Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
570–25K
2625–50K
1950–75K
1175–100K
7100–150K
4150K+
124 reports with mileage · 67 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
17 crash reports6 fire reports12 injury reports
What owners actually said
191 reports
80,000 miles · Oct 1, 2020
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF BRAINT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF BRAINTREE LOCATED AT 210 UNION ST, BRAINTREE, MA 02184, AND DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11362264
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2020
Engine
VEHICLE IS BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL.
NHTSA ODI #11361087
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2020
Unknown Or Other
MOLD SMELL IN CAR. MUSTY SMELL COMING FROM A/C, WATER ON FLOOR OF DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT, MOLD UNDER CARPET/PADDING.
NHTSA ODI #11351736
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2020
Electrical System
THE MONITOR RESETS/ REBOOTS AT LEAST ONE TIME EVERY TIME YOU IN MOTION WITH THE VEHICLE. MEANING THAT THE GPS, BLUETOOTH AND MUSIC ALL STOPS AND RESTARTS. I'VE PAID TO HAVE THE MONITOR REPLACED BUT IT STILL DID NOT STOP THE ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT THIS HAPPENING. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY ARE NOT ACK…
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THE MONITOR RESETS/ REBOOTS AT LEAST ONE TIME EVERY TIME YOU IN MOTION WITH THE VEHICLE. MEANING THAT THE GPS, BLUETOOTH AND MUSIC ALL STOPS AND RESTARTS. I'VE PAID TO HAVE THE MONITOR REPLACED BUT IT STILL DID NOT STOP THE ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT THIS HAPPENING. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY ARE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT IS AN ISSUE AND THE DEALERSHIPS DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT WHICH I BELIEVE MAKES IS A LARGER ELECTRICAL ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11341080
37,260 miles · Jul 12, 2020
Electrical SystemStructure
REAR BOOT LID NOT OPERATIONAL. TRIED USING.MY KEYS AND ALSO THE DASH BUTTON BUT THE GATE WONT OPEN OR CLOSE. HAD TO OPEN FRON THE WINDOW TO LOAD MY SHOPPING. ON MY WAY ON FREE WAY, THE DOOR OPENED AND LOST A BIT OF MY BOTTLED STUFF AND SHOPPING AS IT TOSSED AWAY. SO LUCKY TO BE ON A LINE WITH LIMITED TRAFFIC . HAD NO ACCIDENT
NHTSA ODI #11338960
52,682 miles · Jun 7, 2020
Electrical System
THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED ON THE DRIVERS DOOR. WITHIN TWO MONTHS ALL OF THE ACTUATOR DOOR LOCKS FAILED ON ALL OF THE DOORS. THE COST TO REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR A FIX AND FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING THEY MAY FAIL AGAIN. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED SINCE THERE WERE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT.
NHTSA ODI #11327604
15,000 miles · May 7, 2020
Electrical System
IN 2016, 1 YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE DOOR LOCKS STARTED TO INTERMITTENTLY STOP OPENING AND LOCKING WITH THE KEY, AND INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL LOCK BUTTONS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT, AS PARENTS CANNOT CONTROL THE LOCKS. ADDITIONALLY, IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE TO ALL PASSENGERS, AS PASSENGERS CANNOT E…
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IN 2016, 1 YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE DOOR LOCKS STARTED TO INTERMITTENTLY STOP OPENING AND LOCKING WITH THE KEY, AND INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL LOCK BUTTONS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT, AS PARENTS CANNOT CONTROL THE LOCKS. ADDITIONALLY, IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE TO ALL PASSENGERS, AS PASSENGERS CANNOT ENTER OR EXIT THE CAR EASILY AND/OR QUICKLY AS THE LOCKS DON'T CONSISTENTLY RESPOND WHEN USING THE INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL BUTTON ELECTRONIC KEY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11323793
Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2020
Exterior Lighting
CONDENSATION AND LIQUID/WATER IN REAR EXTERIOR LIGHTS. LIGHTS OR SEALS WARP WITH CONTACT TO HEAT MANUFACTURERS DEFECTS
NHTSA ODI #11317809
80,000 miles · Feb 23, 2020
Power Train
WHEN TRYING TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC AT AN ONRAMP, THE VEHICLE WILL FREQUENTLY REFUSE TO DOWNSHIFT TO MATCH TRAFFIC SPEED WHEN DOING 35-50MPH. THIS HAS RESULTED IN SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES AND I NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. THIS FORCES A MANUAL DOWNSHIFT THAT CANNOT ALWAYS BE IN TIME. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS…
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WHEN TRYING TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC AT AN ONRAMP, THE VEHICLE WILL FREQUENTLY REFUSE TO DOWNSHIFT TO MATCH TRAFFIC SPEED WHEN DOING 35-50MPH. THIS HAS RESULTED IN SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES AND I NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. THIS FORCES A MANUAL DOWNSHIFT THAT CANNOT ALWAYS BE IN TIME. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON NUMEROUS FORUMS AND SOME HAVE REPORTED HAVING TO "TRICK" THE TRANSMISSION INTO DOWNSHIFTING
NHTSA ODI #11310982
88,000 miles · Feb 9, 2020
Unknown Or Other
THE RADIO/NAVIGATION SYSTEM WILL MALFUNCTION AND SHUT OFF AND RESTART. AT NIGHT THIS IS A HAZARD DUE TO THE FLASHING LIGHT OF THE RADIO CAUSING A DISTRACTION. THIS IS ALSO A HAZARD DUE TO THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM NOT WORKING. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES, IT COULD TURN OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES A MINUTE OR IT COULD DO IT ONCE AN HOU…
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THE RADIO/NAVIGATION SYSTEM WILL MALFUNCTION AND SHUT OFF AND RESTART. AT NIGHT THIS IS A HAZARD DUE TO THE FLASHING LIGHT OF THE RADIO CAUSING A DISTRACTION. THIS IS ALSO A HAZARD DUE TO THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM NOT WORKING. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES, IT COULD TURN OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES A MINUTE OR IT COULD DO IT ONCE AN HOUR. IF THERE IS A SHORT IN THE RADIO COULD THIS CAUSE A FIRE? THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHILE IN MOTION OR SITTING STILL AND ON EVERY ROAD.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid, and 2014-2015 Rav4 vehicles. A component of the electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, this damage may result in failure of the electric power steering system.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number of the EPS ECU or steering column assembly. If the number is within the affected range, the EPS ECU will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 7, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2015 Toyota Highlander Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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