SUV, gasoline, 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Nov 18, 2018 to Oct 1, 2026.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20V-682 | Nov 4, 2020 | Low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail | Fuel system | 1,525,742 | Part replacement |
| 20V-012 | Jan 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,… | Fuel system | 1,830,752 | Part replacement |
| 19V-244 | Mar 27, 2019 | Text on the load capacity label may become illegible | Equipment | 3,634 | Repair or modification |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
489 complaints on file, page 1 of 25.
Catastrophic mechanical transmission failure in 2019 Toyota Highlander. Diagnosed by Toyota dealership. Said to be the same issue as the recalls submitted for 2018 and 2021 Highlanders due to them having the same transmission
NHTSA complaint 11768407Vehicle engine is running rough and threatened to stall in traffic due to a failed low-pressure fuel pump. This model year is under a major fuel pump recall, but my VIN was excluded. The gauge isn't reading correctly either
NHTSA complaint 11768396I was driving on the highway and the car stopped allowing me to accelerate which almost caused major issues with an accident. I was luckily able to pull off and coast to a safe area to stop. No warning lights ever came on. It appears to be a transmission failure. I’m very lucky it didn’t occur 5 minutes prior. Currently at dealership for inspection.
NHTSA complaint 117682662019 Toyota Highlander XLE, 137K miles. Always maintained, never any issues whatsoever, family loved our 'forever' car, UNTIL the dreaded whining noise began underneath the front floorboard. No warning, no indication, just started while driving on the highway and increasingly became louder over the two additional months I drove it. Quick online search indicates this is a very common issue. Brought to a local dealership in Southern NH, where it was quickly diagnosed as a failing transmission in need of replacement. No warranty, out of pocket cost approx. $8K. Just so happened they had a spare, remanufactured transmission already in house, since this was becoming a 'common issue'. They even had what sounded like a dedicated technician that did at least one replacement a week and had the repair time down to a science. No other warning signs, no software codes, no jerking or slipping while driving, just the noise that increased as the gas pedal was pressed. Well known issue, yet no recall for the 2019 year. Toyota forums indicate the replacement transmissions fail as well after accumulating some miles, which might explain why they only offered me a 1-yr warranty if I had replaced mine. It's for this reason I traded in this Highlander vehicle, as this vehicle was no longer safe or suitable for any long distance family driving. It was also my wife's primary vehicle to transport my young daughters, and I believed that the Highlander would have soon left them stranded. I even purchased AAA tow service for the first time in my life at [XXX], all because of this known transmission issue. I now warn everyone who is searching for this SUV to be very aware. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11767910The transmission developed a faint whining noise, first noticed September 2026 around 84,000 miles, along with some hesitation during operation. A Toyota dealer diagnosed internal bearing failure inside the transmission and recommended full replacement. An independent shop also quoted full replacement. Estimates ranged $8,500–$10,000. Vehicle not yet repaired; available for inspection. Safety risk: the noise is faint enough that a driver could reasonably dismiss it as imagined, unlike a loud noise or dashboard warning. No warning lamps or messages appeared at any point. This absence of a clear warning means affected drivers may keep driving unaware a component is failing internally. The vehicle also experienced hesitation during operation, which could affect safe acceleration, for example when merging into traffic. Based on documented failures of this transmission design in other vehicles, continued driving risks progression to slipping or sudden loss of motive power, with less chance a driver recognizes the need to stop before that happens. Inspected by a Toyota dealership and an independent repair shop; not inspected by manufacturer corporate, police, or insurance.
NHTSA complaint 11767679Stated hearing a whining noise when accelerating. Research shows this is a known issue witg 8 speed transmission especially Around 60k-80k miles.
NHTSA complaint 11767580The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a whining sound coming from the engine compartment. Additionally, the vehicle experienced hard, rough, and jerky shifting. The check engine warning light illuminated later and the message "Traction Control Off" was displayed. The vehicle was immediately driven to the local dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that during routine maintenance the transmission fluid was flushed and refilled by the local dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
NHTSA complaint 11767343When I accelerate my car makes a whining noise. I had the transmission flushed and it did not help. My Toyota dealership said to drive it until it gets worse.
NHTSA complaint 11766733About 2 months ago we noticed that the driver side seat has a rubture on the right side of the seat and the metal plate has a sharp side which is cutting the cloth of the seat plus the seat has begin to be to saggy and loose
NHTSA complaint 11766020My 2019 Highlander was driving totally normal, when all of a sudden the transmission started slipping and then would no longer accelerate. I was on a windy back road in Alaska with no service, so after letting it sit for a bit I tried to drive it again. It then drove maybe 1/2 more miles before slipping completely and no longer accelerating. No check engine lights came up. I got it towed to my house where a mechanic took a quick scan and said there was a number of transmission codes popping up.
NHTSA complaint 11764218About two weeks ago I was driving and the car made a whinny noise and felt like it was shaking and slipping out of no where so I stop in a complex to check it out when I went to reverse the car wouldn’t move forward or backwards I had to turn off and on only to have the car not go pass 20 miles havnt been able to drive it since I got two different check where they say it’s the transmission that the UA80E has that same issue but since there no recall Toyota says it’s not their problem
NHTSA complaint 11763526UA80 Transmission failure. Was driving on highway when the transmission failed and lost power to the vehicle. Car was taken to Sunshine Toyota (Batte Creek MI) in 2022 and the transmission was recommended to be replaced due to a defect at 67,000 miles. The car was then sold off, and I acquired it through another dealer.
NHTSA complaint 11762738The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brakes failed to operate as intended. The contact stated that after taking the foot off the brake pedal, the brakes started working as intended. The vehicle was drivable. The vehicle was driven to the residence, and the contact researched and became aware that there were several owners who had the same failure. The failure mileage was 69,000.
NHTSA complaint 11762734The transmission (power train) in this vehicle shows symptoms of a known defect in Toyota's UA80 8-speed. Since approximately (Aug 2026/~70k mileage), it has produced shining/grinding noised at increasing speed. these symptoms match failure patterns described in Toyota's own Tech Service Bulletin for transmission, which have led to documented cases of sudden power loss, gear slippage, and complete failure in other owners of this and related models. I have not yet experienced complete loss of propulsion, but given the documented failure patterns, there is a foreseeable risk this could occur without warning while driving, including traffic or while merging, creating a safety hazard. I took the vehicle to Toyota of Manchester, NH dealership on [XXX] and requested repair given the known TSB coverage. Toyota denied repair assistance, citing lack of dealer service records, despite transmission fluid being a lifetime-fill component unrelated to this failure mode. I am filing this proactively due to the documented risk of sudden failure, and because Toyota denied to address a known, symptomatic defect before it progresses and declined to take responsibility for the repairs or repair assistance for this defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11762379The UA80 8-speed automatic transmission failed at 87,896 miles. Symptoms began as slipping in 1st and 2nd gears and harsh jerking when accelerating from a stop, with the engine revving while the vehicle failed to move. This is a loss of motive power that can occur without warning in traffic. On 8/31/2026 a Toyota dealer diagnosed a failed transaxle requiring complete replacement, with a whine traced to the differential inside the transmission, and quoted $11,126.81. This matches the failure mode in Toyota TSB T-SB-0160-18, which Toyota addressed for some 2017-2018 VINs under Customer Support Program ZJC. My 2019 has the same UA80 unit but falls outside that program. The replacement part is backordered with no ETA per Toyota's own case portal. The vehicle is maintained on schedule and available for inspection. Toyota declined goodwill assistance and refused to provide the denial in writing.
NHTSA complaint 11761588The component that malfunctioned is the vehicle’s automatic transmission. The transmission developed a progressively worsening humming/whining noise during acceleration. The transmission is no longer available for inspection because the vehicle has been taken to an independent transmission repair shop for diagnosis and repair. The problem creates a safety concern because the transmission developed significant internal wear or damage and could potentially worsen or fail while the vehicle is being driven. A transmission failure could result in loss of power or unexpected changes in vehicle operation, increasing the risk of an accident, particularly while accelerating or merging into traffic. The problem was reproduced and confirmed by a Toyota dealership. The dealership diagnosed the noise as coming from the transmission and determined that the transmission requires replacement. The dealership recommended replacing the transmission rather than repairing the specific internal component causing the noise. The vehicle was inspected by the Toyota dealership. It is now at an independent transmission repair shop for repair. No police or insurance inspection was involved. There were no warning lights or warning messages on the dashboard before the problem. The first symptom was an unusual whining noise from the transmission area. The noise later changed into a more noticeable humming sound that increases with acceleration and vehicle speed. The vehicle continued to operate, but the abnormal transmission noise persisted and progressively became more concerning.
NHTSA complaint 11759249My 2019 Toyota Highlander AWD vehicle started making a whining noise around 85,000 miles. This high pitched whining sound occurred while accelerating and became louder and louder with time. I researched the issue and found out that the same issue had occurred on 2018 Highlanders and Toyota issued a Customer Service Bulletin T-SB-0160-18, which addressed the repair and replacement of these UA80 transmissions regardless if the warranty had expired or not. After visiting my local Toyota dealer, they confirmed that the high pitch whine was the final drive noise with the UA80 transmission and the exact same issue as the 2018 Highlander. If left unchecked, my transmission would eventually fail. Since my 2019 Highlander is not part of any recall, and at the moment, not part of the Customer Service Bulletin T-SB-0160-18, I was left to take care of the repair on my own. I contacted Toyota Corporate and requested financial assistance on the the approximate $7,000 charge to replace my transmission. Toyota told me that my car was not under warranty, but they could pay for my 50% of my cost to replace my transmission. I had to pay $3,535 (half of the total cost) to repair my transmission. Since this issue is a manufactured flaw with the assembly of the transmission, I believe the entire repair should be covered 100% by Toyota; therefore, a recall should be issued or the 2019 Highlanders should also be included in the Customer Service Bulletin T-SB-0160-18.
NHTSA complaint 11758885Winning on acceleration,
NHTSA complaint 11757101UA8OF transmission went. Vehicle was making whining noise when purchased and was told was normal. Driving the car as normal when traveling through intersection when car would not drive.
NHTSA complaint 11756369The back passenger door (passenger side) will not unlock when using the remote or the button on the front door panels. The only way to open the door is to push the button manually on the car door. The child lock is NOT ON!!! I called the Toyota dealer in my town and they said there are no recalls and it would be $200 to do a diagnostic test on it. This is not ok. To not be able to unlock the door from the remote or the front door panel is not acceptable.
NHTSA complaint 11755612Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall; the 60 most recent are listed.