Equipment Problems of Toyota Highlander - part 1

Toyota issued a safety bulletin in reference the issue with front carrier assembly pinion shaft in the ua80e and ua80f transmissions. They know there is an issue with the transmission and have known since 2/9/2021 when the vehicles were manufactured. But refuse to issue a recall. Toyota safety bulletin ref # t-sb-0008-21.

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Apple carplay: the touchscreen occasionally loses connection or fails to pair with apple carplay and android. I changed my chargers so many times thinking it was wire issue.

On September 23, 2026, at approximately 7:30 am, I was driving the vehicle in a parking garage at an estimated speed of approximately 10 mph. While driving over a curve in the parking garage and applying the brakes to slow the vehicle and maneuver into a parking space, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own despite the brakes being applied. The vehicle struck the metal wire safety fence and then came to a stop. Prior to this incident, over the preceding 2–3 months, I had experienced intermittent problems with the transmission. Specifically, when shifting from neutral to reverse, the transmission would occasionally become temporarily stuck or fail to engage properly. It would then begin functioning after a small tap. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? : possibly transmission how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? there was no one else in the parking garage as it was early in the morning, otherwise it could have resulted in loss of additional property and possibly injuries. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? going to consult with the dealer soon has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? insurance has been informed. Awaiting their response. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? as mentioned about 2-3 months prior there were minor transmission issues.

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The transmission has failed. Per review of available documents, this is a very common issue with this and other Toyotas.

I was traveling on hwy us1 south about 56-58 mph when I heard what sounded like a gunshot. I immediately slowed down and pulled off the road. As I drove off road on grass/gravel I heard crumbling of glass above on sunroof. The sunroof glass exploded. I called the nonemergency 911 for a police officer to come to the scene. I explained what happened and that there was no rock or large debris. He inspected and suggested I contact my insurance and if they needed a police report it would be in the system.

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I bought a vehicle in cash three weeks ago at universal Toyota located at [xxx] . Two days later, I called the sellers [xxx] and [xxx] to have a noise fix /checked. It turns out the transmission is bad/damaged and of course it's not safe to drive. Universal Toyota don’t want to fix it (expensive) information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Component: latches/locks — power door lock actuator I am the original owner of a 2014 Toyota Highlander awd, currently with 88,000 miles on it. I have experienced six power door lock actuator failures on this vehicle. All replacements were oem Toyota parts, and all repairs were paid out of pocket. Failure history: - 01/12/2019 — driver rear (original part) - 02/27/2019 — driver front (original part) - 12/07/2019 — passenger rear (original part) - 06/09/2023 — passenger front (original part) - 08/08/2025 — driver rear (oem replacement, 6 yr 7 mo service life) - 08/30/2026 — driver front currently failing (oem replacement, 7 yr 6 mo service life) all four original actuators failed between years 5 and 9 of the vehicle's life. Two oem replacements have since failed on a comparable schedule. This is a consistent wear-out pattern across every door on the vehicle, not isolated part failure. The higher-cycle driver-side doors have now failed twice each. Current condition: the driver front door intermittently does not lock when commanded by the key fob or by the interior lock switch. The failure is silent — there is no chime, warning, or indication that the door did not secure. The driver has no way to know the door is unlatched without physically checking it. Safety concern: an unsecured door can open during vehicle operation, and reduces occupant protection in a side impact or rollover because the latch is not engaged. Because the failure is intermittent and gives no warning, a driver can reasonably believe the vehicle is locked when it is not. This affects occupants including children in rear seating positions. Toyota has issued no recall, technical service bulletin, or warranty extension for this component. Complaints describing the same repeated actuator failures have been reported by owners of Highlanders and other Toyota models across multiple model years. I am submitting this record so the failure pattern is documented.

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About two weeks ago I was driving and the car made a whinny noise and felt like it was shaking and slipping out of no where so I stop in a complex to check it out when I went to reverse the car wouldn’t move forward or backwards I had to turn off and on only to have the car not go pass 20 miles havnt been able to drive it since I got two different check where they say it’s the transmission that the ua80e has that same issue but since there no recall Toyota says it’s not their problem.

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On August 24, 2026, my vehicle was parked, turned off, and locked for more than 6 hours in a parking lot. Without warning, the vehicle experienced a spontaneous thermal event/self combustion. The fire and thermal damage were entirely localized to the dashboard area inside the passenger cabin. The engine compartment, battery area and front mechanical components remained completely unaffected by the fire. The vehicle was off, motor was cold and car was closed and parked for about 6 hours when this incident occurred.

My system information warning signal and chime indicates that an unbuckled passenger is present in my front passenger seat when nobody is there. Additionally, buckling the seat belt does not turn off the signal and chime. The sporadic signal and chime can continue for a very long time before eventually stopping. However, after another 30 seconds or so, it can start again. This cycle can continue for over an hour. It tends to occur more frequently above 35mph, but can also occur under that speed. From my research, this problem appears similar to another recall (recall #23ta15 / campaign 23v-865000), however my VIN currently isn't included in that recall.

Because I am not an expert, I cannot say with certainty what exact vehicle components contributed to this incident. On August 17, 2026, at approximately 12:40 pm, I was slowly driving my 2022 Toyota Highlander xle in a parking garage where I park my car every week. I saw a parking space, so I slowed down and began pressing the break as I went into the parking space. All of a sudden, the engine revved up, and the vehicle lunged over the wheel stop and hit the cement wall, even though I continued pressing on the break. I then shifted the gear into "park" and turned off the ignition. It all happened so fast and was quite frightening. I, subsequently, inspected the damage; among other things, the hood, front bumper, fender, and some of the trim around the lights were damaged. The seat belt restrained me, but the air bag did not activate. My chest is still sore, and I have some bruising on my left shoulder. I have reported the incident to my insurance agency. On August 20, 2026, I took the vehicle to a collision repair center recommended by the insurance claims agent. I have another appointment on August 24th to have a different repair center inspect and asses the damages and give me a quote on the repairs needed. The experience was shocking, and I would not want this to happen to anyone, which is why I am reporting the incident. This kind of malfunction could have resulted in an injury to another human, so I am thankful that only my vehicle and I were affected. This unfortunate and alarming experience has definitely made me hesitant to drive the vehicle for fear of it malfunctioning again.

I was driving down the road about 50 miles an hour just south of otter valley union, high school and brandon vermont when I heard an extremely loud poof/thud sound. It also caused my ears to pop. I pulled over and realized it was the front sunroof that had basically shattered. Now there is a big hole and it’s just getting bigger. I was in a clear area with no overhanging trees. There were no vehicles in front of me or passing me in the opposite direction. I was alone on the road at around 8:30 in the morning.

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Vehicle begin making grinding noises, and stalling during accelerating and also fuel smell. Took vehicle into Toyota waldorf, MD dealership for diagnostic. At 58,000 miles, 2022 Toyota Highlander xle stalls to accelerate due to front differentials failing, causing large chunks of metal on the drain plug indicating internal failure. Vehicle needs transmission and front differential replaced. I have 4 children, 3 of them still small, and driving with the fuel smell would impact them greatly as 1 of my children has asthma. It's also a hazard to be on the road with this vehicle as it can stall at any moment, causing a traffic incident. The problem has been reproduced by dealer, who is refusing to approve the fix under the 60,000 mile power train warranty. There were no other warning signs, no check engine light came on, no issues prior to me hearing this grinding noise and stalling.

The position of the screen monitor for the backup camera is hard to see when the sun creates a glare on the front windshield.

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Ua8of transmission went. Vehicle was making whining noise when purchased and was told was normal. Driving the car as normal when traveling through intersection when car would not drive.

The back passenger door (passenger side) will not unlock when using the remote or the button on the front door panels. The only way to open the door is to push the button manually on the car door. The child lock is not on!!! I called the Toyota dealer in my town and they said there are no recalls and it would be $200 to do a diagnostic test on it. This is not ok. To not be able to unlock the door from the remote or the front door panel is not acceptable.

Beep alert went off first then on dash board it notified me not to press on gas pedal & sensory collision 2. Parked the car for three days after the 3 days when starting the car the beep notification was still there on dash board still same notification. Then my neighbor came looked at it and said the all Toyota have same issue with the ac. He advised me not to turn the ac on just use fan. He said that when ac is on part of the car where the air blow is freezing. Now it is concerning when winter comes to turn on the heater.

I have been experiencing a gas smell issue with my Toyota Highlander near the rear of the car by gas cap area upon putting in gas and driving. The smell starts typically when it’s a hot day outside and I only usually get half a tank worth of gas. After getting gas and driving about 15-30 mins. Is when the smell of gas starts. I recently took my car it to the local Toyota dealership and they checked the purge valve, fuel canister and evap system. The technician did state that the fuel rail failed slightly. But overall, they stated there no codes after testing and the technician did state he smelled the gas faintly. But that since there are no codes to pinpoint an issue they cannot fix or figure out the issue. Please figure out this issue, as this is a real concern to have this issue and drive this car with myself and family in it.

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My 2020 Toyota Highlander only has 68,826 miles on it. It began making a high-pitched whining sound three months ago. I have taken it to my mechanic and he said the transmission is about to go out. Toyota is not willing to fix it out of good faith/goodwill since my warranty has ended. My argument is I bought that car thinking it would go 150,000 miles at least.

In the past 3 days, the trunk of the vehicle has opened on its own even though it was locked. This has also happened 3 additional times in the past since I have taken it to the Toyota service center in fairlawn, NJ. I am concerned because yesterday, I was at a supermarket and was inside for about 15 minutes and when I came out, the back was opened. This has not happened while I was driving but I was fortunate that nothing was taken from the vehicle.

I was parking the car. Car in park. Foot on brake. Carr violently lunged forward. Hitting, and tilting, concrete pole. Put car in reverse. Lunged forward then backward. Someone could have been killed. Thank god no person was near. I could have lunged through a storefront if parked by shop.

I just got my vehicle inspected and successfully passed with no codes on 07/07/2026. Today 07/10/2026 as I was driving to work my vehicle began to jerk/ jitter and when into limp mode. I took it to a shop to have the codes checked on it and they said it was something to do with the transmission and they don’t specialize in that type of work. My vehicle has less than 45400 miles on it and been maintained regularly. I was told this was a common issue with these vehicles. I don’t know where to go to get this serviced. I called around to local shops with no luck at getting someone to fix or look at the cause of it.

The dealership recommended transmission fluid exchange services for my 2019 Highlander se after the recommended mileage for this service. I wasn’t able to get this service completed because of timing, however later on the service was completed and after three weeks the vehicle started jerking upon acceleration. Took the benchley back to the mechanic to diagnose the problem. Per the diagnostic test the issue was determined by this code transmission p0745-7f | pressure control solenoid "a" actuator stuck off - pending dtc.

Nothing happened.

Bought the car in 2018 and ever since it makes a rttling noise, Toyota says it is the hybrid system engaigeing, hybrid cars are not supposed to make noise.

At 119500 miles a eev whining noise started. Only had all repairs done at a dealership.

The rear air conditioning refrigerant lines on a 2019 Toyota Highlander se failed due to excessive rust/corrosion, causing the a/c system to leak refrigerant and stop holding a charge. The failure affected the rear a/c lines that run to the rear of the vehicle. The problem was first diagnosed by an independent repair shop and then confirmed by a Toyota dealer. The Toyota dealer documented that the rear a/c lines were leaking due to excessive rust/corrosion. The dealer recommended replacing the rear a/c lines/cooling lines as a set, evacuating and recharging the a/c system, adding dye, and checking system operation. The repair was completed by the Toyota dealer but not covered or reimbursed. The vehicle/component was inspected by an independent service center and by a Toyota dealer. Toyota corporate customer support was also informed of the dealer diagnosis. The failed component may no longer be available for inspection because the repair has been completed, but repair records, dealer diagnosis, invoice, and related documentation are available. Safety concern: the a/c system failure can affect occupant safety and visibility because air conditioning is used for windshield defogging/defrosting and cabin humidity control. Loss of a/c can reduce the ability to clear the windshield in humid or rainy conditions. It can also create a risk to rear passengers, including children, during hot weather because the rear a/c system is no longer functioning as designed. The failure also involved leaking refrigerant from corroded lines. Toyota will not accept that this is a premature and dangerous parts failure. There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages before the failure. The symptom was that the a/c stopped cooling and would not hold refrigerant. The cause was later confirmed, by Toyota, as leaking rear a/c lines due to excessive rust/corrosion. Toyota has refused goodwill repair even after numerous persons have reported the same issue online.

I was told by oxmoor dealership I had to talk to Toyota corporate before I could get my car touched and that I did not need to talk to a lawyer. I called. Prior to the accident, the vehicle had been exhibiting multiple symptoms: an intermittent airbag warning light had illuminated briefly on the dashboard on a few occasions, and the vehicle had begun requiring noticeably longer physical distances to come to a complete stop at traffic signs and lights when not using cruise control. The vehicle was experiencing regular phantom seatbelt warnings—dinging as if a passenger was unbuckled when the seat was completely empty. The phantom seatbelt warnings I didnt think we're a big deal were occurring across multiple seating rows simultaneously in front and back. Directly preceding the crash, while making a turn, the vehicle swerved slightly. When I applied the physical brake pedal, the vehicle did not decelerate normally; instead, it experienced a sudden, abrupt forward acceleration surge into the building. I still haven't gotten my vehicle back or any information on what has been done or when I am getting my car back. I was also charged for an extra day for my rental when I was told to return it on the 16th. I haven't had a rental since then. I keep contacting oxmoor Toyota and they said they were waiting on Toyota corporate. I haven't had my car for a month. I tried to email. It was returned. My mailbox on my phone has been full of drs and other calls non stop. I texted online on the Toyota page for the claim as well. Ive repeatedly asked the Toyota dealership what is going on and I get we are waiting on corporate. I called Toyota corporate again today and was told they would get back to me. I told the dealership. I am under medical care and in severe pain. Yes my safety was put at risk. Police and fire department were here the night it happened. They said they don't do a police report on private property. There is an insurance claim through state farm.

My 2019 Toyota Highlander has taken on water from a leaking panoramic sunroof. Both times the dealership ran it through a car wash and it did not leak after cleaning the sun roof drains. Took my car in on 5/4/2026 after a thunderstorm and they cleaned (tom o’brien Toyota) the roof drains. Then on the evening of [xxx], we had a heavy thunderstorm which resulted in 3 quarts of water that my husband cleaned off the liner. It was also dripping inside on the armrest. Now I have a sagging liner with water stains. We took the car in again on 5/22/2026 and they cleaned the drains again. We are expected to have rain for the next 3 days. If I leave the liner back it could result in water pouring in the cabin, shorting out the electrical heat warmers on my console. What about mold and discoloration? talk about safety concerns. !! information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I was parking my car and was almost to the gray slab to stop when the car suddenly surged forward! it felt like an airplane taking off. I hit a brick building. Somehow my nose was broken, and I was bleeding profusely. If someone had been walking on the sidewalk in front of me, they would have been crushed against the brick wall. Others have had this problem; in fact, one lady said she almost hit a brick wall! ironic! there was no warning of any kind. However, the day before, while driving on the highway, the car did the same thing: it surged forward, but fortunately I was able to control it, and there had been no one in front of me. If I had been driving locally, I surely would have hit someone, and who knows what the consequence would have been. The insurance company towed the car and totaled it.

Premature transmission failure due to factory defect. All maintenance was done on time and at dealership.

Develop a high-pitched whine, shuddering, or harsh shifting between 25 and 45 mph, which can lead to premature wear or complete failure. Also, on/ off from no where and stopped in the middle of the road.

The only door that will lock or unlock using the fab key or the master lock button on the drivers armrest is the drivers side rear door. My vehicle is not able to be locked unless I do it manually and can not be unlocked unless I use the rear drivers side door. This has been reproduced by the dealership. There were no warning lamps or messages and no other symptoms. This has been going on for a month. I am being told by the dealership service department that 3 actuators failed at the same time. My lift gate also malfunctioned this year. Dealership diagnosed it with needing new struts. Not sure if this is related. Lift gate would not open or open only a small amount. This was using the inside button and the outside one as well.

I've been waiting for a recall repair based on a recall file nearly 8 months ago now. This recall still appears to have no remedy. I continue to get emails about this issue from my dealer, but when I call to schedule the appointment to fix it, they continue to tell me that no remedy is available yet.

My car had around 52,930 miles on it when the transmission suddenly went out and left me stranded in [xxx]. I always took my car to the north hollywood Toyota dealership regularly, twice a year since I bought the car for regular service maintenance. When I was quoted nearly $7,000 to replace the transmission, I sold the car. Why would a 2018 japanese car with such low mileage and in great condition suddenly have transmission problems? something doesn’t add up. I had to get towed home. I’m wondering if other Toyota Highlander owners have experienced unexplained transmission problems as well. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).