general problems of the 2019 Toyota Highlander - part 2

When starting my vehicle, I get a high pitch ear piercing noise. My ears will ring after it because it is so loud. This is extremely high for my passengers, grandchildren and my husband and I. I am not putting in ear plugs in me or passengers just to start up my car. I have reported this to Toyota brand engagement center case 230711000212. This component has not been inspected by anyone, as I am not paying over $300. 00 just to have a technician look at it. There has not been any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. This noise started around 3 weeks ago, week of June 19, 2023.

Vehicle check engine turned on to check awd system after about 2 days when filling with gas the engine wouldn't start and had low brake power message on dashboard. Checked code and got p0171 and p0174 which mean engine's air/fuel mixture becomes too lean for the engine control module (ecm) to correct within its normal operating range there are many posts and threads about same issue on Highlanders as old as 2017 please look into this issue that could potentially cause a hazard. Will take vehicle in for inspection 06/13/23 at Toyota of naperville.

A reoccurring noise comes from the passenger side of the vehicle every time I drive. It sounds like a short in a wire or maybe a loose wire. I can’t decide if it’s coming from the passenger door or the passenger seat. It is not affected by turning the radio volume up or down or even off. I do think though that I have noticed that the noise does not occur if a passenger is sitting in the passenger seat. I don’t have a passenger often enough for me to say the noise never happens if a passenger is in the passenger seat. I have a video of the noise but this website doesn’t allow the video to upload.

Noise complaint - high pitched feedback screech coming through speaker (potential for hearing damage) that occurs for approximately 5 seconds intermittently upon starting the vehicle. It can happen multiple times in one day or not until a week or two later. We have twice filed a case with Toyota corporation. The dealer has heard the noise numerous times and upon performing diagnostics has indicated a malfunction with the sos system- the trial subscription that came with the car expired in January 2023 and the issue began the following month. An on-line search indicates that other owners of the same vehicle are also experiencing this issue.

While driving on the freeway less than 10 miles from my home, my sunroof exploded and broke into pieces. I was driving on a section of freeway where there was nothing above me and there were no other cars near me. There was a loud noise and then the air was rushing into my car.

Sunroof glass. Driving down the highway, the sunroof glass exploded and shattered. A very loud explosion noise. Vehicle is currently at the dealer for repair. Broken glass falling on driver and passenger. Further inspection shows glass protruding upward as if it was broken from the inside. Online research has shown many other Highlanders with the same problem. Dealer blamed on a rock, so why is the glass protruding outward instead of inward. No warning lights.

There is a “squeak” type noise that sounds like fluid or air is being forced through a crack when the brakes are applied. It is intermittent as brakes remain applied, however it happens every time the brakes are applied and lasts until they are released. The local Toyota dealer diagnosed it as a failed brake master cylinder. After repair, the same noise continues. The dealers “master technician” was able to hear and reproduce the noise, but claim that it is from pressure building to help breaking. The young “master technician” stated that he works feel safe in the vehicle, but they don’t know why it’s making that sound. The sound began 1 year after I purchased the vehicle (I bought it v used in 2022). Warning lamps flashed very briefly indicating something about brakes, although it was difficult to read, as it happened very quickly and has not happened since.

This is a 2019 Toyota Highlander and I have had to put three windshields in it. One every year. Substandard glass from the lowest bidder most likely.

While driving on highway, sunroof on 2019 Toyota Highlander hybrid exploded outward.

Since having recall work done my vehicles computer system has not been functioning the same. My vehicle has been stalling out and saying braking power low,stop in a safe place, charging system malfunction. I’ve reached out to haley Toyota 8301 midlothian turnpike, richmond, va 23235 where the diagnostic was done and let them know of the error code I was given ( p0335) crankshaft position sensor “a” circuit. I took it in for diagnostic there and they told me they couldn’t find any issues with my vehicle , ( picked up oct. 3, 2021). It’s oct. 4 , 2021 and here I am at sams club trying to leave but my vehicle will not start. I contacted Toyota again and let them know of the same issue and they said to once again bring it in for diagnosing. I asked the gentleman on the phone if they had previously had it for a week and didn’t seem to find any issues with it after doing diagnostic then what were they planning on doing differently. My vehicle is under warranty and I’m trying to figure out who and where I can take it to to get some answers.

I purchased this vehicle in March 2020. I specifically asked if it had been a rental car. Having worked in the rental car industry, I know how hard people are on rental cars so I absolutely did not want one. I checked the carfax and it was completely clean. I purchased this vehicle and a few months later noticed a sticker under the rearview mirror that was an avis/budget sticker. Still, the carfax never said it was a rental car. Today I'm cleaning out the glove box and registration falls out from the previous owners: avis budget in NJ. So this is confirmation that this car absolutely was a rental car at some point and your carfax failed to disclose that.

Received notice of recall more than 60 days ago, NHTSA no. 20v-682 "low pressure fuel pump may stall vehicle and cause crash" called both my dealership and Toyota with response "no date for remedy" I have travel planned and this 2019 Highlander should not be on the road for fear of crash. Why no positive result yet?.

Drcc malfunction. While approaching a slower vehicle on a highway, the car decelerates. If while decelerating I change lanes, then the system does not "see" the car in front in the new lane and starts accelerating towards the car full speed approaching the car and potentially crashing into it. This has happened several times and I think I can replicate it.

The panoramic sunroof exploded.

I have a 2019 Toyota Highlander hybrid, and about two years after driving the car, I get a loud, very high-pitched/high-frequency screeching sound when getting in the vehicle coming from the speakers. It lasts about 10 seconds. It's so loud it hurts our ears. Upon contacting Toyota, they declined to repair the issue, and I discovered several other users have the same issue. It's loud and excruciating and doesn't happen constantly, but it gets more frequent. . Read more...

In March 2020, I received a "recall safety" interim notice that my 2019 Toyota Highlander is being recalled. On March 21, 2020, I called my local dealership (koon's arlington) where I purchased the vehicle from on January 31, 2020. I spoke to illianna in the recall dept. She said that they will call me when the parts come in. Fast forward to 3 months now and still nothing. On June 12, 2020, I called back the dealer and they said to file a complaint which I am doing now. The recall said that "vehicle may stall while driving" and I drive a lot in fast traffic on the highway almost everyday. I hope nothing happened to me or my family while driving.

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.

There has been a recall issued on this vehicle from 13 Jan 2020. There is no remedy yet. The issue has to do with the fuel pump malfunctioning, which can lead to loss of power and increased risk of accidents. Having been in a vehicle before with loss of power in rush hour traffic, I'm unlikely to walk away from the same type of malfunction if it were to happen again. I can't drive my vehicle with any confidence it will be safe. It's been 2 months and no remedy is yet available. This is ridiculous.

When I start the Highlander, there is a loud (hurts your ears) feedback noise through the speakers, and the red and green lights near the sos button flash multiple times. This happens intermittently, and when it doesn't happen, the sos button only flashes red/green once.

There is a potential of a serious accident concerning this car. The engine shuts down completely when you are emerging into traffic. I consider this a death trap. Out dealer in lima, OH does not want to fix it. I don't seem to be able to get this problem fixed. I appreciate hearing from you as the problem is getting worse.

After stopping at a red light, when light turned green, I made a right turn, my 2019 Highlander started to sputter, choppy like movement and acted like it was going to stall. I pressed on the accelerator somewhat more firmly and it finally started to move more normal. I was on a busy city street turning onto another busy city street.

Rear humming/buzzing sound when vehicle is turned off.

Loud win noise while driving on a freeway, I made sure all the windows and sun roof are properly close, it is very bothering.

Me and my family were leaving a hotel in tarrytown NY. I parked the car: Toyota Highlander 2019 outside, helped my wife and 21-month baby into the back seat and had to put something in the trunk but it was locked. In that moment the car was in park with the engine running; the ground was not steep at all: 5-10 degrees the most. I took out the key from ignition to go open the trunk with the button from the remote. Suddenly the car started rolling backwards with my wife and kid in the back seat. There was a slope few feet away from where I parked and the angle became about 40 degrees and it picked up speed quickly. I rushed in (drivers door was lucky open and flapping around), at the last moment was able to press the break but we still hit another car with people inside. I am the only one with visual scars and bruises on my left leg from trying to climb in the car, but my wife felt pain in her lower back the day after the crash. There were witnesses and most likely a camera, since it was by the front entrance of a major hotel. From reading and researching on this matter I suspect it is a defect in the parking pawl (the piece inside the transmission that holds the car in park). This is an absolute manufacturers defect. I saw here on the NHTSA website that a person from NJ filed a complaint about the exact same matter with the same car: Toyota Highlander 2019 (NHTSA id number: 11245263), just a month ago so this is definitely not an isolated case. Please take action. This vehicle should be recalled ASAP before someone gets seriously injured or worse!.

Hybrid Highlander stalled as I was pulling out of driveway, was in motion when my car coasted to a complete stop, could not brake, all power seemed to shut down. Message appeared saying: hybrid system malfunction contact dealer. Car was towed to dealer and the diagnostic report was to immediately call Toyota corporation. Consumer reports said this has been a past issue with hybrid prius and some Highlanders. Is Toyota hiding new issues? I am afraid that this car will die on a busy highway, dealer said it needed a new "wiring harness". . (?) I have an ill child that needs reliable transportation, is this not only unreliable but dangerous for my family? help.

Burning antifreeze odor in cabin after driving for a few minutes.

While driving, the vehicle had a slight lag when I applied gas then started beeping and provided the warnings: check engine, hybrid system malfunction, pre-collision system malfunction, check awd system. I turned the car off multiple times, the errors were still on the car the next morning when I started the car to take it to the service appt. When I got to the dealership I turned the car off to check it in, when I came back the error was gone. They checked out the car they said there was nothing wrong with it and thought it was just �ambient conditions�. Two weeks later, I was driving and I had the same lag in power then the same alarms and started driving toward the dealership (about 3 miles away) and the hybrid system and power steering shut down in the middle of the road leaving me with no power. I turned the vehicle off and back on and the errors were still there and it shut down again another half mile down the road. It is at the dealership again. The vehicle has 10,800 miles and should not be having these significant issues. I was driving in the city during all these events.

The entire voice guidance system is inoperative on my one week old 2019 Highlander hybrid platinum. No audible voice or beeps with navigation assist, no phone assist,, no eyes-free assist, no driver announce to rear cabin voice, no entertainment system voice assist. This is a safety hazard eliminating hands free driving, and no navigation guidance. I was on unfamiliar roads in the dark of night, alone, unable to operate necessary equipment which proved to be unreliable. I just learned that this issue has been known to Toyota for several months, yet new vehicles are driven away from dealerships by unsuspecting new owners after paying good money for a defective vehicle. Deceitful, unethical, and unsafe! where is the recall for this issue? why are vehicles not fixed before being sold as new?.

Obnoxious wind noise!!! dealer service mgr acknowledged it was loud but said all on his lot were loud, mine was much louder but told it was a design flaw. It is. Huge distraction while driving anything over 30 mph. It's literally wind noise not road noise. They will not even try to repair it . . . Too bad you spent $50,000 just live with it.

This suvs 2019 Highlander standard �equipment list� states that it can tow up to 5,000 lbs. It only has front wheel drive. With a weight distribution hitch installed, around 4,200 lbs. Tow weight and around 370 lbs. Of tough weight the SUV had a hard time pulling away from stop lights without the tires breaking loose. When backing off of the road onto a flat surface with wet grass the SUV lost all traction with the tires spilling. The tires did not dig into the ground at all. They were just slipping on top of the grass. I contacted Toyota and discussed this with them, with little information supplied my Toyota over about four month time period. Bottom line from Toyota there is nothing wrong with the SUV. If this SUV would have been an all wheel drive I do not think there would have been a problem, but using this fwd SUV to tow up to 5,000 lbs. Maybe unsafe. The attached pics show where it lost traction.

When speaking to someone on the phone using the bluetooth connection in the car, the person you're speaking with hears their own voice echo back to them. Toyota suggest for every call that you turn volume on the phone all the way up and turn the volume on the car lower than 45. The does not make the system hands free and is dangerous to do this while driving.

The rear ac vents pump out perfumed air. We bought our vehicle in December so did not test drive with the ac on or we would never have bought the car. I am one of many who are sensitive to perfumes and the pollution in the car gives me a headache, makes me nauseous and worst of all makes me sleepy. I have taken the car to the dealership who replaced the air filter with no results. I have taken the issue up with Toyota who has stated that there is no perfume and they are done with me. I have a complaint on car gurus that has produced other people with this problem. I have found more people with the same problem on the Highlander facebook page. One couple never drives their car in warm weather. One driver says that their 2 year old vehicle is still pumping out the perfume so it doesn't age out. The smell resembles laundry product perfume so my husband and thought that perhaps Toyota used some recycled plastic in the rear vents which would be admirable but they deny that they did. I believe that this is a safety issue as the insidious perfume can make drivers sleepy and sick. I am very disappointed in Toyota for essentially calling me a liar and I have a $40,000 vehicle that makes me sick. I am not having any luck putting my communications with Toyota and other owners into an acceptable format.

Ever since we purchased our Highlander the navigation turn by turn voice works some times and most of the time it does not work. We thought we just did not set it up correctly. While driving to a concert in downtown cincinnati I narrowly this past Saturday we nearly had a collision because I was looking at the navigation screen trying to figure out where I needed to turn. After that experience I took the time to read about and then reset the navigation system. No success to correct the problem.