Toyota Highlander Complaints (2024)

41 consumer complaints on file.

#11760159August 27, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
Driving the vehicle a strong smell of fuel vapor is noticeable coming from rear driver side of vehicle by rear door and fuel cap area. This happens when car is driven for long periods of time or on hot days. I drive my car daily and it happens every day. Smell gets so bad it gets in to the cabin area. Causing me to get headaches or light headed feeling making it unsafe to drive. I have taken vehicle to the dealership but nothing was done. The only thing they said they could do is clean and disinfect my AC vents. This issue has been on going since I bought the vehicle brand new 0 miles when I purchased it. There are no warning lamps or messages that appear when the issue starts. After returning home I have to park my car out side for a few hours until the fuel smell goes away and it is safe to park in my garage. I have talked to other people who own the 2024 Highlander and they have stated they to have experienced the same issue also taking it back to the dealership but no fix for the issue. Please have Toyota find a fix for this issue it is a huge safety concern for the people and the environment for the amount of fuel vapors that this car releases.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11757582August 18, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
There is a strong odor of gasoline coming from the car, to the point where the fumes are so strong they’re entering our home and making it very unsafe. We brought the vehicle to the Toyota dealership, and they said they couldn’t do anything about it. Keep in mind the car is still under warranty. Upon doing further research from Reddit, this seems to be a common issue with 2023+ Highlander and Grand Highlander models; however, Toyota is refusing to correct these issues. This is a hazard to say the least and something needs to be done asap!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745432June 21, 2026
SEAT BELTS
The third row seat belts in the 2024 Highlander are very difficult to latch. I had to bring my Highlander to the dealership twice over the seatbelt buckles in the third row. The buckle part does not lift up high enough to grab the buckle to latch it. Anytime a child old enough to be in the third row sits back there an adult has to Buckle them because they can’t get the seat belt to latch to the buckle. It’s supposed to be a family friendly vehicle but if a 7 year old can’t buckle themselves, that is an extremely unsafe design. It often takes me 10-15 minutes to get kids buckled in my third row because of how challenging it is to get the seat belts to latch as an adult. I have had to use a butter knife to get them to latch. This safety issue , I did not have in my 2021Highlander. I don’t feel children are safe in the third row of my vehicle. This time the dealership said it had a debris in the buckle and that’s why it wouldn’t latch. However even when they do all latch they are very difficult to latch. These should be replaced with safe buckles that latch the first attempts
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742837June 8, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The trunk will not close using any of the buttons. This is an on going issue on so many newer highlanders.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736517May 8, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
The vehicle started stalling out randomly on the highway even with it being automatic, after getting home and parking it , it would not back up or drive . Took it to Toyota dealership and they said it’s an internal failure of the transmission which is a UA80 model , it only has 92,000 miles on it they can’t figure out what caused it . There are lawsuits with this vehicle already from other people and Toyota is not fixing the issue and won’t help with mine even after they have known what it is. I took it to one shop before Toyota to get a diagnostic it shown two codes one being in the transmission but they fixed that part and the vehicle still did not drive nor back up and then Toyota got the vehicle right after and they even said that it’s internal failure . Pictures listed below is how much for the tow truck fee, the part fee that I paid that was one code that was on the diagnostic tear down list , even after fixing payments and still not working and it going to Toyota and the messages from Toyota after everything got done and them saying the internal failure also . So not only 1 but 3 business that said internal failure .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735646May 4, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I've been waiting for a recall repair based on a recall file nearly 8 months ago now. This recall still appears to have no remedy. I continue to get emails about this issue from my dealer, but when I call to schedule the appointment to fix it, they continue to tell me that no remedy is available yet.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11734371April 28, 2026
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that there was a leak coming from the roof rack of the vehicle. The contact stated that previous model years since 2021 had experienced similar failures, which caused damage to the SRS air bag module. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 155,590.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733520April 24, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKING SYSTEM WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, ESPECIALLY WHEN APPLYING DOWNHILL, TEMPORARILY RELEASES AND ACTS AS THOUGH BRAKES ARE NOT APPLIED ANY LONGER FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF A FEW SECONDS THEN REAPPLIES. IT DOES SO THAT IT IS VERY OBVIOUS WITHIN THE CAR. THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM AND IT SEEMS THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED IN NEWER MODELS. ASKING NTHSA TO ADDRESS WITH TOYOTA AND GET IT FIXED.Technical Service Bulletin for 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Braking Issue. Some drivers reported a momentary transition from regenerative braking to hydraulic braking, particularly when driving downhill or turning with light brake pedal application. Toyota has provided a software update for the brake actuator control module to improve brake feel.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11732318April 20, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Vehicle smells like fuel after engine toggles on and off between the hybrid system. This issue is intermittent, but when it is taken to the dealership they smell the fuel, with no luck duplicating the issue. I have also noticed when the smell is present the vehicle seems to run rough.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730788April 13, 2026
Other/I am not sure
I am submitting a formal complaint regarding a safety defect in my Evenflo Revolve 360 car seat. The white foam headrest component has completely detached due to what appears to be a failure in the original adhesive. This issue occurred despite proper use and adherence to all manufacturer guidelines. This component is part of the headrest system and plays a role in impact protection. Its detachment raises serious concerns about the structural integrity and crash performance of the seat. As a result, I no longer feel it is safe to transport my child in this car seat. I want to be clear that I am not comfortable attempting any at-home repair, including gluing the foam back into place, as modifications may compromise the seat’s compliance with federal safety standards and manufacturer specifications.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730642April 12, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Safety Recall remedy not fixed in a timely manner
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11726926March 25, 2026
SEATS
Second row seats not latching when moved forward. Sliced up multiple finger when trying determine what was causing it not to latch. Put in a couple of stitches in 2 finger and bandage up the remaining 2 fingers
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11723811March 12, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 12.3” display screen goes really dark and I have to restart vehicle to reset.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720553February 25, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Detailed Description of the Incident: I am reporting a recurring powertrain safety issue regarding the 8-speed automatic transmission (UA80-series) in my vehicle. [Symptoms] During cold-start conditions (outside temperatures below 30°F), the vehicle consistently experiences a violent jerk/shock and an audible clicking noise during the first 2nd-to-3rd gear transition. This physical impact is severe enough to be felt directly by the driver through the accelerator pedal. The issue is highly predictable, occurring once after every "Cold Soak" period (6+ hours of sitting). [Dealership Failure] I presented the vehicle to an authorized Toyota dealership for diagnosis. Although the conditions for the issue were met, the technician stated they "could not feel or verify" the shock that I, as the primary driver, clearly experience. By failing to acknowledge a physical powertrain shock, the dealership is dismissing a potential mechanical failure as "normal operation" simply because no Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) are triggered. [Safety Risk] The failure to verify this symptom does not eliminate the safety risk. This unexpected shift shock causes a momentary hesitation in power delivery. If this occurs while merging into traffic or navigating an intersection immediately after a cold start, it creates an unpredictable vehicle response, significantly increasing the risk of a rear-end collision. [Request] I request NHTSA to investigate this specific 2-3 shift shock in 2023-2024 Toyota Highlanders. Toyota’s reliance on electronic codes to diagnose physical transmission defects is leaving drivers at risk of sudden powertrain failure or accidents in cold climates.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719690February 22, 2026
TIRES
The tires have not “failed,” but they are dry rotting on both the sidewalls and inside the tread. These came as the OE tires, size is 235/65 R18. This is a daily driven car with almost 30,000 miles on the odometer. There is no reason the tires should be dry rotting. This is a severe safety hazard, as most tire shops wouldn’t mount, balance, or even touch these tires if they were dry rotted this quickly. The tires have been rotated every 10,000 miles or so, and have been kept properly inflated throughout their life. They were made on the 42nd week of 2023. They began showing symptoms of light dry rotting around 6 months ago, but the problem has finally spread to the sidewall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717692February 12, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When I purchased the vehicle I was told I could use Apple CarPlay, or Toyota's Drive Connect. Apple works better so I've always used that. I am used to having to clear Toyota's pop up ads for Drive Connect several times per week, even once per day. Recently Toyota's Drive Connect ads pops up on screen every few minutes regardless of what hands free app I'm trying to use (navigation, phone call, audiobook, etc.). It's distracting which is dangerous and keeps me from being able to use the hands free feature through Apple Car Play in my car. After calling Toyota corporate and Toyota brand engagement, both entities told me the only way to get the pop up ads to stop is to subscribe. The pop ups are dangerous and not what I agreed to when buying the car, so it feels like blackmail to be told it will only stop if I pay them $15 per month for a subscription to something that I won't use that was not a required feature when I purchased the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11716387February 7, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
When the engine is running after hours a gasoline smell and vapor exit the tank by the cap.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11706841December 23, 2025
BACK OVER PREVENTION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the instrument cluster was blinking. The contact expressed that she was concerned that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The contact received the recall notices of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V744000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V595000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V595000 (Electrical System) was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and filed a claim. The failure mileage was approximately 13,357.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704547December 11, 2025
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When the AC system is turned on, the idle increases from 740rpm to 760rpm. It engages the torque converter in the automatic transmission causing the car to move forward on its own. This makes it difficult, whether you are in traffic or at a stop light where there are vehicles stopped infront of you. The driver has to press hard on the brake pedal to keep it from moving forward. The local Toyota dealership (Hendrick service manager and two service technicians) said it was fine. Toyota Brand Engagement sent Eric who is their corporate regional engineer to inspect the car. He said it was fine. I have spoke with Toyota Brand Engagement several times and at various levels who all say it functions fine as the idle is within limits. I asked Toyota for an idle specification sheet but no one (the local Toyota Dealership, Engineer from Toyota Brand Engagement, or CEO office of Toyota Brand Engagement) is able to produce an idle specification sheet for the vehicle. They continue to state it is normal. Toyota Executive Office Case 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
#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

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