Power Train Problems of Toyota Highlander - part 1

Transaxle (transmission) failure. Whining noise then failed while driving freeway. Towed to dealer/mechanic and confirm failure. There was a whining sound but no engine light warnings prior to complete failure. Toyota put out a TSB for this but was never informed - pol19-04. Toyota needs to expand csp zjc coverage to all ua80f/ua80e-equipped vehicles exhibiting symptoms, regardless of VIN range.

See all problems of the 2018 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

I own a 2017 Toyota Highlander with 6 cylinders (engine model 2gr-fks). It has 107,000 miles. I brought it to my dealer for inspection and service, and noted that it was making a whirring/whining sound upon acceleration. There were no warning messages on the dashboard to alert me of any issues. The dealer reported back to me that the transmission was failing and quoted $11k to fix it. Upon researching this issue, I learned that this is a known problem with 2017 model Highlanders.

See all problems of the 2017 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

Transmission stopped working while I was driving. Could not drive the car.

See all problems of the 2019 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

-- what component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? this report is regarding a premature transmission failure in our 2017 Toyota Highlander equipped with the ua80f 8-speed automatic transmission. Our Highlander is currently stuck at high tech automotive in wenatchee, wa 150+ miles from home after experiencing a transmission failure on the highway. -- how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? during the transmission failure while driving on the highway the check engine light came on as well as abs light and vehicle went into a limp mode. The transmission failure and subsequent limp mode rapidly decreased our speed while traveling on the highway and forced us to limp the vehicle at low speeds across traffic putting ourselves and others traveling on the highway at risk. This vehicle has been well maintained and serviced in accordance with Toyota’s recommended maintenance schedule. Despite this, the transmission failed unexpectedly during a recent family road trip to wenatchee, wa, leaving us stranded far from home. -- has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes, the vehicle was towed to high tech automotive in wenatchee wa (where it is currently stranded). The diagnostics report there confirmed proper transmission fluid level and a failed transmission with burnt transmission fluid. -- has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? not yet. A request for assistance was sent to Toyota today. -- were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? there were no warning lamps, or messages. We've had the vehicle maintained and there was a whirring sound which we had inspected at dougs auto tune and repair thinking it could be the timing chain or alternator but there was no indication of transmission issues.

Transmission stutters. Only has 32000 miles.

See all problems of the 2020 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

We began to hear a whine coming from the front of our 2019 Highlander. The tone of the whine got higher as we picked up speed. We went immediately for a preliminary review at the dealer who indicated that it was a known transmission problem in several model years, and the whine would only become more pronounced. We further understood that the very same transmission in our 2019 Highlander has been covered by a recall in years just prior and after 2019, but not for our particular VIN. Nevertheless, it is obvious to even the Toyota dealer mechanic that it is the same issue. The car has been carefully used and maintained since purchasing it new--it only has approximately 74,000. We expect our transmission fix or replacement to be covered.

Transmission whines in low gear.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended and made an unusual whining sound. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact's husband, a certified mechanic, diagnosed that the transmission had failed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact related the failure to several unknown tsbs. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. In addition, the contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

See all problems of the 2022 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

The transmission failed while going up a steep hill the car lost power and shut off. Could have caused seriously property and body damage if traffic or people were around. Luckily no accident happened but could certainly cause an accident if the circumstances are different. Please make an official complain so this could be fully investigated.

2019 Toyota Highlander with approx 178000 miles, ua80e transmission sudden failure while traveling approximately 30 mph, on city street. Manually pushed vehicle to safety away from traffic and unto a parking lot. That same evening drove vehicle about 20 feet to a more secure parking spot. Vehicle has not been moved since 12/15/25. No leaks, no spills etc extremely dangerous.

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the contact heard an abnormal whining sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that it was a known failure. The vehicle was then taken to the 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 and advised the contact to work with the dealer to have the transmission repaired. The failure mileage was 66,000.

See all problems of the 2021 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

With under 80,000 miles, my 2019 Toyota Highlander xle needed a full transmission replacement. Noticed some rough gear changes for about 2-weeks (mostly changing from park to drive), then on my drive home from work, the rpm spiked high and all the sensor lights came on (awd, check engine, etc). I drove the rest of the way with hazard lights in limp-mode. Took my car into a Toyota dealer service center (kenosha WI), they did not make any repairs - just disabled the sensor lights and did a test drive - ended up keeping a 2nd day and replaced transmission fluid since they were seeing oddities with shifting. Within 1 week, the same thing happened. This time, I could hardly make it above 20 mph, basically no acceleration. Received 2 quotes from independent transmission specialists / repair shops - both confirmed I needed a new transmission. They said the car is unsafe to drive until it is replaced. This was right near my 6-year 100,000 warranty. Perhaps a few months beyond 6 years. Toyota opted not to make any repairs / improvements. Left the car in unsafe condition for me and my kids. Toyota then quoted $16,346 for a new transmission. Other quotes I received were $10,000 less than Toyota, using new Toyota parts. Seemed like price gauging to me.

I bought my 2021 Toyota Highlander on 11/17/2025 and approximately one month later, I heard a whining noise when the car accelerates past 25 mph. The whining noise gets progressively louder the more the car accelerates. In addition, when driving over a bump or hump, there is a grinding/creaking noise that occurs. I took my car into the Toyota dealership on 12/29/2025 and the service technicians were able to replicate my issues. They even stated that the issue is caused by a bearing failure inside the transmission. I also purchased an extended warranty but unfortunately the inspector sent by the warranty company wants me to get a transmission fluid exchange because they think that will solve the issue. The entire transmission needs to be replaced.

Transmission problems at 62000 miles high pitched whine with acceleration.

Early transmission failure and whining at 40,000 miles.

The vehicle is relatively new 2019 and mileage is low 45000 car was humming for no reason for a day or two and its well maintained, today at busy thoroughfare it stalled at intersection of Ave u and another street and was behaving erratically due to know manufacture defect of Toyota transmission ua80e/f that causes sudden stall and thank god have. I stalled on highway it would have been a catastrophe. I want NHTSA to acknowledge danger this poses to drivers if suden loss of power occurs suddenly hoping for a solution to this dangerous manufacture defect.

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.

Was on drive from work in 2017 Toyota Highlander xle. Noticed low whining sound coming from transmission. Made appointment with Toyota dealership. They identified transmission whine as requiring full replacement and projected to fail soon. Vehicle mileage was at 116k miles. There are no ua80 trans available in us and none coming in. Was told my VIN didn't qualify for crp cjz and TSB bulletin. The ua80 trans has known failure of this type. Replacement cost is 10k, use is dangerous, and failure is unacceptable.

•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 2018 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving uphill and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle decelerated and rolled backwards unexpectedly. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was inspected by a mechanic friend and diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.

Premature failure of ua80f transmission with 80,000 miles on vehicle which has been regularly serviced and maintained. Failure symptoms demonstrated match documented cases exactly resulting in the ultimate and complete failure of the transmission resulting in the vehicle being towed in to the dealer for a repair. Repair bill upwards of $10,000 however being told parts not available leaving me with a 40k vehicle that is unable to be repaired.

My vehicle was taken into Toyota dealership for diagnostics after experiencing a whine noise from transmission after driving. Toyota confirmed that I will need a new transmission. After researching I found that there is a defect in the transmissions for my specific type. It has been reported for years but Toyota has not addressed. Since it is a transmission failure this could lead to a breakdown while driving on highways and could risk my safety and other drivers. The estimated repair cost are currently above $8k.

Vehicle experienced whining noise when decelerating. Toyota dealer service technician documented the noise as coming from the transmission due to an issue with the pinion shafts. Our safety was put at risk by a potential for the transmission no longer working when driving. There were no warning lamps, messages, etc. Prior to the failure. The failure occurred around 136,000 miles. All recommended services, including on the transmission, occurred at the same Toyota dealer service.

While driving and/or accelerating you can feel some harsh shifts as well as slipping and shuttering with only 84k miles on this vehicle.

Transmission malfunction that left us on the highway with no power and in an unsafe situation. Not confirmed as of yet. At dealership tomorrow. No inspection completed by parties listed above. Check engine light appeared prior to malfunction.

Four days ago, engine started making a whining noise when accelerating, especially in lower gears. No warning signs. 2022 Highlander platinum is 3 years old, 80k miles, out of warranty; no extended warranty purchased due to historical, stellar Toyota reliability. Toyota service department at Toyota dealership today said whining is due to a bearing issue within the transmission (my personal mechanic inspected and said that is also likely) and cannot be repaired. Transmission could last another 10k-20k miles they said, before it becomes undrivable or just drops, causing a potential safety issue. Net, the entire transmission needs to be replaced to the tune of $9186. Just shocking.

Transmission failure. Vehicle is at this time still operational however the transmission has developed the ever so common whining sound and sluggish shifting. Upon fluid inspection metal filings can be seen and replacement has been recommended by repair shop. The whining has been evident for some time but after investigating this issue decided to have inspected. This inspection was just completed on 11/14/25.

The transmission makes a whining noise, especially when pulling, as in driving up an incline. I took the 2018 Highlander to rusty drewing Toyota in jefferson city, mo to be diagnosed. They said the transmission needs to be replaced. In researching the problem, I found a bulletin/recall: 7a61k20482. The bulletin says the serial number must be before 7a617e03416. I want to get on your list and hopefully, be able to get some kind of relief for this problem.

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power in the middle of the roadway. The contact stated that the rpm continued to increase rapidly, but the vehicle failed to respond. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the washer tab, designed to prevent the loosening of the nut inside the transmission, resulting in damage to the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the customer support program: zjc. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 104,000.

The transmission has developed a transmission whining noise which Toyota has released a TSB 0008-21. My vehicle has 104,000 miles and is now out of warranty. If this is a known defect on many Toyota vehicle models a transmission replacement should be free if no longer in warranty.

The vehicle’s automatic transmission (power train) has developed a loud whining/whirring noise under acceleration. This noise increases with engine load and indicates internal mechanical failure. The transmission is still installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. This issue poses a safety risk because it causes hesitation and unpredictable acceleration behavior while merging or crossing traffic. There is also concern that the transmission could suddenly fail while driving, resulting in loss of propulsion and potentially causing an accident. The problem has been inspected and confirmed by a Toyota dealership, which advised that the entire transmission needs to be replaced at a cost of over $8,000, despite the vehicle having only approximately 77,000 miles. The vehicle has been inspected by a Toyota manufacturer service center. They identified the transmission failure but stated there are no current recall programs covering this specific VIN. No warning lights or error messages were displayed at any time before or during the failure. The first noticeable symptom was the transmission whining/whirring noise during acceleration, which began around 77,000 miles and continues to worsen.

Whining sound upon acceleration. Occasional hesitation when shifting gears or rough shifting when going from complete stop to accelerating. Dealership says need new transmission. Warranty company test drove and agreed with dealership findings. 60,000 miles .

Our 2019 Toyota Highlanders transmission is gone. The car has 83,000 miles. I have been researching online and found out that Toyota is very much aware of the problem. They're refusing to help me. They're basing it on our VIN#. No recalls. I just want them to acknowledge that the issue needs to be addressed now.

I brought my 2021 Highlander l in for some regular maintenance and reported that within the last 2 weeks I have been hearing a whining sound when the vehicle is decelerating. I was informed at the end of the day that the transmission is bad and needs to be replaced. My vehicle is just outside of warranty (69k miles). I have always ensured my Highlander got an oil change on time, had all recommended maintenance done at that appropriate time/milage, and brought it in for safety recalls promptly. This vehicle has never been in an accident, and while I have owned it (and according to carfax when I purchased it) I have always brought it to a Toyota dealership for any and all work. There have never been any warning messages, and even though my vehicle has been into Toyota regularly for oil changes and regular maintenance, I was never notified of any other issues. I also use this vehicle at least once a year for road trips (over 200 miles) and before every trip bring it in to have it checked. I'm being told it'll be about $10k to fix. Based on my research I have discovered this is a problem many people with a 2021 Highlander are having, also a class action lawsuit was filed due to transmission issues but only covered Highlanders up to 2020. This seems to be the same issues those vehicles had but I'm being told it's not covered or a recall.

Owners of 2017–2022 Toyota Highlanders, 2017–2020 siennas, and 2018–2020 camrys are experiencing serious transmission issues—including high-pitched whining, erratic shifting, clunks, hesitation, and premature failure. These vehicles are equipped with the ua80f (awd) and ua80e (fwd) 8-speed automatic transmissions. Toyota quietly acknowledged the problem in technical service bulletins t-sb-0160-18, t-sb-0008-21, and a limited customer support program (csp zjc)—but only offered coverage to a narrow group of vins. Thousands of other affected vehicles were left out, even though they show the same exact symptoms.