2018 Toyota Highlander Problems & Owner Complaints

Power Train 60

“This vehicle has a UA80 8-speed transmission that has prematurely failed. This is a KNOWN issue to Toyota and they have refused to provide a fix. It is a safety hazard when all acceleration stops when attempting to merge into heavy traffic (as had happened to me last week) or on a highway traveling at top speed. I have only 27,000 miles on this automobile and it failed with NO WARNING! Within a very short time frame the following occurred: the check AWD system, TRAC off, check engine and the transmission fluid at a high temperature lights appeared on the dashboard. Shortly thereafter I experi…”
NHTSA complaint #11753332, 2026

“While driving my 2018 Toyota Highlander Limited, the check engine light began flashing off and on. I was near an exit and drove off the freeway. I could feel the car (near the gas pedal) start shaking, then the power went down quickly... as I was trying to find a safe place to go. The farther I drove, there was less power until the car was going about 2 miles an hour. The check light continued flashing as I pulled into a parking lot. This was very scary as I'm sure the car would have just stopped on the freeway if I had not been near an exit as it just simply had no power left. (The check engi…”
NHTSA complaint #11750828, 2026

“Complaint: I am writing to report a transmission defect in my 2018 Toyota Highlander AWD (UA80 8-speed automatic transmission). Prior to the check engine light illuminating, I noticed a burning smell coming from the vehicle. Subsequently, the following fault codes were retrieved: •P0741 – Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance/Stuck Off •P2714 – Pressure Control Solenoid “D” Performance/Stuck Off •P2757 – Torque Converter Clutch Pressure Control Solenoid Circuit Performance/Stuck Off These symptoms are consistent with the known defect described in Toyota’s Customer Support Program ZJC (PO…”
NHTSA complaint #11741442, 2026

Service Brakes 58 9 crash 4 injury

“Where the incident happened? The incident happened at the following google coordinates (39.21707240377137, -77.6491829535095) on an unpaved, but well-maintained road. When this incident took place? 09/11/2021 – around 10.30am Who is travelling with you? I was travelling with my wife (Vijaya) and Pet Dog (Leo). Both my wife and I have the seat belts on. How are the driving conditions? A bright and sunny morning with clear visibility, minimal wind and no rain. The road is totally dry. In a way perfect driving condition. How the incident happened? A white truck came in the opposite direction and…”
NHTSA complaint #11433443, 2021 · crash · 2 injury(ies)

“WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE, SLOWLY, WITH RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, GETTING READY TO STOP BEFORE THE CURB, THE CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB GOING OVER THE SIDEWALK AND HIT THE BUILDING. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE WHEN IT STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED IN A DOCTORS OFFICE PARKING LOT. AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE.”
NHTSA complaint #11267384, 2019 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“I WAS RECENTLY IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN MY 2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM. THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM WAS WORKING WELL THROUGH OUT OUR TRIP BUT UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT WORK WHEN IT WAS MOST NEEDED. WE WERE INVOLVED IN A PILE UP ON INTERSTATE I-5 GOING AT LEAST 45MPH AND NOTICED THAT THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM THAT IS SO MUCH BEING ADVERTISED DID NOT WORK AT ALL. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER AND DEFINITELY DID NOT BREAK ON IT'S OWN AS ADVERTISED. AT THE TIME OF THE HIT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED A LITTLE TO LATE AT LEAST THE PASSENGER ONE WHERE I WAS SITTING. I AM AWARE THAT WE S…”
NHTSA complaint #11105159, 2018 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

Unknown Or Other 42 5 crash 4 injury

“I was parking my car and was almost to the gray slab to stop when the car suddenly surged forward! It felt like an airplane taking off. I hit a brick building. Somehow my nose was broken, and I was bleeding profusely. If someone had been walking on the sidewalk in front of me, they would have been crushed against the brick wall. Others have had this problem; in fact, one lady said she almost hit a brick wall! Ironic! There was no warning of any kind. However, the day before, while driving on the highway, the car did the same thing: it surged forward, but fortunately I was able to control it, a…”
NHTSA complaint #11752659, 2026 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE, SLOWLY, WITH RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, GETTING READY TO STOP BEFORE THE CURB, THE CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB GOING OVER THE SIDEWALK AND HIT THE BUILDING. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE WHEN IT STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED IN A DOCTORS OFFICE PARKING LOT. AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE.”
NHTSA complaint #11267384, 2019 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“I WAS RECENTLY IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN MY 2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM. THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM WAS WORKING WELL THROUGH OUT OUR TRIP BUT UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT WORK WHEN IT WAS MOST NEEDED. WE WERE INVOLVED IN A PILE UP ON INTERSTATE I-5 GOING AT LEAST 45MPH AND NOTICED THAT THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM THAT IS SO MUCH BEING ADVERTISED DID NOT WORK AT ALL. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER AND DEFINITELY DID NOT BREAK ON IT'S OWN AS ADVERTISED. AT THE TIME OF THE HIT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED A LITTLE TO LATE AT LEAST THE PASSENGER ONE WHERE I WAS SITTING. I AM AWARE THAT WE S…”
NHTSA complaint #11105159, 2018 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

Engine 33

“While driving my 2018 Toyota Highlander Limited, the check engine light began flashing off and on. I was near an exit and drove off the freeway. I could feel the car (near the gas pedal) start shaking, then the power went down quickly... as I was trying to find a safe place to go. The farther I drove, there was less power until the car was going about 2 miles an hour. The check light continued flashing as I pulled into a parking lot. This was very scary as I'm sure the car would have just stopped on the freeway if I had not been near an exit as it just simply had no power left. (The check engi…”
NHTSA complaint #11750828, 2026

“I just got my vehicle inspected and successfully passed with no codes on 07/07/2026. Today 07/10/2026 as I was driving to work my vehicle began to jerk/ jitter and when into limp mode. I took it to a shop to have the codes checked on it and they said it was something to do with the transmission and they don’t specialize in that type of work. My vehicle has less than 45400 miles on it and been maintained regularly. I was told this was a common issue with these vehicles. I don’t know where to go to get this serviced. I called around to local shops with no luck at getting someone to fix or look a…”
NHTSA complaint #11749652, 2026

“Engine cam tower oil leak due to the manufacturer's inadequate assembly of the engine parts. The mating surfaces were not adequately prepared and/or application of a contaminated sealant did not adhere to the surfaces creating a small oil leak that eventually became larger and finally noticed. The Car Care Nut automotive shop performed this repair and documented in the video: [XXX] The 2018 engine (3.5L DOHC V6 D-4S Engine with Dual VVT-i Direct Shift) with 52,500 miles has by now (2024) developed a large oil leak coming from the cam tower seal, and requires replacement. I'm the original ow…”
NHTSA complaint #11645760, 2024

Electrical System 24

“The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while attempting to turn left or right, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost power. The contact waited for several minutes before being able to restart the vehicle. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The failure had occurred several times and had become more persistent. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that the body throttle, air control system, and battery sensor had failed. The vehicle was repaired; however,…”
NHTSA complaint #11712896, 2025

“While driving the car at approximately 40 mphs the car suddenly jolted and stopped moving. Luckily no one was behind and I pulled over also noticing check engine light came on. I immediately called Toyota and was able to drive it to them. I spent $140 diagnosis fees for them to say it was ignition coil B. After replacing the coil the light and same problems continued. We took the car to another mechanic, spent $600 diagnosis fees to find out it is the ECM. We then contacted the Toyota dealer asking about previous recalls that were on the ECM for 2018 Toyota Highlanders which is our car.…”
NHTSA complaint #11618359, 2024

“I bought my car used. Only had it for 3years and already had to replace the battery twice. Once I was stopped at light turning left, yield to oncoming traffic, since my foot was on brakes battery just dyed in middle of light, police had to come made sure I didn't get hit. 2nd time car cut off at McDonald's drive thru and battery went dead again. Something is wrong with batteries that make them go bad, n it's unsafe bc I've got stranded twice in not.so good places..”
NHTSA complaint #11550045, 2023

Fuel/Propulsion System 22 1 crash

“1) BIGGEST ISSUE: I BOUGHT MY SUV NEW. IT WAS ADVERTISED 30/28 MPG. MY AVERAGE MPG SINCE I BOUGHT IT IS 22-23. 2) IT SLIDES WITH BARELY ANY ICE OR RAIN. IT IS AWFUL. IT SLIDE BACKWARD DOWN A SMALL HILL LAST YEAR & CAUSED ME TO CRASH. POLICE RESPONDED BUT WERE TOO BUSY WITH OTHER INCIDENTS TO WRITE A REPORT. I HAD THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES & RENTAL CAR FEES FOR THE 5-6 WEEKS IT TOOK TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I LIVE IN THE PNW AND HAVE DRIVEN IN SNOW 35 YEARS. I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH BAD PERFORMANCE. I HAD TO BY MICHELIN ICE TIRES THIS YEAR BC OUR SUV IS SO BAD IN SNOW & ICE. 3) I WAS IN A MINOR…”
NHTSA complaint #11405147, 2020 · crash

“I just got my vehicle inspected and successfully passed with no codes on 07/07/2026. Today 07/10/2026 as I was driving to work my vehicle began to jerk/ jitter and when into limp mode. I took it to a shop to have the codes checked on it and they said it was something to do with the transmission and they don’t specialize in that type of work. My vehicle has less than 45400 miles on it and been maintained regularly. I was told this was a common issue with these vehicles. I don’t know where to go to get this serviced. I called around to local shops with no luck at getting someone to fix or look a…”
NHTSA complaint #11749652, 2026

“First symptom I noticed was the car smell while it was running. I used a device to see what codes of any would pop up on a scan. It came up with codes tying into the fuel system. I then went to go fill up on gas couple days later and when going to start it back up it wouldn’t start. When it did start it would say engine losing power or steering losing power and then just shut off. I then looked up what that usually means and it made me look towards the alternator. I was told by a mechanic an easy way to see if your alternator was good was to start car and while running disconnect the negative…”
NHTSA complaint #11735463, 2026

Air Bags 19 15 crash 19 injury

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STANDSTILL, ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING AT 50 MPH CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE 5 INJURED REPORTED AND 3 NEEDED MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO POLICE LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11398708, 2021 · crash · 4 injury(ies)

“The contact owned a 2018 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, occupied with her children in the rear passenger seats, the contact was attempting to merge onto the intersection, and a state trooper failed to yield at 55-60 MPH vehicle crashed into the front driver's side of the vehicle, causing the whole front end of the vehicle to detach from the vehicle. The contact stated that no air bags were deployed in her vehicle. The contact stated that she and her children sustained injuries, however under direct legal advice, she cannot disclose this information. Medical…”
NHTSA complaint #11731139, 2026 · crash · 3 injury(ies)

“A car hit me on the back passenger door. My car was pushed to the curb where I hit a tree and the air bags didn't go off. My dad was injured bad.”
NHTSA complaint #11486625, 2022 · crash · 2 injury(ies)

Fuel System 14

“The contact owned a 2018 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated the recall repair for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V012000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) had been completed on the vehicle. The contact stated while her husband was driving 55-65 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that her husband veered to the side of the road. The contact's husband was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact's husband that they could not determine the cause of the failure; however, the computer onboard was re…”
NHTSA complaint #11433660, 2021

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V682000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND OCCASIONALLY CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. TOYOTA OF ROCKWAL…”
NHTSA complaint #11397859, 2020

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V012000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN TOYOTA DEALER, LOCATED IN FAIRFIELD, CA, AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
NHTSA complaint #11351130, 2020

Structure 12 3 crash 1 fire 3 injury

“I WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 1/28/20 WHERE I SUSTAINED A DIRECT, FRONT IMPACT COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, ACCELERATING FORWARD THROUGH A GREEN-LIT INTERSECTION WHEN A LARGE DODGE RAM TRUCK TURNED IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING OUR VEHICLES TO COLLIDE. THE IMPACT WAS SO HEAVY THAT IT CAUSED MY BODY TO PROJECT FORWARD AND UPWARDS. MY SON'S GLASSES FLEW OFF HIS FACE AND ALL CUPS IN CUP HOLDERS FLEW ACROSS THE CAR. MY SON COMPLAINED OF THE SEATBELT HURTING HIS SHOULDER, AND I SUSTAINED BRUISES ON MY LEGS AND ARMS. UPON THIS IMPACT, NO AIR…”
NHTSA complaint #11302878, 2020 · crash · 2 injury(ies)

“WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE, SLOWLY, WITH RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, GETTING READY TO STOP BEFORE THE CURB, THE CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB GOING OVER THE SIDEWALK AND HIT THE BUILDING. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE WHEN IT STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED IN A DOCTORS OFFICE PARKING LOT. AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE.”
NHTSA complaint #11267384, 2019 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Highlander equipped with a tow package. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle in for service, he made the dealer aware that on the passenger’s side rear of the vehicle where the muffler tip came out from underneath the vehicle that the plastic piece above the muffler was melted from exhaust heat coming from the muffler while towing his trailer. The dealer documented the incident and forwarded the findings to the manufacturer. The contact did not receive a callback, so he contacted the dealer and was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty and the…”
NHTSA complaint #11441052, 2020 · fire

Steering 10

“First symptom I noticed was the car smell while it was running. I used a device to see what codes of any would pop up on a scan. It came up with codes tying into the fuel system. I then went to go fill up on gas couple days later and when going to start it back up it wouldn’t start. When it did start it would say engine losing power or steering losing power and then just shut off. I then looked up what that usually means and it made me look towards the alternator. I was told by a mechanic an easy way to see if your alternator was good was to start car and while running disconnect the negative…”
NHTSA complaint #11735463, 2026

“The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while attempting to turn left or right, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost power. The contact waited for several minutes before being able to restart the vehicle. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The failure had occurred several times and had become more persistent. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that the body throttle, air control system, and battery sensor had failed. The vehicle was repaired; however,…”
NHTSA complaint #11712896, 2025

“At 11:15 AM, June 13, 2025 when I turn right at intersection, my steering wheel suddenly became hard (could not turn). My car nearly hit median in my left hand when the steering wheel back to normal. So I could steer my car avoid accident. This is first time I encountered problem like this. Everything is normal right now. No warning or everything popped up on display.”
NHTSA complaint #11666872, 2025

Vehicle Speed Control 9 1 crash

“My relatives remembered the 2002-2011 recall of 80,000 Toyotas, 90 deaths due to unintended acceleration and said that seems exactly what happened to me last month. NEAR FATAL COLLISION DUE TO STICKY PEDAL 2018 Toyota Highlander 10/10 Slowly backed out of parking space in large, empty commercial lot: sunny day, 3pm  Tapped pedal into Drive  Car sped off at 50+mph with my foot off pedal  Sped around lot for approximately 3minutes  Holding brake down and down-shifting did nothing except cause sheer terror with my uncontrollable vehicle  Hit pole and vehicle came to a stop after near-com…”
NHTSA complaint #11556609, 2023 · crash

“While driving my 2018 Toyota Highlander Limited, the check engine light began flashing off and on. I was near an exit and drove off the freeway. I could feel the car (near the gas pedal) start shaking, then the power went down quickly... as I was trying to find a safe place to go. The farther I drove, there was less power until the car was going about 2 miles an hour. The check light continued flashing as I pulled into a parking lot. This was very scary as I'm sure the car would have just stopped on the freeway if I had not been near an exit as it just simply had no power left. (The check engi…”
NHTSA complaint #11750828, 2026

“2018 Toyota Highlander Platinum started with a whine noise, vibration, and went into limp mode. The transmission has been noted to needing to be replaced. I am currently at 75,453 miles and started to hear the whine at around 65,000 miles. This car is not safe to drive.”
NHTSA complaint #11718672, 2025

Forward Collision Avoidance 8 2 crash 4 injury

“A car hit me on the back passenger door. My car was pushed to the curb where I hit a tree and the air bags didn't go off. My dad was injured bad.”
NHTSA complaint #11486625, 2022 · crash · 2 injury(ies)

“Where the incident happened? The incident happened at the following google coordinates (39.21707240377137, -77.6491829535095) on an unpaved, but well-maintained road. When this incident took place? 09/11/2021 – around 10.30am Who is travelling with you? I was travelling with my wife (Vijaya) and Pet Dog (Leo). Both my wife and I have the seat belts on. How are the driving conditions? A bright and sunny morning with clear visibility, minimal wind and no rain. The road is totally dry. In a way perfect driving condition. How the incident happened? A white truck came in the opposite direction and…”
NHTSA complaint #11433443, 2021 · crash · 2 injury(ies)

“1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The issue involves the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control system (vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode) in my 2018 Toyota Highlander. This system automatically cancels when the vehicle’s speed drops to approximately 25 mph (40 km/h) or below. The system disengages without driver input during normal driving conditions such as heavy traffic or congestion. The component remains functional but poses a safety concern due to its operational design. The vehicle and system are available for inspection u…”
NHTSA complaint #11696192, 2025

Suspension 6 1 injury

“VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND ROLLED. IT PICKED UP SPEED AS IT CONTINUED TO ROLL AND THERE WEREN'T ANY OCCUPANT. THIS TOOK PLACE IN A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE ROLLS WHILE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ON ALLL THE TIME AS WELL.”
NHTSA complaint #11303022, 2020 · 1 injury(ies)

“The contact’s daughter owns a 2018 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a clunking sound coming from the front driver’s side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and the owner was informed that the struts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was later driven to a local tire and battery service center who inspected the vehicle and informed the owner that the front control arms were rusted and needed to be replaced, and that the front axle was cracked. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The daughter was…”
NHTSA complaint #11746490, 2026

“UNKNOWN, squeaking in rear when going over bumps and uneven roads”
NHTSA complaint #11521784, 2021

Exterior Lighting 5

“Driving along [XXX] in Alabama to Mississippi, the Highlander completely shut off - the dash & radio were blank. The steering wheel locked up. Luckily there was no vehicles behind or beside us when this happened. Within seconds, the truck came back on. 15 minutes prior, we were sitting in a parking lot to eat lunch & while in idle, the truck shuddered a few times, like the gas pedal was pressed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”
NHTSA complaint #11584292, 2024

“AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM FUNCTION SHUTS DOWN ERRATICALLY LEAVING CAR WITH NO HIGH BEAMS. NECESSARY TO TURN OFF AUTOMATIC FUNCTION TO USE HIGH BEAMS. THIS HAPPENS WHILE IN MOTION @ 30-35 MPH ON A COMPLETELY DARK ROAD AND WITH NO ONCOMING OR LEADING TRAFIIC TO TRIGGER FUNCTION TO SHUT DOWN HIGH BEAMS.”
NHTSA complaint #11339882, 2020

“AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN FOR NO REASON. THIS IS NOT THE NORMAL CYCLING (HIGH BEAMS ON/OFF WHEN TRAFFIC DETECTED) OF THE SYSTEM. ICON INDICATING SYSTEM IS ON DISAPPEARS AND CANNOT GET HIGH BEAMS TO OPERATE. THIS HAPPENS ON DARK STRAIGHT ROADS WITH NO OTHER TRAFFIC AROUND. DEALER STATES THAT THEY CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY THIS HAPPENS BUT THEY WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. TOYOTA HAS REPAIRED THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE ON THEIR LEXUS LINE (REPLACE TURN SIGNAL STALK) BUT REFUSES TO ADDRESS IT FOR THEIR TOYOTA MODELS. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE.”
NHTSA complaint #11397688, 2019

Visibility/Wiper 5

“The windshield has warps and creates blurry vision. Glass has been replaced 3 times so far from Toyota Dealership and issue continues to be there. Car has been in service for a month now. Glass manufacturer: Pilkington”
NHTSA complaint #11561215, 2023

“I was driving down the highway at 11:30am MST going between 55-60 mps and my sunroof just popped and broke. Nothing hit us, there were barely even any cars around us at the time. It spontaneously combusted. Providing screenshots of the video I took immediately after it happened. You can even see how the glass is bowed out instead of inward, if it were hit by something.”
NHTSA complaint #11456817, 2022

“THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY AT TWO YEARS OLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EVEN MOVING AND NEVER GOT STRUCK WITH A STONE OR A VEHICLE DEBRIS. THE CRACK IS VERY CLEAN AND LINEA WITHOUT ANY DENT AND STARTS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD ALL THE WAY TO ONE-FOURTH OF THE HEIGHT OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE. NUMEROUS COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IS LOGGED IN A TOYOTA CUSTOMER COMPLAINT WEBSITE ABOUT THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FROM 2016-2018 HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE TELL TOYOTA TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.”
NHTSA complaint #11352217, 2020

Wheels 4

“CAR VIBRATION AT 40MPH AND UP AND BRAKE VIBRATION TOO .”
NHTSA complaint #11183795, 2019

“MICHELIN TIRES DEFECTIVE TRACTION. TOYOTA AND MICHELIN REFUSES TO HELP WITH DEFECTIVE TIRES. MONRO MUFFLER DEEMED TIRES UNSAFE.”
NHTSA complaint #11183683, 2019

“MY VEHICLE CANNOT BE ALIGNED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. ESPECIALLY ON WET ROADS. TOYOTA HAS HAD 5 PLUS ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THIS.VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BY 2 TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS SPECIALIST. THEY DEEMED THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE. 48HRS AFTER IT WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. THIS DEALERSHIP FOUND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL TOE OUT SEVERELY. THEY CORRECTED THE MISALIGNMENT. AT LEAST ON PAPER THATS THE WAY IT LOOKED UNTIL ON MY WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP THIS VEHICLE PULLED ME INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC.”
NHTSA complaint #11100337, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 3 1 crash 1 injury

“VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND ROLLED. IT PICKED UP SPEED AS IT CONTINUED TO ROLL AND THERE WEREN'T ANY OCCUPANT. THIS TOOK PLACE IN A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE ROLLS WHILE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ON ALLL THE TIME AS WELL.”
NHTSA complaint #11303022, 2020 · 1 injury(ies)

“RECENTLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN GOING IN REVERSE. THE SRS ALARM MALFUNCTIONED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE REVERSE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT INDICATED THAT I WAS CLOSE TO THE OBJECT.”
NHTSA complaint #11110346, 2018 · crash

Lane Departure 3

“At 11:15 AM, June 13, 2025 when I turn right at intersection, my steering wheel suddenly became hard (could not turn). My car nearly hit median in my left hand when the steering wheel back to normal. So I could steer my car avoid accident. This is first time I encountered problem like this. Everything is normal right now. No warning or everything popped up on display.”
NHTSA complaint #11666872, 2025

“On a trip to NC on June 27 2024, then on to Hilton Head SC on 6/29, multiple system warning lights suddenly appeared on the dash including ABS, Lane Departure Warning, BSM, notifying me that those safety features were not available on the vehicle. Sometimes the the lights would disappear, especially if the vehicle was stopped and the engine was turned off at a rest area. Because the check engine light was not lit, I continued to our NC destination. We continued our trip on 6/29 to Hilton Head, and the lights continued to appear, sometimes staying on for an hour or more. I called my Binghamton…”
NHTSA complaint #11600127, 2024

“WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION BLIND SPOT MONITORING SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY DETECTS VEHICLES AND HAS CAUSED ME TO CUTOFF VEHICLES THAT ARE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO NO DETECTION. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING SINCE THERE IS NO SYSTEM FAILURE BUT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL CAUSE DRIVERS TO CUTOFF OR TURN INTO VEHICLES THAT ARE IN THERE BLIND SPOTS. THIS HAPPENS ON CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING AND CAN FAIL AT ANYTIME WITHOUT NOTICE.”
NHTSA complaint #11171376, 2018

Seat Belts 3 1 crash 1 injury

“I was involved In a rear collision that then pushed me into a front end collision. The airbags and seat belts did not deploy or lock.”
NHTSA complaint #11526468, 2023 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“Driver side seat belt is difficult to pull out and often does not retract properly. This is a safety issue for the driver. Issue has been seen by local Toyota dealer who can confirm the problem. Stated that it will require a $500 repair, replacing the entire retractable unit of the driver side seatbelt system.”
NHTSA complaint #11594258, 2024

“THE INCIDENT INVOLVES A 2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 AWD THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW ON JUNE 1, 2018. AS MY 12 YEAR OLD SON WAS BUCKLING HIMSELF INTO THE 2ND ROW DRIVER-SIDE SEAT TODAY, THE SEAT BELT RIPPED APART IN HIS HANDS. THE SUDDEN-MOTION LOCKING MECHANISM NEVER ENGAGED, AND NO UNDUE FORCE (EXCEPT FOR WHAT ONE WOULD EXPECT FROM A NORMAL 12 YEAR OLD) WAS APPLIED WHEN PULLING THE SEATBELT FROM ITS STOWED POSITION. WHEN I PERSONALLY INSPECTED THE REMAINING SEVEN (7) SEATBELTS, BOTH THE 3RD ROW DRIVER-SIDE AND PASSENGER-SIDE SEATBELTS FAILED UNDER MINIMAL STRESS (FAR LESS THAN MY FULL BODY WEIGHT O…”
NHTSA complaint #11155391, 2018

Seats 2 1 injury

“I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SEAT AS IT GAVE INSTANT PAIN IN THE SPINE AND NECK AND VERY HARD TO DRIVE SITTING ON THE DRIVERS OR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SEAT. BEING TOO CURVEY IS NEITHER AGRONOMIC FOR ANY STANDARD SIZE HUMAN BEING NOR ALLOWS ANY REST TO THE BACKBONE. THE HEADREST IS VERY TILTED FORWARD, WHICH STRAINS THE SPINE AND NECK IMMEDIATELY. I HAD A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005, AND I DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO ANY TEST DRIVE BECAUSE THE SEAT ON THE HIGHLANDER 2005 WAS VERY COMFORTABLE. BUT 2018 IS HORRIBLE TO DRIVE. I'M VERY MUCH REGRETTING BUYING SUCH A CAR THAT I CAN'T DRIVE…”
NHTSA complaint #11355055, 2018 · 1 injury(ies)

“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 complaint #11187225, 2019

Back Over Prevention 1 1 crash

“1) BIGGEST ISSUE: I BOUGHT MY SUV NEW. IT WAS ADVERTISED 30/28 MPG. MY AVERAGE MPG SINCE I BOUGHT IT IS 22-23. 2) IT SLIDES WITH BARELY ANY ICE OR RAIN. IT IS AWFUL. IT SLIDE BACKWARD DOWN A SMALL HILL LAST YEAR & CAUSED ME TO CRASH. POLICE RESPONDED BUT WERE TOO BUSY WITH OTHER INCIDENTS TO WRITE A REPORT. I HAD THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES & RENTAL CAR FEES FOR THE 5-6 WEEKS IT TOOK TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I LIVE IN THE PNW AND HAVE DRIVEN IN SNOW 35 YEARS. I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH BAD PERFORMANCE. I HAD TO BY MICHELIN ICE TIRES THIS YEAR BC OUR SUV IS SO BAD IN SNOW & ICE. 3) I WAS IN A MINOR…”
NHTSA complaint #11405147, 2020 · crash

Latches/Locks/Linkages 1

“I purchase a 2018 Toyota Highlander in 2021. The vehicle had just over 8000 miles when purchased. The vehicle had manufacturers warranty but I purchased additional extended warranty in addition. I can review and find the dates but I don’t have it at the time I’m filling out this form. In any case, there was an issue with the passenger side door lock actuator not properly functioning. The door would not lock when using the key fob. Since the vehicle was under warranty, they replaced the actuator. In February or March of 2025, the passenger side rear door lock began with the same issues. The dea…”
NHTSA complaint #11719761, 2025

Tires 1

“These are Toyo Open Country P245/55 R19 tires that have been on my car from 10/23/2020 to now and have 54,600 miles on them. Remaining tire tread depth on this tire was measured using a machinists rule at 6/32" or 4.5 mm deep. The drivers front tire looked fine on my car during a general pre-inspection I did at 6:45 AM as I loaded the car with our luggage for a 7 day drive trip to Florida (app 920 miles). I will advise that I did not look at this tire in great detail during this check - just quick look to see if anything stood out that I needed to be concerned about for the drive. The driv…”
NHTSA complaint #11543694, 2023

Visibility 1

“The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at 58 MPH, there was an abnormal popping sound coming from the sunroof, and it was discovered that the sunroof glass had shattered. Neither an independent mechanic nor a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 165,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11715940, 2026