49 problems related to power train have been reported for the 2018 Toyota Highlander. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2018 Toyota Highlander based on all problems reported for the 2018 Highlander.
The vehicle started having a whining noise in the transmission around 60,000 mi we took it to the Toyota dealership they said they couldn't hear anything he called Toyota itself the customer support program several times they have neglected it and it's getting worse.
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and attempting to accelerate, the transmission whined abnormally loud. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced due to internal failures. The vehicle was not repaired because the warranty had expired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
My transmission started making a whine sound upon acceleration, and at times hesitation of acceleration (inconsistent). Toyota service identified the issue in 2018 as a defective part from manufacturing and related in the repair notice to Toyota service bulletin TSB-160-18 which states certain Highlanders (my year and model) have an issue with a defective part in the transaxle/transmission. Toyota issued an extended warranty for the problem in 2020 (unlimited miles for coverage). I was then told that it then didn't apply to my VIN, even tho it was the problem diagnosed by a Toyota service technician associated with the TSB above, so they wouldn't cover thru the extended warranty. Told me that I have to pay for a new transmission over $9,000. My understanding (I cannot verify) that the initial service bulletin was expanded to cover more models in 2021, then removed the extended warranty, and did not issue a recall. Apparently Toyota is aware of a serious transmission problem caused by a defective part, and it is wider issue. This needs to be addressed as it is a significant hazard and danger Toyota is aware of, and not the cause of normal and expected wear and tear. I need help addressing this with Toyota and want to be sure the problem gets fixed before injuries occur. Toyota has multiple bulletins in the NHTSA data for this issue from before and after this issued bulletin demonstrating on ongoing issue. I tried to upload the TSB and the repair documentation but your system is not allowing.
Transmission, whine rough shifting issues. Yes can be looked at. Tough to hear over the noise, harder to know when its going to change gears and increase speed due to slow/intermittent gear shifts. Yes they have a TSB from Toyota that descript the issue and Toyota has extend some vins warranty's for this issue but not for all affect vehicles apparently. No, not by any of those. Yes dtc have come on for awd system issues. Frist appear at 90k.
Hard downshift striking fear!.
The transmission had a growling noise at low speeds. The dealer said that a new transmission is needed. Online complaints show that a badly designed transmission is failing very early in this vehicle and a class action lawsuit was filed because of this transmission.
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.
Our transmission has a known manufacture air we have called Toyota several times and they refuse to do anything about this are transmission is going out which could cause a safety issue when driving down the road it's the ua80 transmission Toyota is doing a customer support program on this particular transmission but due to the fact ours falls six months after the manufacturer date it doesn't fall within that area this is a manufacturer air due to a bolt not being bent over far enough I feel with the transmission issues that it can cause like serious problems including safety among ourselves or others in Toyota is ignoring this is when brought to them.
Transmission is bad. Toyota dealership says it needs to be replaced. Really? in a 2018 Toyota. I thought these were good cars. Supposed to last a long time. That’s why I paid over $30,000 for it. And this is what I get. There is something wrong with this scenario. I could have bought a much cheaper car and it would still be functioning fine.
Transmission case is porous. Toyota calls transmission oil moving through housing, weeping, not leaking and is not a warranty. Toyota dealers hide the porous condition with a coating. Regular underbody car wash removes the coating. Catastrophic failure possible.
As of this date, my 2018 Toyota Highlander has delayed acceleration, hesitation, jerking, lurching, erratic throttle responses, etc. While accelerating from a stop. This has occurred two times to date. I was able to pull to the side of the road, shut off the vehicle, restart and then the vehicle performed properly after that. My concern is what may happen when it does it again. Nothing to show in a photo.
Slowly (3-5mph) moving toward exit ramp from hospital parking lot. Tried to brake before turning right onto ramp, but service brake didn't respond -- felt like I was just pounding the floor. Vehicle continued to coast. I turned it onto exit ramp. During coast down ramp the multi-function display showed "low brake power" or "brake power low". Vehicle speed remained relatively constant. I shifted into r (reverse), think that no harm would come to transmission at that speed, but nothing happened; coast remained constant. Luckily no vehicles were in front of mine and none were coming on rt 25 brighton Ave westbound in portland me, so I was able to steer the coasting vehicle to a slow stop along the road's edge (but still halfway into the travel lane). Then the multi-function display told me that the vehicle's engine had been turned off (not by me). A city bus came along about one minute later; if it had come by one minute before that there would have been a collision with my vehicle. After waiting to recover from the shock of that event, I started the vehicle and tested the brakes, and they seemed normal and there were no unusual lights on messages on the vehicle displays. I tried driving it carefully, and it seemed normal, so I drove it off brighton Ave and ultimately got it home in buxton without any more adverse events. Today I looked at the brake fluid reservoir and it was normal (1/4 inch below max). I'm having it towed to the dealership where I bought it on March 1, 2018 and will not drive it again until they tell me it has been fixed.
Apon acceslaration , car hesitate for a few second, rpm goes to 5000 until vehicle slowly start to move. Feels likew ther is no proper synch between enging and transmission. Dangerous when passing or avoiding a vehicle ahead of you. The same issue while using the cruse control, it jumps from a few rpms to 5k + that always I have to brake to avid ramming a car ahead of me. Brakes get sof that I have to pump it a few times. Mileage is 1780 miles.
Transmission has failed at 73,000 miles.