Equipment Problems of Toyota Highlander - part 1

When I purchased the vehicle I was told I could use apple carplay, or Toyota's drive connect. Apple works better so I've always used that. I am used to having to clear Toyota's pop up ads for drive connect several times per week, even once per day. Recently Toyota's drive connect ads pops up on screen every few minutes regardless of what hands free app I'm trying to use (navigation, phone call, audiobook, etc. ). It's distracting which is dangerous and keeps me from being able to use the hands free feature through apple car play in my car. After calling Toyota corporate and Toyota brand engagement, both entities told me the only way to get the pop up ads to stop is to subscribe. The pop ups are dangerous and not what I agreed to when buying the car, so it feels like blackmail to be told it will only stop if I pay them $15 per month for a subscription to something that I won't use that was not a required feature when I purchased the vehicle.

See all problems of the 2024 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

•the transmission malfunctioned and developed an abnormal internal noise at approximately 67,000 miles, which is an unexpected failure at low mileage. The vehicle had been properly maintained and had no prior mechanical issues. Atlanta Toyota inspected the vehicle and confirmed the transmission had failed and required full replacement. The dealer also stated that as a result of the transmission failure, other related components showed excessive and abnormal wear. A second independent service center inspected the vehicle and confirmed the same diagnosis. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. • this unexpected transmission failure created a serious safety risk due to the possibility of sudden loss of power, inability to accelerate, or complete transmission failure while driving. I rely on this vehicle daily to transport my child to school and to commute to work. A sudden failure while in traffic could result in becoming stranded or involved in a collision. • the vehicle was inspected by an authorized Toyota dealer and an independent service center. Both stated that the failure was unusual given the low mileage and normal use of the vehicle. • there were no warning lights, messages, or diagnostic trouble codes prior to the failure and afterward. The only symptom was an abnormal internal noise from the transmission, which began suddenly at approximately 66,000 miles. • the vehicle has received regular maintenance and is used for normal daily driving. There was no abuse, heavy towing, or unusual use that would explain a transmission failure at this mileage.

See all problems of the 2021 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

I am reporting a safety defect in the 2025 Toyota Highlander hybrid nightshade involving the multifunction turn signal switch. The interior trim adhesive on the steering column has experienced a chemical breakdown (adhesive migration), causing the turn signal stalk to become stiff and bind. This obstruction makes it difficult to engage the turn signal and occasionally prevents the signal from "auto-canceling" after a turn. The dealership has acknowledged the adhesive failure by authorizing the replacement of the steering column covers but refuses to replace the contaminated turn signal switch. Operating a vehicle with a binding turn signal switch is a direct safety hazard, as it compromises the driver's ability to communicate intent to other motorists. Additionally, the dashboard material is experiencing systemic delamination and producing a white crystalline powder (crystallized adhesive). I am requesting an investigation into the heat-resistance standards of the interior bonding agents used in the 2025 nightshade trim, as these materials are failing and compromising safety-critical electronic controls. Thank law 4088861606.

See all problems of the 2025 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

The sunroof suddenly exploded while stopped at a stoplight. Luckily I had the interior slide shut otherwise we would have been covered in glass.

See all problems of the 2020 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

After 3 weeks of inconsistent shifting with the automatic transmission and whining and clunking, the car failed to go into gear at all yesterday 1/5/26 while driving near dulles airport. I had it towed, was told the transmission failed and then I found that this is a systemic design issue with the 2017-2022 cohort of gas v6, 8 speed, awd Highlanders. Repair will be between $5k and $10k.

See all problems of the 2019 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

While I was driving the vehicle on December 30, 2025 emerging on to the highway I heard a loud popping sound which I thought was one of the tires going flat when the plastic barrier underneath the car became unattached.

While driving, the vehicle’s moonroof glass spontaneously shattered/exploded without impact. It sounded like a gunshot, which caused an immediate and dangerous distraction. There was no object strike that I am aware of and no prior warning. The sudden loud noise and breaking glass created a safety hazard due to distraction and potential glass intrusion.

See all problems of the 2022 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

While driving on the highway, our sunroof spontaneously exploded. We heard what sounded like a gunshot and found a giant hole in our sunroof glass.

Automatic transaxle whining from 35mph-45mph acceleration. Needs to be replaced this is the third vehicle this week the dealership said had the same issue.

Paint is peeling off my car, this is confirmed by Toyota it was covered by the consumer support program which expired in July however the paint did not start peeling off until last week. Toyota said that there wasn't anything they could do. This is clearly a manufacture defect and should be repair by Toyota at no charge to me.

See all problems of the 2015 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

Premature transmission failure. Vehicle had less than 100k miles. Took the vehicle in for an oil change before a long trip. Mentioned a "whine" during acceleration. Told us that the entire transmission would need to be replaced immediately at a cost of over $10,000. Made an appeal to Toyota to help with the cost of replacement and we were denied.

Lift gate does not close and it just beeps. Needs to be closed manually. Toyota has known this issue for a long time but failed to address. Repairs are costly and reduces my cars value.

I had been driving my 2022 Toyota Highlander xle with 46k miles that I just got for about two weeks, so about 10 days out of the 14 I actually drove it from home to work and back home. Within those 10 days driving the SUV, 8 mornings and one afternoon the Highlander engine had issues accelerating and shifting gears. Basically when pulling out on to a highway from a side street coming down a hill when pressing the gas to enter the highway and flow of traffic the engine stuttered from zero to 20mph causing the entire SUV to jerk repeatedly and the gears would have issues shifting from first to second. I had to let my foot off the gas pedal then press again repeatedly as the SUV kept jerking trying to accelerate forward stuck no more than 20 mph for 30 seconds then started to even out and climb up after a minute. I have caught this on video twice. This has caused me to hold up traffic on the highway behind me with no where to pull off because my particular side street comes out from a gulch cliff side. No check engine lights came on each time. I took it to an auto shop that did a minor test drive and suggested it go directly to servco Toyota as it should have powertrain warranty on it still and they believed it was a fuel pump issue. The issue did not happen with this auto shop but I showed them the video. I scheduled an appt at Toyota and it is with them now. They did 2 test drive but could not replicate the issue and could not see any codes coming up. I opted to leave the vehicle with them to do more test drives where the issue has happened as I do not feel safe driving it and the manager also said they did not feel safe having their techs drive it so the manager will do it. Without check engine light/code they are saying they cannot check the fuel pump or do anything else but will try to do more test drives to replicate the issue. I have seen numerous reddit, facebook group posts, and a petition about this same issue but no official recall or word from Toyota.

I am reporting a serious safety defect involving the rear brake system of my 2021 Toyota Highlander, purchased from penn Toyota (glen cove, NY). The dealership represented the vehicle as “Toyota certified” and indicated that it passed all safety inspections. On November 15, 2025, I discovered that the rear brake rotors and pads were in extremely unsafe condition, showing severe corrosion, deep pitting, uneven pad wear, and structural deterioration. This damage clearly developed over a long period of time and indicates that the vehicle could not have passed a legitimate safety inspection at the time of sale. The rear brakes had to be replaced immediately to prevent potential brake failure. After replacing the rear rotors and pads, the vehicle passed the new york state inspection on the same day, proving that the previous brake condition was unsafe and improperly inspected. This raises concerns brake safety failure improper or falsified dealership inspection risk of reduced stopping power potential loss of vehicle control I am submitting photos, the repair invoice, and the inspection result that confirmed the brakes were unsafe prior to repair.

Transmission just started shifting extremely hard between first and second gear. Turning snow mode on stops the shifting problem so I know it’s an internal issue with the transmission. The Highlander xle only has 67,748 miles. Way to early for a transmission issue.

See all problems of the 2018 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

Loud ear-piercing noise when vehicle is started. Noise lasts about five seconds.

I called Toyota as I was concerned it was sluggish and was having trouble excelerating the appointment was given to me 2 weeks out but was told if anything happens to just bring her in. I had to bring her in the week of the appointment on a tow truck as she was not moving. I was told it’s a faulty transmission I asked if it’s covered by my extended warranty and because it’s over by 4 miles it’s not.

We were driving on the highway and heard what sounded like a gun shot. Our sunroof had exploded. Luckily the interior door was closed or we would have been showered with glass. There was no one around, no rocks or road debris. It just came out of nowhere!.

The 8 speed automatic transmission is failing at 100k miles. Whining noises are heard and after being taken to Toyota dealerships mechanic, we were told that the gear mesh or bearing is bad and that we'll need to replace the transmission. We were told that many other Highlanders have experienced the same issues. No light popped up before or during driving while the transmission is whining.

Started with a transmission whining. Now is setting check engine light and jerking. Toyota knows there is a manufacturing defect in the ua80 transmission in these vehicles, but continued to sell them even after the released TSB# t-sb-0008-21, and refuses to repair this under warranty. Toyota is the only company offering replacement transmissions and therefore can set there own price to scam consumers. Please help us get a resolution.

Air bags did not deploy during accident black box did not record any incident occurred and vehicle was totaled vehicle black box data was downloaded by manufacturer representative accident report was submitted on October 28 2025 a deer ran in front of us and we hit it at approximately 55mph vehicle was determined to be totaled after insurance adjuster reviewed sheriff deputy and tow truck driver both said air bags should have deployed. Upon receiving the pdf file of black box raw data, it states that no incident happened. I asked a relative who works for a major airline manufacturer and the opinion of their analyst for data recorders is that the computer seems to have been defective. Toyota however states the accident did not meet the parameters to register an incident. I find this answer highly suspicious at best.

See all problems of the 2023 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

The car was parked at work and noticed the shattered panoramic moonroof when I got into leave.

I was traveling on an interstate going home from work. My speed was approximately 65mph. I noticed traffic slowing up ahead. I began to drop my speed (cost down), as I was approaching the traffic the car in front of me was applying their brakes; I had already began to apply mine. I was applying more pressure to my brakes to slow down more as the person in front of me began to slow more quickly. The person in front of me then had to slam their brakes on and I was not able to stop in time to avoid collision with the car in front of me. That driver did not come in contact with any other vehicle. The impact was at approximately 50mph. I was then very quickly hit from behind by the car behind me. The vehicle behind me hit of center and more on the right back corner of my car. My vehicle sustained significant front-end damage; the hood was folded, the grill was gone, the radiator was pushed back. As I looked up after the impact and saw my hood folded I then noticed that my air bag had not gone off. How could the air bag have not gone off in an impact such as that. My safety was compromised by the possibility of hitting the steering wheel or worse such as impacting the windshield if the crash had been worse. I do not remember if my vehicle had side curtain air bags as well. No air bags deployed. Law enforcement was called by the driver of the car I rear ended as we agreed that she would. The driver of the vehicle that hit me I believe also called 911. Highway patrol responded along with state incident response vehicles to protect the scene. I have filed a claim with my insurance, and the vehicle was looked at and deemed a total loss. It is not available for inspection and was taken to a salvage yard per the insurance company. I did not notice any lights on on the dash after. I also did not encounter any issues before this. I had the vehicle just over a year.

See all problems of the 2016 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

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 🔎.

Lift gate stuttering at 49k bought new. Available for inspection. Have yet to bring to dealer because they need the vehicle for the whole day. No warnings etc just loud opening. Concerned it could give way when I am grabbing groceries at any time. Seems like a widely reported issue.

During rain, the a-pillar and headliner show evidence of a leak. Open source research found this is likely due to faulty or poor quality components used in the roof rail system. My vehicle is completely stock with no additions or installations on the roof, just the factory rails.

While waiting for a traffic light to change, I pressed the pedal to accelerate, and the car would not move. Like my pedal was dead. I have experienced this issue three times. I have also experienced bucking or jerking issues.

I have another issue that has never happened to me before. The front passenger door just popped open while I was sitting at a red light. I had just driven for over 2 hours with it closed and locked and it made a weird sound and shifted. The light on my dash came on and I had to unlock the doors and reach over to try to open and shut the door while I was at an intersection. Help.

The screen is going out. The back tailgate hangs up and doesn’t go down.

The front bumper assembly has come off our 2023 Highlander twice since purchase 2 years ago, the first time the entire bumper was pulled off while on the freeway(terrified my wife) and we had to pull it off and put it in the back on the Highlander and bring it to the dealership. Courtesy Toyota of brandon . This was supposedly fixed with Toyota recall campaign 23ta12 . Approximately one year later we noticed it was coming off once again, this time I tried to push it back myself but was unable to hook it up correctly and brought into the dealership. While they do recognize the vehicle is unsafe , and that there was a recall for this issue , they say it is not covered in the safety recall. I believe this is incorrect, and the recall either does not properly rectify the issue or this is a new safety concern.

Glass in sunroof exploded, loudly, while driving on interstate, at 65 miles an hour, showering passenger and driver in shards of glass. There was no impact to the sunroof. Just a loud explosion. Heavy traffic at high speed while covered in glass had to make emergency stop. Glass could have easily gotten in our eyes. Thank goodness the two of us were wearing a ball cap and a visor. Would gladly have car available for inspection upon request. We will take pictures.

Tailgate struts failed within 2k miles of the 3/36k warranty. Even with the power back door feature "off", the struts are not simply converted to normal manual hydraulics. To lift the gate and close the gate it takes significant effort and I injured my shoulder while trying to lift it while holding items I didn't want to get wet on the ground during a rain event.

My vehicle has noise in the transmission when accelerating. They should give a voletin. Thanks.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? emission recall remedy not available. 2. 3 in display of the instrument panel may be blank at start up. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?/operating the vehicle with this display blank reduces the ability to see certain malfunction indicators remedy not available. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes, dealership Toyota of anaheim and buena park. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? yes, Toyota of anaheim and buena park. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? none.

Lift gate not closing car gas a whining noise upon acceleration.