp that came on just the noise is what prompted me to take it to Toyota of Hattiesburg to be diagnosed. The transmission is what malfunctioned. Yes Toyota confirmed the problem and said my transmission needs to be replaced. I am very disappointed because Toyota’s has the reputation to last forever. As this is my 3rd Toyota and I have been very happy until now because Toyota is not taken responsibility for this problem that is continuing to arise in the transmissions. I have attached the paperwork showing what Toyota said.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11662045May 20, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Transmission whine
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661996May 19, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
We live on a farm so the fact there is rodents is no surprise. However strangest thing is the knock sensor harness has been chewed completely off two times in last two months.. when this happens it causes power loss. With the extra shielding the wire has tells me it gives off a low frequency that would irritate most animals and me at this point since the part is never available. If it actually gives off a frequency, it is absolutely unnecessary and a complete nuisance.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661699May 18, 2025
POWER TRAIN
This is regarding an issue with a 2022 Toyota Highlander with 79,668 miles at the dealership now waiting on a new transmission. On April 15, 2025, the vehicle was taken in to the dealership with whining noise and put on a diagnostic machine. Diagnosed as transmission. Took for second opinion at independent transmission company and stated the same issue. This vehicle is 4, 668 miles over warranty and we spoke with Toyota Brand Engagement and also district manager for this area. We are asking for help in replacement of this transmission costing over $10,000. Toyota was not willing to help in any way other than saying, "Sorry". We had to pay $5000 before the dealership would even order it. Now it has been three weeks and the transmission is still not at the dealership.We continue to make payments on a vehicle that is not even in service. I am seeing numerous incidents on the internet regarding Toyota's faulty transmissions. I am asking for a recall due to the issue of the age of the vehicle and the extreme expense of replacing a faulty transmission with no help from Toyota in any regard. This vehicle has been serviced as required and even transmission fluid change out per recommendation in Nov. 2024. There were never any warning lights that came on prior to failure. We took the vehicle into the service department within a few days of whining noise.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661584May 16, 2025
POWER TRAIN
I am filing this complaint due to a severe transmission failure in my 2021 Toyota Highlander XSE, which I believe poses a significant safety hazard. At approximately 70,000 miles, the vehicle’s 8-speed automatic transmission failed. Prior to this failure, I reported a persistent gear noise (described as a whining or grinding sound during acceleration and gear shifts) to my Toyota dealership [Shore Toyota] when the car had less than 60,000 while the vehicle was under the 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The dealership dismissed the noise as “normal” and did not perform diagnostics or repairs, despite my concerns. The gear noise worsened over time, leading to more frequent noise and shifting, jerking, issue failure in May 2025. The noise occurres while driving from 0 to at 35mph. I later learned that the 2021 Toyota Highlander’s 8-speed transmission (UA80E/UA80F) has known issues, as documented in Toyota Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) T-SB-0008-21 (issued February 2021). The TSB describes a whining noise identical to what I reported, requiring a full transmission replacement for affected vehicles. Numerous other owners have reported similar failures, with some experiencing delays of 3–6 months for replacement parts due to backorders. My vehicle’s symptoms match the TSB, and the dealership’s failure to address the noise during the warranty period likely allowed the defect to progress to catastrophic failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661580May 16, 2025
POWER TRAIN
2021 Highlander has 103000 miles. Transmission started a whine that only presents under acceleration. It follows the speed of the car, not the engine speed and is getting louder. My [XXX] granddaughter asked today what is that loud whining noise. It was diagnosed by my mechanic as another bad Toyota transmission. They stated it could stop working at the most inoperative time. Could cause death. I have to wait for more than 2 months to hopefully get a new transmission. 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
#11661415May 16, 2025
ENGINE
My 21 Highlander has a wine noise coming from the transmission. There is currently a bulletin out by Toyota T-SB-000821 confirming that the transmission in this model needs to be replaced. I took my car to two separate mechanics who confirmed the noise is coming from transmission. I called Toyota this morning. Spoke with a lady and she told me she cannot locate the bulletin on my VIN number so pretty much there’s nothing they can do to help. I’m having the issue with my car that Toyota is aware about and has put out a bulletin regarding the issue. I think Toyota needs to take care of this. This is not something that should be VIN specific if I’m having the issue then fix it! At least send me to a Toyota dealership for you guys to confirm the issue and fix it!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661187May 15, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Vehicle is displaying a whining noise, especially when reaching 3rd gear / 35+ mph. Per mechnical review, it is the transmission failing. Only option is to replace the transmission. Similar to an issue already reported on similar models for both 2021 and 2022 Toyota Highlanders. No current recalls exist
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661175May 15, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The transmission started making a whirring and grinding noise so I took it into the mechanic who notified me that Toyota put out a TSB on this issue in February 2021. I leased this vehicle in April 2021 and it was never disclosed to me that I would experience a transmission issue down the line. At the end of my lease, I purchased the vehicle and again it was never disclosed to me of this issue. I immediately took the car into the Toyota dealership where they heard the noise and confirmed it is the transmission defect that Toyota previously identified. I am ordered to bring my four minor children from Las Vegas to Los Angeles minimum once a month and my fear is getting stuck on the 15 freeway at 75 miles an hour in the heat of summer. This is a huge safety issue and this matter should have been a recall. I understand from the Toyota service manager that Toyota did not redesign the transmission so even if I get a new transmission it will experience this issue again. At $11,000 for a new transmission or $4500 for the extended warranty, it isn't right that the consumer is on the hook for a defect Toyota knew about and didn't disclose. This is auto fraud and negligent. A car is a hefty investment and Toyota took advantage of the public. They should be held accountable.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11660347May 12, 2025
POWER TRAIN
transmission failure at approximately 80,000 miles dealer has confirmed diagnosis and recommended replacement on-line forums indicate this is a recurring problem with this model engine noises began at approximately 78,000 miles
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11660278May 11, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
Brakes do not engage sometimes until brake is almost to floor. This has happened to the 3 people who have driven it and almost caused an accident. In fact the warning flashes on dashboard. Brakes have almost failed and yes, it is available upon request. Our safety was at risk because all 3 of us almost hit the person in front of us. The problem has not been reproduced by the 2 service places I went. Neither of them drove it. The first Toyota service center checked the OBD2 scanner and it showed no problems. The second place did not check anything and said they would when I come back for my 15,000 oil change. The brakes were inspected by the first service center but they did not drive it. I bought the Highlander Hybrid brand new and it started immediately. I traded in the exact same vehicle that was a 2019 Highlander Hybrid Platinum and it did not have this problem. The suv had a PCS that does show on dashboard but that is because the brake isn’t engaging and you are so close to hitting someone. Normally you apply pressure to the brakes to start slowing down and it does. But in some cases the brake has been applied and nothing happens. It finally does engage after the brake is almost completely down. I don’t know if that is the safety system braking or the brake actually working. Because at that point the PCS warning is on the screen. Also the first service center entered my complaint into a database.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11660134May 10, 2025
POWER TRAIN
There is a known flaw with this car that the transmissions fail prematurely. There is a technical service bulletin (TSB0008-21) released 2 months before purchasing the car on this exact issue and we were not made aware before purchase. Toyota has not recalled these vehicles and this applies to a very select serial number range of transmissions implying a manufacturer defect even further. Now my car, with 68k miles, is expected to have a transmission replaced at full cost. There are many forums discussing this issue and I hope that more people come forward because this is clearly a defect in the design that Toyota should be responsible in fixing.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11659944May 9, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
Roof rails leak and allow water to enter the head liner and the air bags in the support arms of the cabin. Toyota has a Toyota Service Bulletin related to this but they and their dealers will not fix this. It would seem to be an issue if the air bags do not function as intended due to Toyota ignoring a manufacturing defect on their vehicles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11659903May 9, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
My car was parked in the driveway with the engine running. The engine was then turned off from outside the vehicle using the start/stop button. Once the engine stopped, the car moved backward down the sloped driveway and struck a pickup truck that was parallel parked on the street. I then entered the vehicle and attempted to shift into drive, but a warning appeared indicating the hybrid system was off and instructing me to put the car in park. Multiple attempts were made to drive the car forward, but instead, it was driving in reverse. The car would not move forward for approximately five minutes. I eventually turned the engine off and restarted it after a couple of minutes. After restarting, I was able to drive the car off the street.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11659136May 6, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Transmission was making a wine noise. Little grind but winey noise. Went away. Came back few min later at shifting and went away thank went home
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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