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.
My Highlander currently has 91,700 miles. Over the last 60 days, it has developed a high-pitched whine during acceleration under power. The sound starts at about 20 MPH and continues. I presented it to the dealer 30 days ago and they suggested new tires, front and rear brakes and an alignment. Those repairs have all been completed and the noise continues and may have gotten worse. A second diagnostic visit revealed the need for a new transmission at a cost of $11,005. The part number involved is T030510-48601-84. Safe operation of the vehicle is at risk as I could be stranded or worse as I wait for a part that is on back-order. There are no warning lights or check engine lights.
In driving my vehicle the RPM stayed high I took it into the Toyota dealer in Albany Ga and was told that the transmission was stuck in 3rd gear and the transmission needed to be replaced. My vehicle currently has 66k mikes on it so it is not covered by a warranty. I read where the 2018 Highlander had reported issues with their transmissions. I checked to see if one of the 2018 transmissions were put in my 2019 model and all I was told was there was not a recall on my vehicle. Yet if I were to order a new transmission through Toyota they told me they are on back order for anywhere of two weeks to two months. Sounds like they are having issues if they have none in stock.
The engine can be turned off while the shift (automatic) lever is not in Park. If the driver does not realize the failure to put the lever in Park, the car can roll freely. My car is available for inspection, but I was given to believe by Toyota service that this is a standard feature on all 2019 Highlanders. Safety is continually at risk because the car can roll and cause injury to an exiting passenger, another car, or a pedestrian. The car has not been inspected for this since Toyota does not believe this is a problem. There is a warning lamp triangle ! but no sound. The message says "Shift to P before exiting vehicle". While proper parking is my responsibility, I have not seen the in any other type of vehicle in which I have ridden or driven, Honda, GMC, Chevrolet, Dodge Aspen--all owned and driven by me. This is an ongoing "condition", not an "incident".
Took the vehicle twice to Toyota to check on console vibration originating from possible drivetrain (normally in cold weather). This was done under extended warranty. Also had transmission fluid replaced. Service department noticed fluid low even though there was no transmission leak. Service department couldn't duplicate issue but failed to attempt start of vehicle in early mornings as requested. About 10K miles after last attempt to get issue fixed, the transmission failed with no caution, no warning and no error codes. Symptoms included little to zero acceleration from a dead stop and inability to accelerate to higher speeds when necessary (main safety issue). Eventually, vehicle was not able to accelerate. This vehicle does have the 8-speed AT Transmission that lawsuits are being filed against.
Took the vehicle twice to Toyota to check on console vibration originating from possible drivetrain (normally in cold weather). This was done under extended warranty. Also had transmission fluid replaced. Service department noticed fluid low even though there was no transmission leak. Service department couldn't duplicate issue but failed to attempt start of vehicle in early mornings as requested. About 10K miles after last attempt to get issue fixed, the transmission failed with no caution, no warning and no error codes. Symptoms included little to zero acceleration from a dead stop and inability to accelerate to higher speeds when necessary (main safety issue). Eventually, vehicle was not able to accelerate. This vehicle does have the 8-speed AT Transmission that lawsuits are being filed against.
- Clive, IA, USA
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Both the right and left constant velocity axels are making noise. The dealer tells us it is under warranty and will be repaired. However, there are no repair parts available and on national back order. The dealer parts department indicates that there have been problems with the 2019 Highlander cv axels, and all replacement parts have been used. My question is how many highlanders have bad cv axels? Is there more of a problem than just a back order. The dealer indicated we could continue to drive the car until it starts to vibrate.
2019 Toyota Highlander SE V6 FWD - Transmission failing 106000 miles. Transmission has developed a whining sound while accelerating. Fayetteville AR Toyota dealer initial diagnosis was a loose heat shield and recommended a front end alignment, which was done. Noise continued. Independent transmission shop diagnosis was potentially failing bearing, but most likely transmission beginning to fail. Fayetteville AR Toyota dealer, diagnosis upon return, transmission failing, needing replacement. $7,000+ for parts, 5 week lead time to order. Recommended to not drive vehicle as transmission could fail while driving.
2019 Highlander has whining noise when accelerating so we brought it into the dealership. They stated it needs a new transmission assembly - $11,741.41. This is unacceptable for a four year old vehicle. I have contacted Toyota directly, they stated there is nothing they can do for us because we are over the 60,000 warranty.
My car was manufactured in 10/2018. My car is experiencing whine noise from the transmission while driving, harsh shifting and reduced power. This issue also appeared on previous year models from 2017-2018 and was taken care under bulletin "T-SB-0160-18". However, I called Toyota and they don't want to fix my vehicle under that bulletin even though the issue my car faces is the same. I checked online and many Toyota Highlander Owners face the same issue. I can be contacted on [XXX] or [XXX] Thanks, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Our 2019 Highlander xle ( VIN [XXX]) is currently at the Lonestar service department. Service Rep ([XXX]), Assistant Sales Manager [XXX], and [XXX], were fully advised of the stall problems of our vehicle on 9/13/2031. Our paperwork on previous tall repairs were left with [XXX]. On 9/13/2021, we left our 2019, Highlander XLE in the Toyota Lonestar Service department, Lewisville, Texas, for stalling (would not drive) repairs. They were fully notified of several stall episodes. The most recent stall was while driving, 30 mph in Denton, Texas, in heavy traffic, in the middle of an intersection. My wife was terrified when the car stalled. The screen went black. Her car mileage was 9344 mileage at this most recent problem 9/2021. My wife when she starts the car leaving the house. She always going through the procedure to turn off the "start/stop" function, before leaving our residence ("manually turns off the auto stop-start feature"). This vehicle has stalled, several times, in heavy traffic while wife was driving, putting my wife in personal danger. The vehicle is very much at risk of a serious traffic accident. The Toyota dealer, in Denton Texas, has been made aware this problem, when it was returned for service repairs several times. They have not fixed this on going problem at all. This car is a "Lemon". This problem has occurred (stalls occurred on 3/16/2021, and 3/26/2021, 5/17/2019)The care was taken to Lonestar Toyota and Denton Toyota for repairs on these stall occasions. My wife says there were additional stall episodes. The Denton Police have a report of my wife being stalled on I-35 in heavy traffic on 3/5/2021. We waited in a police car for four hours for a tow truck, because of dangerous fast traffic. My wife says two other police departments have similar reports of these stall episodes, when police responded, (Flower Mound Police was one she recalled. https://www.consumerreports.org/car-recalls-defec INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.
I bought this car new with about 11 mile on it. The transmission immediately had shifting issues as it could not decide what forward gear to go into and shifted hard and felt as if it was going into two gears at one time and after a short drive the instrument cluster warning display indicated a check engine light and warning that the transmission was overheating and acted as if the engine was starving of fuel as it surged and did not deliver power to go beyond 35 mph. After I bought it the dealer reassured me at least three times that the car was okay and that this is the way that the transmission shifts. I repeatedly had the dealer check it and the dealer reassured me that there was no trouble code and no problems found although the check engine light was on and the instrument cluster showed transmission overheating and they fixed a wiring connector to try and fix the running problem. A class action suit came out for the fuel pump failure recall and the 8 speed transmission. I feel that this is a very common problem that the dealer and manufacture are trying to hide. After 13 months and 2,800 total miles the transmission overheated, burned up the internal clutch set and I now have no forward and reverse gears. I feel that the surging and transmission problems are a software defect as the shifting defect comes and goes and vastly promoted if I drive it very gently from a cold start. Once warmed up it does not act up as often except when two gears seem to be engaged at the same time. The key also intermittently does not allow the car to start and instrument cluster also shows trac light, ABS failure light, bsm not available, smart key failure, and complete black out of the instrument cluster and shown to the dealer mechanic and service writers and photographed and videotaped for documentation and in the repair orders.
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle decelerated and jerked without warning. The vehicle was taken to new country Toyota of clifton park (202 rte 146, mechanicville, NY 12118, (518) 670-4332) where it was diagnosed and test driven. The contact was informed that there was no fix for the tect tip which failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that no resolution was set for the issue however, an investigation was started. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000.
When I am driving at lower speeds, the transmission searches for the correct gear. It's very rough and at times has made driving unsafe. This happens all the time at lower speeds.
Lack of responsiveness in acceleration from a stop; sluggish response to pressing the accelerator when accelerating from a stop or while moving and attempting to pass slower moving vehicles; have nearly caused an accident more than once when turning/pulling out into traffic with plenty of space but unable to accelerate correctly. Also uneven shifting; transmission jerks when shifting gears.
When slowing down and then trying to accelerate again there is a hesitation from when I push the gas pedal and when the car actually accelerates. It happens from a complete stop sometimes also. Sometimes the car jerks when it does this. The passenger can feel it also
2019 Highlander purchased 12/2019. I guess I am lucky, mine has not stalled yet. Very poor throttle response. Taken to autio nation Toyota ft myers 3 times including having a regional rep there. He claims mine is operating within factory specs. Supposedly mine is not a part of the fuel pump issue. Not that it matters Toyota says the parts are not available. Factory rep says mine has 41 computers. What could possibly go wrong? yeh right look at this web site and see the similar complaints across the total Toyota line including Lexus. Warning if you have the lane departure feature (lda) be extra carefu. If the lda activates and yours is one with the lack of throttle response, it may end up moving you into another lane or off the roadway.it has happened to me. Acccelrater shifted wat down and almost put me in another lane. Luckily no other vehicles present how many body bags will it take to force the feds to act? oh I forgot. They are needed else where. Toyota wins Y more like a thunderstorm. If you bother to scan this fed web site you will see all th all I know is to the car bucks, fails to respond to normal acceleration, or over downshifts. So far I haven't taken out any other vhicle, person, or me. If your vehicle is equipped with the lane departure feature (lda) watch out if you trying to accelerate, mine lda activated, and almost put me in another lane. Luckly there wasn't another another car there. Read all the similar complaints on this federal website covering all models of the Toyota brand (Lexus included) with the 8 speed transmission and see nothing is being done by Toyota or the feds. I wonder if the feds need a body bag count to take action. Oh I forgot the bags are needed else where and Toyota will win.
With 300miles on Highlander started to experience issues in driving and drop in performance. Performance was very significant especially noticeable in mpg. At scenarios when the car would not drive up the hill but rev to max and start rolling back with 'clicking' noise. Toyota was send to service many times after to multiple Toyota dealerships but they did not have any diagnosis. At 15K miles on the car driving on highway (70mph) the Highlander lost power and started loud noise. When pulled over found oil smell and smoke from engine. During examination found 3 cylinder went loose. During that time one of them came off the side and hit the transmission. Almost a full month the Highlander was rebuilt but no final word what had happened by Toyota Corp. The car is about 17K miles and started to act the same way. As a family we are afraid to drive the car especially my pregnant wife with children. I am afraid this may happen again and can lock up all wheels and can result in massive accident. Toyota is not taking this as serious and seems to me they do not care. As of right now the Highlander has problems with alignment, lane assist, and lack of power. Please see pictures.
I own a 2019 Toyota Highlander, it has stalled several times during busy commute to or from work. I am so scared to drive this vehicle, that I refuse to drive it to any destination longer than 50 miles. I need this car replaced, I have three young children, and I paying for an unsafe, unreliable car. I would like for Toyota to replace this vehicle.
When trying to coast to a stop at around 4 mph the car will slam to a stop. Does not always do this but it's sometimes very hard to come to a smooth stop as the cars braking system (regenerative braking?) will kick in by itself. Can be dangerous if a car is tailing very close to me as it will seem like I'm driving unpredictably. Took the car to a dealer but they could not replicate the problem at the time. Although the problem is intermittent it is more likely to do this when the car is still warming up.
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle shook uncontrollably without warning. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator also illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to hamer Toyota (11041 sepulveda blvd, mission hills, ca 91345), but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 10,000.
- Granada Hills, CA, USA
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- Savage, MN, USA