FaultScore

FaultScore report

2017 Toyota Highlander problems

Owners have filed 369 complaints about the 2017 Toyota Highlander with NHTSA between 2017 and 2026. The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain. Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 25 worst.

D

FaultScore 77/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Toyota Highlander.

How this is worked out

The numbers

369

Complaints

35

Crashes reported

2

Fires reported

22

Injuries reported

20,380 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

66%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 65 vs 50 Severity 83 vs 50 Early failure 100 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 65
Against the median year of the Toyota Highlander. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 83
16% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 100
66% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2017 compares with every other Toyota Highlander

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2017 Toyota Highlander

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

2 crashes, 0 fires · median 20,000 mi

7 crashes, 1 fires · median 18,000 mi

Engine & Cooling 48 13.0%

3 crashes, 0 fires · median 23,000 mi

1 crashes, 1 fires · median 35,500 mi

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 37,000 mi

Brakes 29 7.9%

5 crashes, 0 fires · median 15,000 mi

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 6,200 mi

4 crashes, 0 fires · median 14,680 mi

Airbags 9 2.4%

6 crashes, 0 fires · median 15,000 mi

Body & Structure 8 2.2%

2 crashes, 0 fires · median 27,690 mi

Wheels 6 1.6%

Median failure at 38,500 miles

Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance 5 1.4%

Median failure at 2,000 miles

Seat Belts 4 1.1%

Median failure at 40,000 miles

Lights 4 1.1%

Median failure at 12,190 miles

Suspension 4 1.1%

Median failure at 43,940 miles

Steering 4 1.1%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 106,000 mi

Equipment & Accessories 3 0.8%

Median failure at 1,000 miles

Stability & Traction Control 3 0.8%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 37,516 mi

Seats 3 0.8%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 8,000 mi

Tires 3 0.8%

Median failure at 20,000 miles

Child Seats 2 0.5%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 7 4.0%
1,000 – 9,999 miles 42 24.3%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 46 26.6%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 52 30.1%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 17 9.8%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 3 1.7%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 5 2.9%
150,000+ miles 1 0.6%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Feb 2017 peak 11 Aug 2026

Recalls on the 2017 Toyota Highlander

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

20V682000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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.

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

18E107000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Fujian Wanda Automobile Glass Industry (Wanda) is recalling certain aftermarket Replacement Windshields sold for use in 2014-2018 Toyota Highlander vehicles. The windshields have an attached wire harness that water may leak into, possibly causing damage to the vehicle's Engine Control Module (ECM).

Risk: The ECM damage may result in the engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.

17V520000

EQUIPMENT

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.

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

17V295000

TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

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.

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

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 2021723 55,683 units in Canada

Electrical

Issue: This recall is for certain block heater kits installed on certain vehicles or sold as accessories at Toyota or Lexus dealerships. On certain vehicles, the engine block heater cable may not have enough heat protection and could be damaged by high temperatures. If this happens, the cable could short circuit while plugged in, and cause the wiring to overheat or melt. Note: This recall only affects the following block heater/cord part numbers: C014003034 PK5A408J09 PU14000904 C014003151 PK5A408J13 PU14000905 C014000885 PK5A489J11 PU14000907 C014000888 PK5A489J22 PU14000909 C014000907 PK5A410H00 PU14000911 C014100904 PU14000900 PU14000913 C014100907 PU14000901 PU14003571 C014100911 PU14000902 PK5A489J14 PK5A408J05 PU14000903 Safety Risk: Engine block heater wiring that overheats or melts could create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Toyota recommends that you should stop using the engine block heater immediately. Toyota will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to disable the engine block heater. For some vehicles, the corrective actions for this recall are under development. For others, a new engine block heater cannot be installed, and the owner will receive a refund of the purchase price of the engine block heater.

Recall 2020514 126,597 units in Canada

Fuel System

Issue: On certain vehicles, the low-pressure fuel pump could fail. If this happens, then engine may run rough or may not start and the check engine light may turn on. This could also result in a sudden loss of engine power while driving. Note: This recall is an expansion of recalls SRC R95/SRC R96 and SRC RA2/SRC RA3 (Transport Canada Recall Numbers 2020-005 and 2020-088). Safety Risk: A sudden loss of engine power could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to replace the fuel pump.

Recall 2019428 327,373 units in Canada

Accessories

Issue: On certain vehicles, the hook and loop material used to attach the carpet to its underpadding may not be flame resistant. As a result, when it is tested alone, the loop fasteners do not meet the requirements of Canadian regulations. Safety Risk: As the carpet is always assembled, and the loop fasteners are very small, this problem does not create a safety risk. Corrective Action: This is not a recall. The company has made production changes to ensure that all new vehicles meet the requirements of Canadian regulations.

Recall 2017363 39,189 units in Canada

Electrical

On certain vehicles, the electrical power cords of some dealer installed block heaters may have been improperly manufactured, causing the wires to contact each other, resulting in a short circuit. A short circuit could lead to a fire which would increase the risk of injury and/or damage to property. Correction: For vehicles where the subject block heater was approved for installation, the dealer will replace the block heater assembly with a new one of an improved design. For vehicles where the subject block heater was not approved for installation, dealers will remove the block heater assembly. In the interim, until the remedy can be performed, dealers will cut the plug end from the block heater cord to disable the block heater's operation.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Ossining, NY Crash

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

bought the car in 2018 and ever since it makes a rttling noise, Toyota says it is the hybrid system engaigeing, hybrid cars are not supposed to make noise.

NHTSA complaint #11744157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ossining, NY Crash

ENGINE

bought the car in 2018 and ever since it makes a rttling noise, Toyota says it is the hybrid system engaigeing, hybrid cars are not supposed to make noise.

NHTSA complaint #11744157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

On April 5, 2026, my 2017 Toyota Highlander was involved in a side‑impact (T‑bone) collision on the front & rear passenger side. I was seated in the front passenger seat. The impact was hard enough that my insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. During the crash, I struck my head, but no airbags deployed (front, side, or curtain). The vehicle is being released to Liberty Mutual Insurance. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. I am concerned that the airbag/SRS system may not have functioned properly in a crash severe enough to total the vehicle and cause a head injury to a front passenger. I am requesting that NHTSA record this incident and consider whether there may be a safety defect related to side or curtain airbag non‑deployment in this vehicle. Crash date: April 5, 2026 Approximate speed of other vehicle: [unknown] Location of impact: front passenger side (T‑bone) Result: vehicle declared total loss, head injury to front passenger, no airbag deployment.

NHTSA complaint #11731086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Wallingford, CT 2 injured

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked but still running in a driveway on an incline. After exiting the vehicle, there were abnormal beeping and ticking noises detected, and the vehicle began to roll down the street. The contact and daughter were pinned between the door and the vehicle. The contact's daughter sustained injuries to her chin and teeth. The driver has lumps and bruises on her leg and back pain, but medical attention was not provided. The rear wheels were on the curb and hit a trash can, and the vehicle stopped rolling. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA complaint #11609315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Toutle, WA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

I had an accident on 1/14/24 and the airbags did not deploy. When we bought the vehicle from I-5 Toyota it had been in a previous accident and was repaired. I have a picture from the dash stating “ SRS air bag system malfunction” on the day of incident. The vehicle is being picked up by insurance 1/18/24 to be inspected. There were no warnings prior to the accident.

NHTSA complaint #11566503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Reading, MA Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

My car would randomly shut off at red lights, one time I was on a hill & thought I was going to roll back into the car in front of me. After restarting it would turn on. The radio would randomly shut off. We eventually replaced the battery. On a Fri.(Dec 17th) my car would not start, so my Husband drove the kids & I to school, upon my return the car started. He told me the wheel locks & I need to move it. Then on Mon. (Dec 20th) driving my daughter to preschool school…I have video from home camera showing your system will not let me attach a video) …my car stalling as I reversed out of the driveway. I loose all control, then you hear that I pulled the emergency break & stop just before two cars pass by. I then restart the car, it goes, I drive 3 houses down I pressed the break to make a left turn onto a side street, my car accelerated & smashed into a telephone pole on the drivers side. You can hear the crash on my home camera. The impact was so hard, it bent my a frame, my airbags did not deploy, my drivers side door would not open. I shifted the pole & cracked the frozen dirt ground around it as seen in the pics. I can provide a copy of the body work repairs. We paid our $1k deductible. The car jpeg image icon does is not show like the other pics attached, so I attached a screen shot as well. We have other pictures & video’s of damage to provide upon request

NHTSA complaint #11543659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Hopkinton, NH

POWER TRAIN

I had been shopping, as I attempted to increase speed, my car wouldn't respond. I smelled something burning and I switched lanes because I needed a safe place to stop. I turned onto [XXX] in Pembroke (I think) and still had no forward (or backward) movement. The lower gears (D5 & D4 ) DID NOT show on the dashboard indicator. I called my husband and he came to me. Then we called AAA and had the car towed to Chichester Car Care. They couldn't fix my car. I then had it towed from Chichester Car Care to McGovern Toyota in Bow. NH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11758343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hopkinton, NH

ENGINE

I had been shopping, as I attempted to increase speed, my car wouldn't respond. I smelled something burning and I switched lanes because I needed a safe place to stop. I turned onto [XXX] in Pembroke (I think) and still had no forward (or backward) movement. The lower gears (D5 & D4 ) DID NOT show on the dashboard indicator. I called my husband and he came to me. Then we called AAA and had the car towed to Chichester Car Care. They couldn't fix my car. I then had it towed from Chichester Car Care to McGovern Toyota in Bow. NH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11758343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brandon, VT

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I was driving down the road about 50 miles an hour just south of otter Valley Union, high school and Brandon Vermont when I heard an extremely loud poof/thud sound. It also caused my ears to pop. I pulled over and realized it was the front sunroof that had basically shattered. Now there is a big hole and it’s just getting bigger. I was in a clear area with no overhanging trees. There were no vehicles in front of me or passing me in the opposite direction. I was alone on the road at around 8:30 in the morning.

NHTSA complaint #11757262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Apex, NC

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

The engine stalled because the fuel pump is failing. We have found that many 2017 Toyota Highlanders have had the fuel pump recalled for this exact issue, yet our VIN is not included in this recall. We experienced the exact issue the recall was issued for stalling while driving. Issue on July 24, 2027: The engine stalled while driving on the highway at high speed and lost power steering, creating a major safety issue. We had our vehicle towed to a car care center. The car care center identified diagnostic codes related to low pressure fuel system pressure, engine stall history, etc. but cannot reproduce the issue. After checking multiple systems, he believes the issue is a failing fuel pump. Background: Over the past 6 months, we have had problems with the check engine light turning on. On multiple occasions, we have brought the car to get diagnosed and the reading has consistently been fuel pressure codes. Each time we get the car diagnosed, the technician could not reproduce the issues and cleared the codes without resolution.

NHTSA complaint #11749551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pittsburgh, PA

POWER TRAIN

Vehicle is a 2017 Toyota Highlander (VIN [XXX]) experiencing the UA80 8-speed transmission whine defect (T-SB-0160-18) upon acceleration. An authorized Toyota dealership test drove and officially verified the transmission failure and recommended a full replacement. However, Toyota Corporate is refusing to honor the ZJC Customer Support Program warranty extension due to an arbitrary VIN cutoff. The failing internal transmission components pose a safety risk as they can lead to harsh shifting, slipping, or a sudden loss of motive power while driving in traffic. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11749177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ossining, NY Crash

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

bought the car in 2018 and ever since it makes a rttling noise, Toyota says it is the hybrid system engaigeing, hybrid cars are not supposed to make noise.

NHTSA complaint #11744157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ossining, NY Crash

ENGINE

bought the car in 2018 and ever since it makes a rttling noise, Toyota says it is the hybrid system engaigeing, hybrid cars are not supposed to make noise.

NHTSA complaint #11744157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tehachapi, CA

POWER TRAIN

Vehicle had history of hard shifting from 1st drive. On January 24, 2026 we heard a ringing sound as we were driving. Approximately 10 minutes after the noise began, the Check Engine light illuminated. We drove back home and connected our code reader to find P0741, P2714 and P2757. Had the vehicle towed to my Toyota Service Center and upon inspection, was informed that the transmission had failed and would require replacement. I was informed that although it was a 2017 with the UA80E manufacturered in April 2017 - it did not qualify for free replacement under Toyota. A rebuilt unit was secured and installed on 2/11/26. Toyota authorized $2000 Goodwill Assistance and their Warranty Labor Rate. I paid the remainder of the bill. The 'new' transmission also shifts hard and just doesn't feel like it it working right.

NHTSA complaint #11741956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 151,000 miles Temple, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the spark plugs needed replaced. The spark plugs were replaced by an independent mechanic, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who retrieved diagnostic trouble codes P11F0 (Air-Fuel Ratio Imbalance) and P0305 (Misfire In Cylinder Number 5). The mechanic cleaned the fuel injectors, but the failure persisted. The contact was informed that the fuel injectors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer, Toyota of Cedar Park (5600 183A Toll Rd, Leander, TX 78641), who determined that cylinder #5 needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.

NHTSA complaint #11741892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milwaukee, WI

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

At 119500 miles a eev whining noise started. Only had all repairs done at a dealership.

NHTSA complaint #11741694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chester Springs, PA

POWER TRAIN

There is a known issue with the transmission in my 2017 Toyota Highlander that causes premature failure. This is noted in a Toyota Customer Support Program Bulletin. The issues symptoms are the same as those my car has: a whining noise from the transmission while driving, harsh shifting, reduced power, and master warning light/check engine light illumination. I have contacted Toyota and explained this to them, but they have told me that my car's VIN number does not match the identified vehicles. I am reaching out as I believe there are vehicles with this problem that Toyota has not identified, and it could be a dangerous issue.

NHTSA complaint #11739802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hagerstown, MD

POWER TRAIN

DESCRIPTION OF DEFECT: My 2017 Toyota Highlander experienced a complete transmission failure under normal driving conditions. The vehicle began showing symptoms including delayed shifting, hesitation when accelerating, and eventual loss of proper drivability. The issue was diagnosed by an authorized Toyota dealership, which confirmed internal transmission failure. The estimated repair cost provided by the dealer was approximately $9,000. I opened a case with Toyota Customer Experience and submitted an escalation request, but no assistance was provided and the claim was declined or ignored. MY CAR HAD A HISTORY OF REGULAR MAINTENACE DONE BY A CERTIFIED TOYOTA DEALERS My case # :XXX Due to the urgency of transportation needs and lack of manufacturer support, I have been forced to proceed with an independent transmission replacement. Which will cost me anywhere between $6,000 and $7,500 This failure occurred without warning severe enough to prevent continued safe use of the vehicle and raises serious safety concerns regarding sudden loss of power and drivability. SAFETY IMPACT: The transmission failure caused unsafe driving conditions including hesitation during acceleration and potential loss of power while in traffic, which could increase risk of collision. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: VIN: [XXX] Mileage at failure: 168000 Dealer diagnosis confirmed transmission failure Manufacturer case opened and escalated with no resolution I am submitting this complaint to document a potential systemic defect and to support ongoing safety investigation and consumer protection review. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11736373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Haymarket, VA

POWER TRAIN

The transmission is whining when i coast. I fear the transmission might be dying.

NHTSA complaint #11735774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Antelope, CA

POWER TRAIN

In January during an oil change i was advised that my Toyota had a timing cover leak which is a costly repair. At this time my car was at 148k. i researched it recently and found that it could be dangerous to drive with this leak that Toyota did not advise me about after i had several phone calls with their corporate office and dealership. And even though it is a common problem with their 2017 Highlander they would not take responsibility for fixing it. It was disappointing after getting all of the service recommendations done that i would have to pay $4500.00 for engine work for a seven year old vehicle. This cost was a hardship for me because I'm still making a car payment. I also had to replace the battery every 1.5 years. The battery warning light never came on, leaving me stuck at an intersection until the tow truck arrived. It cut off because of the start/ stop feature and that would not start again. No warning. And after about 15 minutes my hazard lights went dead. This is an ongoing issue.

NHTSA complaint #11733634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Antelope, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

In January during an oil change i was advised that my Toyota had a timing cover leak which is a costly repair. At this time my car was at 148k. i researched it recently and found that it could be dangerous to drive with this leak that Toyota did not advise me about after i had several phone calls with their corporate office and dealership. And even though it is a common problem with their 2017 Highlander they would not take responsibility for fixing it. It was disappointing after getting all of the service recommendations done that i would have to pay $4500.00 for engine work for a seven year old vehicle. This cost was a hardship for me because I'm still making a car payment. I also had to replace the battery every 1.5 years. The battery warning light never came on, leaving me stuck at an intersection until the tow truck arrived. It cut off because of the start/ stop feature and that would not start again. No warning. And after about 15 minutes my hazard lights went dead. This is an ongoing issue.

NHTSA complaint #11733634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

On April 5, 2026, my 2017 Toyota Highlander was involved in a side‑impact (T‑bone) collision on the front & rear passenger side. I was seated in the front passenger seat. The impact was hard enough that my insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. During the crash, I struck my head, but no airbags deployed (front, side, or curtain). The vehicle is being released to Liberty Mutual Insurance. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. I am concerned that the airbag/SRS system may not have functioned properly in a crash severe enough to total the vehicle and cause a head injury to a front passenger. I am requesting that NHTSA record this incident and consider whether there may be a safety defect related to side or curtain airbag non‑deployment in this vehicle. Crash date: April 5, 2026 Approximate speed of other vehicle: [unknown] Location of impact: front passenger side (T‑bone) Result: vehicle declared total loss, head injury to front passenger, no airbag deployment.

NHTSA complaint #11731086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carmel, IN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The radar cruise control system on my 2017 Toyota Highlander is not functioning properly and creates a safety hazard. When initially setting the radar cruise control, the system works as expected. I can accelerate to a desired speed, press the “set” control, and the vehicle maintains that speed correctly. The problem occurs when I try to increase the set speed. After setting an initial speed (for example, 45 mph), I accelerate to a higher speed (such as 65 mph) and press the “set” control again to update the cruise setting. Instead of setting the new speed, the system reverts to the previously stored speed. When this happens, the vehicle rapidly decelerates and applies braking to return to the lower speed. This sudden and unexpected braking creates a dangerous situation, especially on highways, as it can put surrounding drivers at risk of a rear-end collision. I have tested this multiple times and experience the same result each time. This issue only occurs when using radar cruise control and does not occur with standard cruise control. note this has been an ongoing issue since the day I purchased my vehicle in January 2017. I notified the dealership about the issue and they stated they would open a case with Toyota

NHTSA complaint #11730932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carmel, IN

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

The radar cruise control system on my 2017 Toyota Highlander is not functioning properly and creates a safety hazard. When initially setting the radar cruise control, the system works as expected. I can accelerate to a desired speed, press the “set” control, and the vehicle maintains that speed correctly. The problem occurs when I try to increase the set speed. After setting an initial speed (for example, 45 mph), I accelerate to a higher speed (such as 65 mph) and press the “set” control again to update the cruise setting. Instead of setting the new speed, the system reverts to the previously stored speed. When this happens, the vehicle rapidly decelerates and applies braking to return to the lower speed. This sudden and unexpected braking creates a dangerous situation, especially on highways, as it can put surrounding drivers at risk of a rear-end collision. I have tested this multiple times and experience the same result each time. This issue only occurs when using radar cruise control and does not occur with standard cruise control. note this has been an ongoing issue since the day I purchased my vehicle in January 2017. I notified the dealership about the issue and they stated they would open a case with Toyota

NHTSA complaint #11730932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wright City, MO

POWER TRAIN

Power training went out I-70 in warren county mo where all the construction is. It put my 4 autistic kids in danger. No insurance looked at the vehicle. However a mechanic did look and diagnosed it which look over a week for. Kaizen auto in wentzville mo diagnosed it

NHTSA complaint #11728952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Westwood, MA

POWER TRAIN

The component that has been deemed in need of replacement is the UA80 8-speed transmission. It is available for inspection as of today's date, April 1, 2026. My and my family's safety has been put at risk of the transmission failing, especially at highway speeds. The problem was reproduced and diagnosed at both a local repair garage in Westwood, MA and the Nucar Toyota dealership in Norwood, MA. Both facilities inspected the transmission, heard a high-pitched whining noise, and determined it was irreparable and needs to be replaced. This high-pitched whining noise is a known and well-documented problem with these transmissions and needs to be included in a widespread manufacturer's recall.

NHTSA complaint #11728533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Hadley, MA

POWER TRAIN

Purchased a brand new 2017 Toyota Highlander XLE 9 years ago. I followed all recommended maintenance and service schedules from the manufacturer. There has always been a faint whine noise present during acceleration. In December of 2023 and about 112,000 miles the transmission began to slip in gears 3 and 4. I brought the vehicle into Balise Toyota in West Springfield, MA for diagnostic services. It was determined that my automatic transmission was failing and needed replacement. Luckily I had purchased an extended warranty through All State and the repairs were covered under warranty. The cost of this repair was upwards of $9,000, so at the time I felt extremely fortunate. That was 2 years ago but my luck would only last so much. Since the remanufacturered transmission was installed by Toyota there has always been a faint whine noise during acceleration. I summed it up to a bad serpentine belt, pulley or alternator because how could it be the new transmission that had been installed? There is only 37,000 driven miles on it and you would expect it to last much longer. Well expectations are just that, expectations. The reality is I am now back to square one because my transmission is beginning to fail yet again. I experienced the transmission slip between 3rd and 4th gears twice on my way home from work yesterday. I set up an appointment at Balise Toyota in West Springfield, MA for tomorrow 03-29-26. My question is how can an 8 1/2 year old vehicle with 150,000 miles on it be in need of a third transmission? The answer is because of defective manufacturing and engineering. There are several class action lawsuits that have been filed in as many months due to the UA80 transmission found in Toyota Highlanders 2017 - present. There are documented claims that Toyota knowingly installed defective UA80 transmissions into these vehicles.

NHTSA complaint #11727784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hewitt, TX

POWER TRAIN

March 5th purchased a battery from Autozone Z net Fit Match that caused cascading electrical and life -safety risk while traveling from hewitt, TX to Washington DC for our families spring break trip including 4 minor children. Component: 12-Volt Battery / Electrical System / Power Steering / Service Brakes Summary: Vehicle suffered catastrophic failure of Power Steering and Braking systems while in motion due to the installation of an incompatible lead-acid battery recommended by AutoZone’s 'Z-Net' catalog. Despite Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-TT-0523-19 (Jan 2019) stating this VIN requires an Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB/AGM) for its Stop-Start system, the retailer’s database continues to misidentify standard batteries as compatible. This mismatch causes a voltage drop that disables critical safety modules ('Limp Mode'). I have video evidence of the catalog error. This is a systemic misrepresentation affecting 2017+ Toyota Highlander safety compliance.

NHTSA complaint #11726889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hewitt, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

March 5th purchased a battery from Autozone Z net Fit Match that caused cascading electrical and life -safety risk while traveling from hewitt, TX to Washington DC for our families spring break trip including 4 minor children. Component: 12-Volt Battery / Electrical System / Power Steering / Service Brakes Summary: Vehicle suffered catastrophic failure of Power Steering and Braking systems while in motion due to the installation of an incompatible lead-acid battery recommended by AutoZone’s 'Z-Net' catalog. Despite Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-TT-0523-19 (Jan 2019) stating this VIN requires an Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB/AGM) for its Stop-Start system, the retailer’s database continues to misidentify standard batteries as compatible. This mismatch causes a voltage drop that disables critical safety modules ('Limp Mode'). I have video evidence of the catalog error. This is a systemic misrepresentation affecting 2017+ Toyota Highlander safety compliance.

NHTSA complaint #11726889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hewitt, TX

SERVICE BRAKES

March 5th purchased a battery from Autozone Z net Fit Match that caused cascading electrical and life -safety risk while traveling from hewitt, TX to Washington DC for our families spring break trip including 4 minor children. Component: 12-Volt Battery / Electrical System / Power Steering / Service Brakes Summary: Vehicle suffered catastrophic failure of Power Steering and Braking systems while in motion due to the installation of an incompatible lead-acid battery recommended by AutoZone’s 'Z-Net' catalog. Despite Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-TT-0523-19 (Jan 2019) stating this VIN requires an Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB/AGM) for its Stop-Start system, the retailer’s database continues to misidentify standard batteries as compatible. This mismatch causes a voltage drop that disables critical safety modules ('Limp Mode'). I have video evidence of the catalog error. This is a systemic misrepresentation affecting 2017+ Toyota Highlander safety compliance.

NHTSA complaint #11726889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

California, MO

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My husband and I were driving down the highway when the front part of our sun roof shattered.

NHTSA complaint #11721990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.