Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Toyota Highlander - part 1

My vehicle was parked for about an hr 30 min , and it started smoking from dashboard area and immediately went into flames .

See all problems of the 2021 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

Car makes a high pitched whining noise at low speeds of approx. 10-30 mph.

Transmission has failed as have many others of the same year make and model without acknowledgement of a manufacturer defect.

My transmission is now missing the 3rd gear and left me and my kids stalled in traffic as I was turning in oncoming traffic. Toyota dealership confirmed that was the problem upon inspection.

See all problems of the 2019 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a whining sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The dealer stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. After the vehicle was parked and turned off, there was transmission fluid leaking from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the head gasket had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact then noticed fluid leaking from the transfer case while the vehicle was parked and turned off. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transfer case had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 74,700.

When accelerating at all, the engine emits a whining noise. The only time the whine stops is when the foot is removed from the pedal. It does not whine at idle. I believe it is the transmission going bad. The problem has been confirmed by a local service center. No warning lamps or messages have appeared.

The vehicle experienced a transmission failure at approximately 62,000 miles, which required a transmission replacement. Toyota replaced the transmission with a rebuilt transmission. Immediately after the repair, the vehicle began experiencing multiple issues that were not present prior to the repair. The vehicle initially would not reverse, and the battery was drained shortly after the repair was completed. Following the repair, the vehicle has continued to experience ongoing electrical malfunctions, including dashboard warning lights, system alerts, and dash lights flashing during remote start. The vehicle has also developed a rattling noise underneath the vehicle. The exact failed component has not been clearly identified. The dealership has provided changing diagnoses and has not provided written diagnostic documentation despite requests. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership multiple times; however, the issues have not been resolved. During a recent diagnostic, the dealership stated that the catalytic converter is now the issue, but this does not address the ongoing electrical problems. These issues raise safety concerns due to unpredictable vehicle behavior and potential failure of critical systems while driving. Warning lights and system errors began appearing after the transmission repair and have continued since that time. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

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.

See all problems of the 2024 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

My 2025 Acura mdx (under 10,000 miles) has failed to restart after the automatic idle stop engaged at stoplights and drive-thru lines at least 7 separate times. When I release the brake, the engine often remains off and the vehicle will not move, leaving me stopped in traffic. I have not yet required a jump start, but on several occasions the vehicle came very close to not restarting at all. This most recently occurred at a sandwich shop drive-thru. These incidents occurred in normal drive mode and in normal weather conditions. No abnormal driving conditions were present when the failures happened. Other owners online report the same problem, with some needing to carry jumper cables. I believe this is a serious safety risk because the vehicle can stall unexpectedly in intersections and traffic when the auto stop-start system activates. I am now concerned about relying on this vehicle in traffic because I cannot trust it to restart when stopped.

See all problems of the 2005 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

The contact owned a 2008 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 mph, an abnormal, booming sound was emitted from the vehicle as heavy, black smoke entered her vehicle. Due to the smoke, the contact's vision became obstructed, and the contact immediately shifted into park and jumped out of her vehicle for safety. It was unknown if there were any warning lights. As a result, the contact injured her right hip and strained her vocal cords. The vehicle quickly became engulfed in flames as authorities were called to the scene. The fire department extinguished the flames as both a fire and a police report were filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was deemed a total loss. There was no property damage. The origin of the fire was unknown, and an investigation was opened by the insurance company. The contact sought medical attention the next day and was treated for the strain on her right hip. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was given a case number. The contact was also informed that she would receive a response from them within 45 days. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

See all problems of the 2008 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

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 .

Complete transmission replacement for failure. Toyota said it is an unknown issue but has not issued a recall for 2020/2021 models. This needs to be a recall. Toyota should be responsible, especially because they will not cover it if you go over your manufacturer warranty of 60k. I purchased this car last week, and had to get a full new transmission the following week because they did not disclose to me that it was failing!.

Bought car in April 2025. Has 80,000 miles. Transmission failed.

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned? system: power train: automatic transmission specific component: ua80 8-speed automatic transmission (internal failure) available for inspection: yes, the vehicle is currently available. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? while merging onto the highway, the transmission failed to upshift, resulting in a sudden and unexpected loss of acceleration. The vehicle could not reach or maintain highway speeds (speed limit). This created an immediate hazard as I was unable to keep up with the flow of traffic, forcing me to make an emergency exit across multiple lanes while moving significantly slower than other vehicles. The loss of motive power increased the risk of a high-speed rear-end collision. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer? yes. The problem was confirmed by heritage Toyota service. The technicians confirmed an internal transmission failure. A secondary consultation with a transmission specialist (aamco) also identified the failure as a known mechanical defect common to this transmission model. 4. Has the vehicle been inspected by the manufacturer. . . Or others? yes, it has been inspected by the authorized Toyota dealership listed above. I have also reported the issue to Toyota brand engagement (national), but a corporate field inspection (dspm) has not yet been performed. 5. Were there any warning lamps. . . Or other symptoms? symptoms: a distinct whining noise from the engine/transmission area that increased with vehicle speed. Prior events: the vehicle was taken to the dealer specifically for this noise. The dealer performed a fluid change and released the vehicle. The catastrophic failure (loss of power) occurred less than 24 hours after leaving the dealership. No dashboard warning lights illuminated prior to the loss of power.

Whinning noise during acceleration on the road and gear shift problems.

- the vehicle has been experiencing shifting issues (its an automatic vehicle) when driving in all instances and at all speeds that has progressively gotten worse over the past 4-8 weeks. - as it seems to be a transmission issue (and a known one pending litigation) the safety issue is if the transmission fails during operation of the car. - it was brought to a dealership to be inspected after it was initially felt as more of a vibration than the more harsh shifting/engine sounds and issues that it is currently experiencing. The dealership thought it to be the front hub assembly/bearing that was the issue. I had the front driver side replaced and the issue still remains and has continued to worsen. It has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representative. - there have been no warning lamps or messages at all. - through research it appears this is a known issue with ongoing litigation (2 class action lawsuits currently in litigation related to ua80f transmissions of which it appears that our VIN is in the affected group).

In early January 2026 there was rough/delayed shifting, whining noises, and fluid leaks. Probably linked to the faulty ua80e/f transmission type. The check engine light came on 1/15/26, I took it into a local repair shop. The mechanic flushed and changed the transmission fluid, replaced all of the spark plugs and the serpentine belt. I picked it up on 1/16/26. There was still shuddering, strange sounds (whining/grinding), and hesitation. On 1/20/26 I drove it and the rough/delayed shifting, whining noises, hesitation and burning smell started happening. The car completely broke down on the freeway and wouldn't drive at all. I had to slowly pull over to the shoulder of the freeway and have the car towed to the repair shop. They inspected it and said I need a new transmission, and it cannot be fixed. I believe the next steps are to have it towed to the Toyota dealership to have it looked at.

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at lower speeds, pulling into an uphill driveway, the vehicle had independently accelerated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. In addition, the contact stated that she was not able to depressed in time and had crashed into the left side of the house, causing damage to the front driver-side bumper and quarter panel. The contact stated that the accident caused property damage to the garage of the house, which was covered by the insurance provider. A police report file. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the accelerator pedal was depressed throughout the accident; however, the brake pedal was depressed after the crash had occurred, according to the electronic data. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

See all problems of the 2023 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

Initially had issues with acceleration with rpm’s going high with car moving very slowly. Five days after that started, car broke down 3 times in one trip & would not drive or go in reverse. Per dealership, the car needs a new transmission even though it’s only a 2019 with 110,000 miles.

Goodwill repair for my 2022 Highlander transmission whine, referencing TSB t-sb-0008-21?”.

See all problems of the 2022 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

Tramision it no good make nose and power go off transmisión lose power and make smoke.

I drive a 2017 Toyota Highlander and am having issues with the transmission. The issues and poor craftsmanship on the ua80 8-speed transmissions. Toyota offered technical service bulletins t-sb-0160-18, t-sb-0008-21, and a limited customer support program (csp zjc). But very few vins were included and there are tons of Highlander owners with this transmission facing $10,000+ repair bills for what is supposed to be one of the most reliable cars and car brands on the planet. This is very wrong. Toyota has not stood by its customers and have not done right by owners. Toyota needs to recall the transmissions and offer a remedy at no cost to the customer. This needs to be done now. It's completely unacceptable. Thanks for what you do and for reading! appreciate you guys very much.

See all problems of the 2017 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

The car randomly shuts off, while waiting in line or when the break is depressed. The vehicle won’t start, battery is completely dead and then comes back randomly.

Transmission failure resulted in sudden loss of power while driving, creating a safety risk in traffic. Vehicle was unable to accelerate and required immediate repair. Put myself and my children at risk, as the car suddenly died while I was driving it. Prior to this, there were not issues. Has been routinely maintained and only has approx 83k miles. Toyota agreed that the transmission is the only issue with my car but won't cover the cost to replace it (10k) or the cost of a loaner vehicle. I have been without a car for almost a month while the (refurbished) transmission is on backorder.

My transmission is making acceleration unreliable, whining noise and unreliable. No accident yet but I took to Toyota and they quoted $8k for entire new transmission when it appears this is a known ongoing issue for Toyota Highlanders. They should be recalled and fixed.

•what component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? transmission and power train failure during normal operation. Vehicle was occupied by mother and two small children. Vehicle produced a whining noise, delay in shifting and power failure. No warning lights appeared to give any indication of failure prior to occurring. Vehicle is available for inspection. •how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? vehicle stalled during normal operation. No warning indicators were present. No ability to proceed to shoulder. Traffic hazard in middle of road. Possibility of being rear ended increased. Exiting the vehicle in traffic to determine fault increase probability of being struck. Two young children seated to the rear should vehicle be rear ended due to sudden stop could cause catastrophic injuries or death. •has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes, vehicle was taken and diagnostic conducted by glendora Toyota. Vehicle was kept overnight. Dealer determined that vehicle had a transmission failure. Multiple articles and bulletins by Toyota indicating and acknowledging transmission failures in 2019 Toyota Highlander. •has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? vehicle has only been inspected by glendora Toyota service personnel. •were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no warning lights or indicators. Whining noise was heard prior and taken to glendora Toyota for diagnosis. They advised no problems with vehicle.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the contact heard abnormal buzzing sounds coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the failure could not able to be replicated. The contact stated that a day or two days later, while stopped at an intersection, and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and restarted; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for service, the contact was informed that the engine was leaking due to a timing chain failure. The contact was advised that the engine needed to be taken apart to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

Almost caused high speed accident merging onto toll road! the vehicle is experiencing a severe transmission slippage, shudder, and grinding noise, consistent with TSB-0008-21 (ua80 transmission failure). This defect causes hesitant acceleration and erratic shifting, creating a safety hazard when merging onto highways or crossing intersections. I am concerned the transmission will fail completely while driving, resulting in a sudden loss of motive power and increasing the risk of a crash. Toyota has covered this exact safety defect in 2017–2019 models (csp zjc) but has failed to recall the 2021 models despite identical symptoms. First reared it's head as slipping when putting vehicle in reverse, 25k+ ago. Was told by Toyota certified mechanics it was an operator error. Morphed into larger issue.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with head gasket failure, resulting in damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,000.

Started noticing a whining noise when accelerating. This appears to be drive shaft/transmission issue. Was quoted 7k to remove and replace. This should be an active recall for this issue what is Toyota doing?.

1. The 3. 5l v6 engine (2gr-fe) failed due to the subsequent loss of lubrication caused by the rupture of the oil cooler pipe (rubber component), a manufacturing defect known under TSB t-sb-0201-11 (ze2 program). The failed engine is currently available for inspection by request at the independent service center before it is disposed of. 2. The defect causes a sudden and severe loss of engine oil. This creates a high probability of the engine seizing (losing all power) while driving at highway speeds, resulting in a complete loss of propulsion and placing occupants at severe risk of collision. 3. The failure was confirmed, not reproduced. The vehicle was initially diagnosed with misfire codes (p0300, p0301). New spark plugs and ignition coils were installed in an attempt to resolve the issue. As the misfire persisted, the mechanic performed a compression test, confirming catastrophic zero compression failure in cylinders 1 and 2. Professional diagnostics then revealed critical codes: p1603 (ecm malfunction), p1604 (startability malfunction), and p1605 (rough idling). These codes confirm a severe internal engine issue, consistent with permanent damage sustained during the oil loss event caused by the ze2 pipe defect in July 2024. 4. No, not physically inspected by the manufacturer. The manufacturer (Toyota executive office case manager) was provided with certified documentation of the failure, including the photo of the faulty pipe, maintenance records during our ownership, and the dealership purchase statement for the replacement part. Toyota refused to authorize a physical diagnostic inspection of the failed engine at a dealership before denying goodwill assistance. 5. Yes. The initial lubrication loss event on July 4, 2024, was preceded by a message displayed on the dashboard (followed by a second failure event in October 2025 indicated by a flashing check engine light and the traction control light).

See all problems of the 2011 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that when the vehicle was taken to a dealer for routine maintenance, the dealer informed the contact that the rear main seal was leaking and needed to be resealed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,402.

While on the freeway vehicle stalled when accelerating and engine stopped, I had to pull over to the side of the road to avoid accident. Turned vehicle back on and started making a whinning noise. Vehicle was taken in and found out the transmission is no good at 89k. Also found out that a lot of people that purchased this vehicle are having the same issue.

See all problems of the 2020 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

The car only has 73, 000 miles on it and Toyota said it needs a new transmission. The car starting making a "whining" sound on acceleration so we took it into Toyota for diagnostic. We also found out that the rav 4, sequoia and tacoma were all recalled for this same year for transmission issues. Toyota is trying to charge us $10,000 to have the transmission replaced since it is no longer under warranty.