Print this page

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
23,666 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Toyota Highlander miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2018 Toyota Highlander:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2018 Toyota Highlander Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #35

Aug 292023

Highlander

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Three weeks ago, I took my vehicle to Fred Haas Toyota Dealer in Spring, TX and they informed me that my driver axle needed replacement. My service advisor has now given me three ETAs on when the part will be delivered. Today, he mentioned that there is a nationwide back order on the part and suspects that many highlanders are experiencing the same problem

- Conroe, TX, USA

problem #34

Aug 012023

Highlander

  • miles
This Toyota Highlander XLE 2018 was bought new in 2018. Lately in 8/23 started seeing on the dash a "BRAKE" light that comes on and off while driving. 2 weeks later, starting seeing a warning sign saying "Braking Power Low" and a message underneath saying"STOP in safe place". Took it to Toyota dealer twice so far and they could not duplicate the issue ( maybe they did not drive it for enough time). They said also that no error history was retrieved, even though I had shown them video and pictures of the errors when happened. This warning signs has been happening intermittently after driving ~7-10 miles or 10-20 minutes on the road. I have searched on line and found some similar issues and even a recalls for the same issue on some 2018 models of Toyota, Lexus, and Highlander. They said some cars were recalled but not all. I serched for recall on my Highlander and found none. Here some search sites: [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #33

Nov 012018

Highlander

  • miles
I have noticed that the car makes a knocking sound when stopped at signals or in heavy traffic. I have taken my 2018 Highlander LTD many times to the dealer and they cannot hear it nor find anything under the car. This has been going on since I took delivery. The service manager said it might be a bearing going out or a loose bracket (I do not know which bracket he was referring to one as he wasn't sure which bearing). He said just to wait and see if anything else more serious develops...this sounds potentially dangerous to me. The knocking noise still persists to this day.

- Rosemead, CA, USA

problem #32

Sep 212022

Highlander

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The windshield in our 2018 Highlander suffered three cracks before we finally had the windshield replaced. According to the company that performed the repair, we are one of many Highlander customers that have had these issues. We know that rocks were the cause, but the number of incidents appear to be higher than normal. To avoid having another problem, we added a protective coating to our windshield at an additional cost of $600. We assume this to be one of many incidents, and want it to be known that this appears to be a defect in glass specification and/or manufacturing.

- Eugene, OR, USA

problem #31

Aug 222022

Highlander

  • 440,000 miles
I have a power steering warning light. Steering is harder than normal. I believe this vehicle is having the same power steering problem that Toyota Tundra and sequoias are having. I want it to be recalled and paid for by the manafacturer. This is ridiculous a well maintained vehicle.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #30

Mar 152022

Highlander

  • miles
I was driving down the highway at 11:30am MST going between 55-60 mps and my sunroof just popped and broke. Nothing hit us, there were barely even any cars around us at the time. It spontaneously combusted. Providing screenshots of the video I took immediately after it happened. You can even see how the glass is bowed out instead of inward, if it were hit by something.

- Bayfield, CO, USA

problem #29

Apr 042021

Highlander

  • 36,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2018 Toyota Highlander vehicle was sitting in parking lot untouched ( warm sunny day). Vehicle was parked. Owner used the remote hatch opening button on the key remote. When the hatch/ lift gate started opening a loud cracking / busting sound was made. The spoiler was separating on the sides from the hatch as well. Upon inspection, the inside plastic hatch component holding the glass window was cracked in 2 places and the metal piece inside hatch was bent. There was damage to the top of the vehicle where the hatch / lift gate is suppose to separate however hatch was rubbing up against the top of the vehicle. The safety risk, the spoiler located on the back of vehicle attached to the hatch, became detached from its mounted position. This caused the spoiler to separate and obstruct the hatch lift gate. Spoiler located on back is causing the lift gate to not open and when owner opens the hatch the detached spoiler will cause damage to hatch /lift gate.

- Jonesville, VA, USA

problem #28

Jan 102020

Highlander

  • 30,000 miles
1) biggest issue: I bought my SUV new. It was advertised 30/28 mpg. My average mpg since I bought it is 22-23. 2) it slides with barely any ice or rain. It is awful. It slide backward down a small hill last year & caused me to crash. Police responded but were too busy with other incidents to write a report. I had thousands of dollars in damages & rental car fees for the 5-6 weeks it took to have it repaired. I live in the pnw and have driven in snow 35 years. I've never had such bad performance. I had to by Michelin ice tires this year bc our SUV is so bad in snow & ice. 3) I was in a minor collision in a parking lot bc I didn't see another car backing out at the same time and the collision sensor didn't go off. My sensors were clean 4) when the sensors have even the smallest layer of snow they stop working. That makes the cruise control system stop working too. Very frustrating. The result of these issues is an increase by $800/mo of my auto insurance. Before this SUV I hadn't even had a speeding ticket in 14 years. Date of accident listed is approximation. Now I have 2 collisions. Wish I had purchased something else.

- Spokane, WA, USA

problem #27

Feb 142021

Highlander

  • 59,500 miles
Our sunroof glass "exploded" suddenly while driving straight on a smooth road - no rocks or debris around and normal cool winter day ~25F. Driving 70mph on Maine I295 at noontime. We had been driving for two hours prior to this event also in good weather and good road conditions. Some glass blew outwards, and many pieces fell onto the protective cover which fortunately was closed. We eventually slid the cover open to look up and discovered what happened.

- East Bloomfield, NY, USA

problem #26

Jan 262021

Highlander

  • 64,324 miles
The vehicle was in my driveway both times that this has happened so far. I went out first thing in the morning to start it and the brake pedal was extremely hard when I went to press the pedal in order to put the engine start button and all of the electronics turned on but the vehicle refused to start and displayed a message stating "braking power low, stop in a safe place. I found a recall notice that was shared on the Toyota forums for this exact reason; however, mine isn't included in the recall along with many other people that were also excluded and are having this same problem, according to the number of complaints on the Toyota and Lexus forums. I have attached a copy of the recall that was posted on the forum along with the message that was displayed when my Highlander wouldn't start. I kept trying for 10 minutes and finally used the remote start to start it (which made the brake pedal soft enough to press down). I then turned off the remote start and was then able to start it like normal. Had I not had remote start, I would have had to have the vehicle towed.

- Morehead City, NC, USA

problem #25

Dec 122019

Highlander

  • 4,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2018 Toyota Highlander experienced 4 different episodes of spontaneous acceleration while on local highways, 3 being on resumption of speed while using cruise control and the 4th not while on cruise control.there are 10 other electronic types of malfunctions not involving safety issues. Per the lemon law of wa state, the matter was taken to arbitration. The arbitrater found in my favor and awarded me a new replacement Highlander. Toyota has asked for a jury trial. I therefore continue to drive a vehicle that could cause a dangerous, potentially fatal car. I can supply further documentation should you want it.

- Seabeck, WA, USA

problem #24

Jul 232020

Highlander

  • 36,000 miles
As my husband was driving with the sunroof closed (the glass and material part). He heard a loud explosion. It was the sunroof imploding. He opened the material part and glassed rained down. There was no object that fell down, to show it was hit. Also, no mark from the inside to indicate it was hit from inside the car. This took place while my husband was driving on the 794 bridge in milwaukee, wi.

- Sheboygan, WI, USA

problem #23

Jan 252020

Highlander

  • 25,000 miles
Vehicle was in park and rolled. It picked up speed as it continued to roll and there weren't any occupant. This took place in a driveway. The vehicle rolls while the emergency brake is on alll the time as well.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #22

May 032018

Highlander

  • 100 miles
Pre collision system as advertised does not function. It does not warn nor self brake for imminent collisions with vehicles nor pedestrians should driver fail to react manually in time. Self tests using large cardboard boxes have verified this. Toyota refuses to remedy problem nor recognize owner test. Non functional since new, 5/2/18. Several dealers and Toyota cust. Service contacted & complaint ignored. All instances vehicle in motion on public roadways. Box test in motion in parking lot.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #21

Oct 022019

Highlander

  • 15,327 miles
Bluetooth connectivity does not work for owners of iphone 11 pro max with this make model and year of vehicle. I have contacted both apple and Toyota to try to rectify this issue, as it directly impairs the safe driving of this vehicle due to no access to the hands free features. I have complied with each company's directives and nothing has corrected the issue. I am being told by apple that Toyota needs to update its bluetooth software, and being told by Toyota that it is an apple issue. I am tired of the run around and I want this fixed.

- Valdosta, GA, USA

problem #20

Jan 102020

Highlander

  • miles
My bluetooth keeps turning off so I am not able to use my phone handsfree

- Fairview, OR, USA

problem #19

Oct 012019

Highlander

  • 12,300 miles
When pulling into a parking place, slowly, with right foot on the brake, getting ready to stop before the curb, the car accelerated, jumped the curb going over the sidewalk and hit the building. My right foot was still on the brake when it stopped. This happened in a doctors office parking lot. Air bags did not inflate.

- Surprise, AZ, USA

problem #18

Aug 242019

Highlander

  • 13,000 miles
The rear sunroof on our car shattered for no apparent reason on 8/24/19 while we were driving on the freeway (I-15 in northern Utah, around 8pm). There was no evidence of an impact from a foreign body when we were able to pull off and investigate. Initially the glass was cracked but intact, but when we continued down the road, the pieces started falling into the cloth cover. We contacted our local Toyota dealer today (8/26/19) and the shop manager told my husband that this was the second incident he'd heard of with a 2018 Highlander this month.

- Wellsville, UT, USA

problem #17

Aug 062019

Highlander

  • 9,900 miles
While driving into grand teton np our Highlander's sunroof exploded loudly in what appeared to be a spontaneous fashion. No sign of a rock or other road debris was seen or found. Fortunately, our sun shade was closed and we were not showered with glass. We were traveling about 45mph and the weather was sunny and mild at about 68 degrees.

- Kirkland, WA, USA

problem #16

May 032019

Highlander

  • 16,500 miles
Musty smell in the vehicle since November of 2018, vehicle brought to dealership early April 2019 with no resolution. Vehicle returned to dealership early May 2019. Water found under passenger carpet along with mold. Advised by Toyota no defective parts and there is nothing they can do.

- Wareham, MA, USA

Read the next 15 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?