Toyota Highlander Complaints (2022)

234 consumer complaints on file.

#11732193April 19, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
During start up Headlight system malfunction and Pre-Collision system failure lights and waring came on.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11732007April 18, 2026
POWER TRAIN
To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this complaint to report a serious mechanical issue involving the transfer case on my 2022 Toyota Highlander. This problem raises concerns regarding the safety, reliability, and overall performance of the vehicle. While driving, I began hearing a grinding noise coming from the vehicle. Concerned, I brought the vehicle to an authorized dealership for a diagnostic inspection. I was informed that there is a transmission-related issue and that the vehicle requires a transfer case replacement. At the time of diagnosis, the vehicle had approximately 77,000 miles and has been primarily driven locally under normal conditions. This type of major drivetrain failure at such mileage is unexpected and concerning, especially given that the vehicle has been properly maintained. The failure of a critical component such as the transfer case can significantly affect vehicle control and drivability, posing a potential safety risk. This raises concerns about a possible defect in the drivetrain system or a broader issue affecting similar vehicles. I respectfully request that this matter be investigated to determine whether this is an isolated incident or part of a wider pattern. If necessary, appropriate corrective actions should be taken to ensure consumer safety. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I am available to provide any additional documentation, including service records and diagnostic reports, upon request.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731743April 16, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I am reporting a premature transmission failure on a 2022 Toyota Highlander LE at approximately 85,000 miles. The vehicle began exhibiting a whining noise. When brought into the Toyota Dealership, I was notified that it needs a full transmission replacement. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Toyota dealership, which determined that the transmission has failed and requires full replacement at an estimated cost of approximately $9,400. There were no warning lamps or messages of the problem prior to the failure. A transmission failing at this mileage creates a significant safety risk, especially when merging into traffic, accelerating from a stop, or maintaining highway speeds. This vehicle has been regularly maintained, with service performed through authorized Toyota dealerships. Despite this, Toyota has declined to provide assistance for the repair. This has caused a massive financial stress and strain. There is a documented pattern of similar transmission failures involving Toyota Highlander vehicles equipped with the 8-speed automatic transmission (UA80 platform) across multiple model years.This appears to be part of a broader pattern of premature transmission failures that may indicate a defect affecting vehicle safety. The consistency of complaints across multiple vehicles and model years suggests this is not an isolated incident. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue for potential safety defects and determine whether further action, including recall or manufacturer accountability, is warranted.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729993April 8, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
The struts for the tailgate appear to be a problem for these cars. Mine are failing intermittently and so if the technicians don’t witness it, they refuse to cover it under warranty. If I crash and the trunk is the only way out, I willl die. The trunk gets stuck and won’t open or close unless forced. This is a disaster and should be recalled. I see multiple complaints all over the internet about this issue and the dealers are NO help. I have gone 4 separate times and they have wasted my time because there was no resolution.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729179April 4, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
Rear tailgate won’t open ir close correctly. The keyfob or the button om the tailgate won’t work. Really heavy tailgate to close manually.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727607March 27, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The transmission began making a whining noise at about 70,000 miles. It gradually became more noticeable. We had recently completed a thorough service, including transmission fluid exchange at 68,538 miles at a Toyota dealer. In March 2026 we took it to a Toyota dealer at 75,196 miles to report the noise and the dealer said the noise was coming from the transaxle and advised replacing the transaxle, which will require replacing the transmission. This was confirmed by a second Toyota dealer a few weeks later. Upon further research, it is clear that this is a significant safety issue and I will need to expend between $6k - $8k for repair from an independent shop and at a much higher expense if done through a Toyota dealer.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11726915March 25, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine while the accelerator pedal was depressed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired out-of-pocket. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11726694March 24, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Noticed a sound coming from the car. I took it to the dealership which they said I would need my transmission replaced. They could only get me a refurbished one, which after parts and labor, it would cost 10,000 dollars. Upon talking with the technician, the transmission my car uses has been known to be faulty and having issues, usually after the warranty. So much so that Toyota did a recall on previous car years to extend the warranty for the transmission. The technician said they are replacing them often, which is why the supply is so low. These transmissions are the ones Toyota has been using since 2016, which have had many defects and causing issues. If this was known for years, why did Toyota continue to use them?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725716March 19, 2026
SEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle: 2022 Toyota Highlander Limited Mileage at failure: ~60,000 miles The driver seat began moving rearward without any driver input while the vehicle was being driven. The movement was intermittent and occurred multiple times over several days. In one incident, the seat moved rearward while my wife was driving, causing her to lose proper reach to the brake pedal and nearly lose control of the vehicle. The seat would sometimes move to the full rear position and continue attempting to move past the mechanical stop. The problem also occurred during vehicle startup and shutdown cycles. This condition creates a significant safety risk because the driver’s seating position can change unexpectedly while driving. In attempting to mitigate the problem, I tried to disable the power seat by removing the fuse. However, the power seat fuses on this vehicle are not clearly labeled and are mounted on the side of the interior junction block under the dash, making them inaccessible to the driver without removing interior panels. As a result, the malfunctioning system could not be quickly disabled. The vehicle required replacement of the driver seat control/track assembly at a cost of approximately $1,600. Uncommanded movement of the driver seat while driving appears to be a safety-related defect and should be investigated for potential recall or service campaign
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724894March 17, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while using the rear liftgate with the key fob or the actuator on the liftgate door, the liftgate failed to raise properly and failed to close properly. The contact stated that the liftgate made a beeping sound and then stopped. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer several times and was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer recommended changing both liftgate pistons. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11722246March 5, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
LIFTGATE MALFUNCTION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719234February 19, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Transmission failure of 2022 Toyota Highlander LE at 82,329 miles. Safety compromised due to possible roadside failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718753February 18, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Component or system that malfunctioned: The braking system on my 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, specifically the transition between regenerative braking and hydraulic friction braking, appears to malfunction intermittently. During braking, the vehicle sometimes lurches or surges forward instead of slowing smoothly, especially at low speeds or when braking downhill. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. How safety was put at risk: The unexpected forward surge while braking increases stopping distance and creates uncertainty about braking performance, particularly in traffic or parking situations. This creates a risk of rear-end or low-speed collisions and reduces my confidence in the braking system. Problem reproduced or confirmed by dealer or service center: The vehicle was inspected by a Toyota dealership, and a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) software update intended to address braking behavior was performed at approximately 50,000 miles. However, the braking problem continues unchanged after the repair. I had to pay the dealer to perform this TSB update. The dealer was initially reluctant to apply the TSB and did not associate my braking complaint with the known issue. I had to research the TSB myself and request that it be applied. The invoice notes that the dealer reproduced the issue. Vehicle or component inspected by manufacturer or others: The vehicle has been inspected by a Toyota dealership service department. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives, as no accident has occurred. Warning lamps or prior symptoms: No warning lights or messages appear when the problem occurs. The issue happens intermittently without warning and has occurred since the vehicle was new. The condition appears to be getting progressively worse. The issue seems more likely to occur when braking while the hybrid battery is near or at full charge, suggesting a possible problem in the transition between regenerative and friction braking.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717969February 14, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Transmission failed at 63,000 miles, new transmission was installed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717264February 11, 2026
POWER TRAIN
UA80 Transmission failure @ 3.5 yrs old and 89k miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11715269February 3, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
Failure of the rear hatch power struts. Door not opening or closing properly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713591January 27, 2026
AIR BAGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
Parked in sun and the SRS system malfunctioned, after power reset the system reset ok, LTA malfunction, headlight system malfunction Pre-collision malfunction.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713585January 27, 2026
AIR BAGS
Parked in sun and the SRS system malfunctioned, after power reset the system reset ok,
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713582January 27, 2026
AIR BAGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
Parked in sun and the SRS system malfunctioned, after power reset the system reset ok. Front camera malfunction, RSA malfunction & Pre-collision malfunction.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713575January 27, 2026
AIR BAGS
Parked in sun and the SRS system malfunctioned, after power reset the system reset ok,
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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