Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
670–25K
2225–50K
550–75K
775–100K
6100–150K
3150K+
110 reports with mileage · 155 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 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
23 crash reports1 fire reports15 injury reports
What owners actually said
265 reports
15,000 miles · Apr 22, 2019
Power TrainStructureSuspension
WHEN HIT BREAKS HARD... I HEAR A BANG/NOISE FROM REAR OF MY HIGHLANGER. ( DEALERSHIP ADMIT THIS IS ABNORMAL SOUND BUT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT). TRANSMISSION SHIFT ROUGHLY, NOT SMOOTH SHIFTING. IF CAR IS IN DRIVE AND IM HOLDING BREAKS CAR REAR STARTS MAKING BANGING NOISE N START SHAKING. SO FAR MY CAR HAS ONLY 20K MILES O…
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WHEN HIT BREAKS HARD... I HEAR A BANG/NOISE FROM REAR OF MY HIGHLANGER. ( DEALERSHIP ADMIT THIS IS ABNORMAL SOUND BUT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT). TRANSMISSION SHIFT ROUGHLY, NOT SMOOTH SHIFTING. IF CAR IS IN DRIVE AND IM HOLDING BREAKS CAR REAR STARTS MAKING BANGING NOISE N START SHAKING. SO FAR MY CAR HAS ONLY 20K MILES ON IT . SUSPENSION IS PRETTY STIFF DOESN'T HELP WHILE DRIVING OVER POST HOLES.
NHTSA ODI #11202999
10,999 miles · Mar 22, 2019
Engine
I NOTICED A HESITATION WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. ON ONE INCIDENT ON I-288 I PRESSED THE GAS TO PASS A CAR AND IT HESITATED AND THE RPM JUMPTED TO 51/2. FINALLY THE CAR ENGAGED SO I COULD PASS. I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. ON THE WAY HOME ON I-295 IT REPEATED AGAIN ONLY THIS TIME THE RPM JUMPED TO 4. T…
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I NOTICED A HESITATION WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. ON ONE INCIDENT ON I-288 I PRESSED THE GAS TO PASS A CAR AND IT HESITATED AND THE RPM JUMPTED TO 51/2. FINALLY THE CAR ENGAGED SO I COULD PASS. I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. ON THE WAY HOME ON I-295 IT REPEATED AGAIN ONLY THIS TIME THE RPM JUMPED TO 4. THIS WAS ON 3/20 AND THE DEALER STILL HAS THE VEHICLE AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER DID DRIVE IT WITH ME AND FELT THE HESITATION.
NHTSA ODI #11190851
11,500 miles · Mar 21, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or Other
EARLY TODAY, 3/21/19, WAS ALERTED THAT MY HATCHBACK WAS OPEN. THE CAR HAD BEEN LOCKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS, BUT WHEN I CAME OUTSIDE I WAS TOLD BY A FRIEND THAT THE HATCH HAD JUST OPENED ON IT'S OWN. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, I WAS DRIVING AFTER DARK AND RECEIVED A BLINDSIDE MIRROR ALERT--THE CLOSEST CAR WAS AT LEAST TWO CAR LENGTHS IMME…
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EARLY TODAY, 3/21/19, WAS ALERTED THAT MY HATCHBACK WAS OPEN. THE CAR HAD BEEN LOCKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS, BUT WHEN I CAME OUTSIDE I WAS TOLD BY A FRIEND THAT THE HATCH HAD JUST OPENED ON IT'S OWN. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, I WAS DRIVING AFTER DARK AND RECEIVED A BLINDSIDE MIRROR ALERT--THE CLOSEST CAR WAS AT LEAST TWO CAR LENGTHS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND ME IN THE SAME LANE. SHORTLY AFTER, THE CAUTION LIGHT CAME ON, BEEPED, THE ECO LIGHT CAME ON, IT BEEPED AGAIN AND THE ECO LIGHT WENT OFF. ABOUT 40 MINUTES LATER, I HAD THE BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS ON WITH THE AUTO DIM ENACTED. THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, THE DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT, THE RADIO STAYED ON, AND THE NAVIGATION SCREEN GOT VERY BRIGHT. I HAD TO RETURN THE LIGHT CONTROL ON THE SIGNAL SWITCH AWAY FROM THE SETTING AND THEN BACK TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHT TO COME BACK ON. ALL EVENTS EXCEPT HATCH WERE WHEN VEHICLE IN MOTION. HATCH OPENED WHILE PARKED AND EMPTY. ALL EVENTS WERE WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS OF EACH OTHER. 10000 MILE SERVICE HAD JUST BEEN COMPLETED 3/15/19 WITH NO CONCERNS NOTED.
NHTSA ODI #11190636
Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2019
Seats
THE XLE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SITS VERY HIGH, CAUSING MY HEAD TO BRUSH UP AGAINST THE CEILING. THIS IS WILL CAUSE HEAD AND POSSIBLY NECK INJURIES IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. I'M NOT PARTICULARLY TALL AT 5'10', BUT ANYONE TALLER WILL HAVE A WORSE PROBLEM. THERE IS NO WAY TO LOWER THIS SEAT. I DON'T WANT TO SUFFER A HEAD INJURY …
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THE XLE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SITS VERY HIGH, CAUSING MY HEAD TO BRUSH UP AGAINST THE CEILING. THIS IS WILL CAUSE HEAD AND POSSIBLY NECK INJURIES IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. I'M NOT PARTICULARLY TALL AT 5'10', BUT ANYONE TALLER WILL HAVE A WORSE PROBLEM. THERE IS NO WAY TO LOWER THIS SEAT. I DON'T WANT TO SUFFER A HEAD INJURY JUST BECAUSE THE SEAT IS VERY HIGH.
NHTSA ODI #11187225
Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2019
Electrical System
DEAR SIR. UNIT CAN NOT BE CHANGED. THE UNIT CAN NOT BE CHANGED FROM F TO ℃. I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN CELSIUS TEMPERATURE ENVIRONMENT FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS AND HAVE RECENTLY EMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES. BY THE WAY, MY CAR CAN NOT SEE THE CELSIUS TEMPERATURE. SO, I HAVE TO CALCULATE THE FAHRENHEIT TEMPERATURE …
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DEAR SIR. UNIT CAN NOT BE CHANGED. THE UNIT CAN NOT BE CHANGED FROM F TO ℃. I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN CELSIUS TEMPERATURE ENVIRONMENT FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS AND HAVE RECENTLY EMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES. BY THE WAY, MY CAR CAN NOT SEE THE CELSIUS TEMPERATURE. SO, I HAVE TO CALCULATE THE FAHRENHEIT TEMPERATURE IN DEGREES CELSIUS FOR A SHORT TIME EACH TIME TO KNOW THE CURRENT CELSIUS TEMPERATURE. (CALCULATED SIMILARLY TO CELSIUS TEMPERATURE = (FAHRENHEIT - 30) / 2) I CAN NOT CONCENTRATE ON DRIVING WHILE CALCULATING THE CELSIUS TEMPERATURE, AND I HAVE TO CONCENTRATE ON THE CALCULATION. (DURING THE SHORT TIME) I KNOW THAT A CAR ACCIDENT HAPPENS IN A VERY SHORT TIME. I WAS REGULARLY CHECKED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TODAY. (5,000 MILES FREE SERVICE) I CAN NOT CHANGE THE UNIT TO CELSIUS TEMPERATURE WHEN I START REGULAR INSPECTION. I ASKED YOU TO CHECK. AFTER COMPLETING THE REGULAR CHECK, THE SERVICE CONSULTANT ANSWERED ME "I CAN NOT CHANGE TO CELSIUS." SO, I ASKED AGAIN WHY NOT. A SERVICE CONSULTANT REPLIED, "A CAR PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES RECENTLY HAS NO CHANGE IN CELSIUS." SO, I AM WRITING THIS ARTICLE. THE TOYOTA SERVICE CONSULTANT SAYS THAT THE 2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES, IS UNCHANGED IN UNITS OF CELSIUS. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT NEW CARS PRODUCED IN THE FUTURE CAN BE CHANGED IN UNITS OF CELSIUS TEMPERATURE. (FOR REFERENCE, THE UNITS ARE CHANGED FROM 'MILE' TO 'KM'.) I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE A REPLY BY EMAIL THANK YOU, SIR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11186677
4,000 miles · Mar 11, 2019
Exterior Lighting
THE HEADLIGHTS ARE REALLY DIM MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. WHEN I AM NEXT TO OTHER VEHICLES, THEIR HEADLIGHTS LIGHT UP THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME AT LEAST 80% MORE THAN MY HEADLIGHTS. PHYSICALLY, THE HOUSING LOOKS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE IT IS CLOUDY. PERHAPS A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE MAY 2018 BUT NE…
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THE HEADLIGHTS ARE REALLY DIM MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. WHEN I AM NEXT TO OTHER VEHICLES, THEIR HEADLIGHTS LIGHT UP THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME AT LEAST 80% MORE THAN MY HEADLIGHTS. PHYSICALLY, THE HOUSING LOOKS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE IT IS CLOUDY. PERHAPS A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE MAY 2018 BUT NEVER DROVE DURING NIGHT / DARK HOURS UNTIL MY SHIFT RECENTLY CHANGED.
NHTSA ODI #11185734
300 miles · Mar 3, 2019
Service BrakesUnknown Or OtherWheels
CAR VIBRATION AT 40MPH AND UP AND BRAKE VIBRATION TOO .
NHTSA ODI #11183795
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2019
Wheels
MICHELIN TIRES DEFECTIVE TRACTION. TOYOTA AND MICHELIN REFUSES TO HELP WITH DEFECTIVE TIRES. MONRO MUFFLER DEEMED TIRES UNSAFE.
NHTSA ODI #11183683
2,000 miles · Feb 21, 2019
Service Brakes
LOW POWER BRAKING POWER LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START. OWNED FOR JUST 6 MONTHS WITH JUST OVER 2000 MILES . THIS HAPPENED WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY.
NHTSA ODI #11181714
Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2019
Unknown Or Other
AFTER CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN, IS OFF AND SITTING IN LOCKED GARAGE AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS A LOUD BUZZING SOUND CAN BE HEARD WHICH EVENTUALLY CHANGES TO A LOW SEMI BUZZING (ALMOST LIKE A COMPUTER DOWNLOADING AND A FAN TO COOL IT DOWN). I'VE CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND LEFT A DETAILED MESSAGE, BUT NO RESPONSE. I'M AWARE OF CYBER…
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AFTER CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN, IS OFF AND SITTING IN LOCKED GARAGE AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS A LOUD BUZZING SOUND CAN BE HEARD WHICH EVENTUALLY CHANGES TO A LOW SEMI BUZZING (ALMOST LIKE A COMPUTER DOWNLOADING AND A FAN TO COOL IT DOWN). I'VE CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND LEFT A DETAILED MESSAGE, BUT NO RESPONSE. I'M AWARE OF CYBER SECURITY, AND SINCE MY HUSBAND WORKS FOR DOE (WAPA), IT WORRIES ME. MY HUSBAND ALTERNATES WEEKLY ON DRIVING THE HIGHLANDER OR THE 2000 TACOMA. WHEN HE DOESN'T DRIVE THE HIGHLANDER THERE IS NO NOISE, WHEN HE DOES THE BUZZING SOUND HAPPENS. THIS IS TOO COINCIDENTAL. IS THIS NORMAL? THE SOUND APPEARS LOUDEST BY THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. IT NORMALLY HAPPENS AFTER 11:00 P.M. AND COMPLETES BEFORE 11:30 P.M., HOWEVER, OVER THE PAST 4 DAYS THE SCHEDULE HAS CHANGED. TONIGHT IT RAN FROM 8:00 P.M. TO 8:35 P.M. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH OUR NEW VEHICLE? IS IT SAFE FOR MY HUSBAND TO DRIVE?
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.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 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, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry and Highlander vehicles, 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the oil galley in the rotor for the brake booster vacuum pump assembly may have been improperly machined possibly resulting in a sudden loss of brake assist.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake booster vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0K/JLD.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.
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.
2018 Toyota Highlander Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year