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2017 Toyota Highlander

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2017 Toyota Highlander do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 186.5.

About this comparison →
265Owner complaints

Model-year median: 186.5

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
135
2014191
2015110
2016265
2017265
2018480
2019311
2020
Compare all Highlander years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
72Unknown Or Other
52Electrical System
46Engine
46Fuel/propulsion System
28
All reported categories
Service Brakes
28Vehicle Speed Control
13Visibility/wiper
12Air Bags
9Fuel System, Gasoline
9Structure
8Wheels
6Exterior Lighting
4Seat Belts
4Steering
4Suspension
4Electronic Stability Control (esc)
3Engine And Engine Cooling
3Forward Collision Avoidance
3Seats
3Visibility
3Carry Handle, Shell, Base
2Equipment
2Lane Departure
2Tires
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

123 reports with mileage · 142 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports2 fire reports15 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

3 reports
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40,000 miles · Aug 2, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

1 WEEK AGO, 7-26-20, MY CAR STALLED SLIGHTLY AND THEN AN ENGINE ICON APPEARED. A MESSAGE APPEARED FOR ME TO VISIT MY DEALER. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. THE LIGHT WENT OFF AS I ARRIVED THERE. I HAD TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I WAS TOLD TO MAKE SURE I WAS USING A GOOD GRADE OF GA…

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1 WEEK AGO, 7-26-20, MY CAR STALLED SLIGHTLY AND THEN AN ENGINE ICON APPEARED. A MESSAGE APPEARED FOR ME TO VISIT MY DEALER. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. THE LIGHT WENT OFF AS I ARRIVED THERE. I HAD TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I WAS TOLD TO MAKE SURE I WAS USING A GOOD GRADE OF GAS. LATER IN THE WEEK I GOT GAS AT A SHELL STATION. THE CAR WOULDN'T CRANK AT THE PUMP. IT KEPT TRYING TO TURN OVER. I GOT A MESSAGE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND PUSH IGNITION. THEN IT SAID LOW BRAKE PRESSURE. I SAT THERE A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN. I FINALLY GOT IT TO STAY ON. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE AROUND FINE FOR A WHILE WITH NO PROBLEM. THEN I TRIED TO GO BACK OUT AND IT WOULDN'T CRANK. IT WAS FULL OF GOOD GAS. THE ENGINE ICON CAME BACK ON. THEN THE MESSAGE ABOUT BEING HARDER TO STEER CAME UP. IT KEPT SAYING DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND PUSH IGNITION. I TRIED A FEW MORE TIMES AND GOT THE MESSAGE ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE SMART KEY SYSTEM. I CHECKED THE RECALLS FOR 2017 HIGHLANDERS AND NOTICED THERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IN MARCH 2020.

NHTSA ODI #11342785

37,516 miles · Aug 8, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK. THE SUV LUNGED FORWARD OVER CURBING AND INTO BUILDING. THEN WENT VIOLENTLY INTO REVERSE AND INTO A UNCONTROLLABLE SPIN. THEN THE SUV WENT VIOLENTLY INTO DRIVE AND JUMPING OVER A CURBING AND INTO A DITCH AND WAS SITTING ON TOP OF A NATURAL GAS LINE. DURING THIS WHOLE TIME I WAS PRESSIN…

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MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK. THE SUV LUNGED FORWARD OVER CURBING AND INTO BUILDING. THEN WENT VIOLENTLY INTO REVERSE AND INTO A UNCONTROLLABLE SPIN. THEN THE SUV WENT VIOLENTLY INTO DRIVE AND JUMPING OVER A CURBING AND INTO A DITCH AND WAS SITTING ON TOP OF A NATURAL GAS LINE. DURING THIS WHOLE TIME I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE AND PUSHING THE IGNITION SWITCH TRYING TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THIS WAS DONE IN A PARKING LOT AS I WAS TRYING TO PARK. *DT *TR

NHTSA ODI #11242500

8,000 miles · Sep 10, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

ACCELERATE SPEED OVER 80MPG CAR JUST SHUTSDOWN THOUGH STEERING STILL MANAGEABLE OR WORKING GAS PEDAL DONT WORK NO MORE HAVE TO CRUISE THE CAR FROM 1 LANE ALL THE WAY TO THE VERY RIGHT LANE LUCKILY EXIT RAMP JUST THERE AND HAVE TO EXIT. TURN OFF CAR THEM RESTARTT CAR WORKS AGAIN NORMAL. SENT TO DEALER KEYES TOYOTA VAN NUYS NOW W…

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ACCELERATE SPEED OVER 80MPG CAR JUST SHUTSDOWN THOUGH STEERING STILL MANAGEABLE OR WORKING GAS PEDAL DONT WORK NO MORE HAVE TO CRUISE THE CAR FROM 1 LANE ALL THE WAY TO THE VERY RIGHT LANE LUCKILY EXIT RAMP JUST THERE AND HAVE TO EXIT. TURN OFF CAR THEM RESTARTT CAR WORKS AGAIN NORMAL. SENT TO DEALER KEYES TOYOTA VAN NUYS NOW WILL BE 3 WEEKS STILL NO NEWS AS THE GUY STOPS CALLING US GIVE ME UPDATE AFTER 1ST WEEK. TRIED TO CALL FRIDAY OF 2ND WEEK BUT WAS PUT ON HOLD FOREVER.

NHTSA ODI #11022544

Official recalls

3

20V682000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Nov 4, 2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.

17V520000 · Equipment

Aug 23, 2017

Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2017 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles equipped with accessory roof rail cross bars. The fasteners for the roof rails may not be torqued properly.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The roof rails may loosen and possibly detach from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GST will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and properly torque the fasteners, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2017. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 17R3.

17V295000 · Tires:temporary/emergency Spare Tire

May 2, 2017

Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.

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.