2017 Toyota Highlander Complaint Log

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

I had problems in gear shift the car when start moving it’s go very slow it’s need about 1 minute to change the shift. The Toyota dealership recommended me to change the transmission with the cost $11,000

Purchased my 2017 Highlander in June of 2017. At 4912 miles noticed the transmission was slipping. Contacted the dealership and was told from an employee that in his 20 plus years he had never had a transmission do that. Took it to the dealership and it was the transmission. It was replaced under warranty. In January of 2026 took it to the dealership after noticing a weird whinnying sound when running. After running a diagnostic test I was informed that my transmission needed replaced again. It only has 72,426 miles. Was told that the transmission was on back order and when asked if safe to drive, told yes.

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.

I own a 2017 Toyota Highlander with 6 cylinders (engine model 2GR-FKS). It has 107,000 miles. I brought it to my dealer for inspection and service, and noted that it was making a whirring/whining sound upon acceleration. There were no warning messages on the dashboard to alert me of any issues. The dealer reported back to me that the transmission was failing and quoted $11k to fix it. Upon researching this issue, I learned that this is a known problem with 2017 model Highlanders.

I drive a 2017 Toyota Highlander and am having issues with the transmission. The issues and poor craftsmanship on the UA80 8-speed transmissions. Toyota offered Technical Service Bulletins T-SB-0160-18, T-SB-0008-21, and a limited Customer Support Program (CSP ZJC). But very few VINs were included and there are tons of Highlander owners with this transmission facing $10,000+ repair bills for what is supposed to be one of the most reliable cars and car brands on the planet. This is very wrong. Toyota has not stood by its customers and have not done right by owners. Toyota needs to recall the transmissions and offer a remedy at no cost to the customer. This needs to be done now. It's completely unacceptable. Thanks for what you do and for reading! Appreciate you guys very much.

-- What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? This report is regarding a premature transmission failure in our 2017 Toyota Highlander equipped with the UA80F 8-speed automatic transmission. Our highlander is currently stuck at High Tech Automotive in Wenatchee, WA 150+ miles from home after experiencing a transmission failure on the highway. -- How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? During the transmission failure while driving on the highway the Check Engine Light came on as well as ABS light and vehicle went into a limp mode. The transmission failure and subsequent limp mode rapidly decreased our speed while traveling on the highway and forced us to limp the vehicle at low speeds across traffic putting ourselves and others traveling on the highway at risk. This vehicle has been well maintained and serviced in accordance with Toyota’s recommended maintenance schedule. Despite this, the transmission failed unexpectedly during a recent family road trip to Wenatchee, WA, leaving us stranded far from home. -- Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the vehicle was towed to High Tech Automotive in Wenatchee WA (where it is currently stranded). The diagnostics report there confirmed proper transmission fluid level and a failed transmission with burnt transmission fluid. -- Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Not yet. A request for assistance was sent to Toyota today. -- Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warning lamps, or messages. We've had the vehicle maintained and there was a whirring sound which we had inspected at Dougs Auto Tune and Repair thinking it could be the timing chain or alternator but there was no indication of transmission issues.

Was on drive from work in 2017 toyota highlander XLE. Noticed low whining sound coming from transmission. Made appointment with toyota dealership. They identified transmission whine as requiring full replacement and projected to fail soon. Vehicle mileage was at 116k miles. There are no ua80 trans available in US and none coming in. Was told my VIN didn't qualify for CRP CJZ and TSB bulletin. The UA80 trans has known failure of this type. Replacement cost is 10K, use is dangerous, and failure is unacceptable.

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for service, the contact was informed that the engine was leaking due to a timing chain failure. The contact was advised that the engine needed to be taken apart to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

The paint on the hood is flaking off. There is no reason other than the paint being defective for this to happen in this manner. We just noticed it today. 11/14/25

Leaking fuel line due to deterioration of plastic liner in fuel line.

Transmission when the car first starts up is slipping. No dipstick for checking Transmission fluid.

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that when the vehicle was taken to a dealer for routine maintenance, the dealer informed the contact that the rear main seal was leaking and needed to be resealed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,402.

Transmission failure causes vehicle to not accelerate in low gears. Toyota has a CSP for this issue on the same model year but this "Vin" Is not a part of it. This is a major safety issue.

My vehive has 122,000 miles...I recently received an airbag mafuction warning on the dash info system and to contact dealer. The dealer states this driver side airbag is now defective and needs to be replaced at a cost of $1100.00 The airbag has never been deployed. How is this noit covered under safety requirements on current vehicles? How do I know that the part was not defective when initally installed?

The transmission is experiencing harsh and sometimes delayed shifting and sometimes reduction of power. This can result in unpredictability when going from a stop and then crossing traffic. If the transmission fails while I am making an unprotected left turn it pups leave me vulnerable to side impact from on coming traffic. The dealer was able to reproduce the issue when I took it in and quoted me $11k for repair. Toyota is an aware of issues with this specific transmission (UA80) and issued a Service Bulletin for it. My transmission fell within the serial number range for replacement but didn’t pass the third gate for coverage related to a speed sensor issue. That said, there is massive back order on this transmission highlighting a much broader problem with the part. To answer the final question, I never saw a warning light.

TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE FAILED AND CAUSES SUDDEN DECELERATION CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. SUDDEN DECELERATION. YES, TOYOTA OF VERO BEACH HAS CONFIRMED FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. NO, WARNING JUST FAILED THEN GOT ALL THE WARNINGS AND LIGHTS IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER.

Today (8/26/2025) my wife experienced the engine light kicked on and that the AWD system needed to be checked. After fueling up it made knocking noises and difficulty starting, and took two times to start up. Ran an OBD scan and this is what it says, which is related to fuel pump low pressure. P117B - Fuel Pressure Sensor Circuit Range/Performance Severity - High Description - Indicates a problem with the fuel pressure sensor circuit, where the sensor's output signal is outside the expected range or performance criteria, leading to potential issues with fuel delivery or engine performance. P0174 - System Too Lean (Bank 2) Severity - High Description - Your engine is getting too much air and/or not enough fuel, this is known as a "Lean" condition. Excess oxygen is getting into your engine, which makes the combustion process less efficient. This could be caused by many different factors. Consequences of Continued Driving - Reduced power, Engine knocking, Rough idle

2017 Toyota Highlander XLE Why hasn’t Toyota issued a recall?! My transmission failed at 2AM on the Florida turnpike 140 miles from home, after a physically and emotionally exhausting day moving my daughter to college. I slept in my car 7 hours, scared, waiting to get towed. The closest shop that was open early on a Saturday was an hour away in the other direction and when I got there, they told me they wouldn’t be able to look at it until Monday. Pointless to pay 2 nights at a hotel, so I got an Uber to get a rental to get home. It wasn’t bad enough when I found out the cost to replace the transmission on a car with 96k miles (my Camry had 300k when I sold it), but even if I agreed to pay, the transmission is backordered, and it could be months. Months! I had to pay the diagnostic fee - completely understandable - and I needed it moved to avoid a $75 per day storage fee. AAA would tow it 100 miles, then $7.00 per mile. When I asked to speak with someone because I had the upgraded membership that provided 200 miles, I was told they wouldn’t cover any part of the tow because it was already at an auto shop. The least expensive option was to get a transport company ($300) to pickup and deliver the car to the local Toyota dealership. They’re anticipating at least 3 months, but they’ll pay for a rental if I agree to have them do the repair. Has Toyota fixed the issue, or will the new transmission likely to have the same problem?

Transmission whining, harsh shifting, delayed acceleration

After less than a year of usage on a Highlander with 70k miles, the transmission began malfunctioning. The reverse function would work sporadically. The gears would shift only when using the power stick function and manually switching gears. The transmission would go into overdrive and once after an oil change the car came to an abrupt stop after traveling 25 mph hour.

After getting gas, the vehicle will not start. It will crank and crank but not turn over, like it is starving for gas. Then after 10-15 minutes it will start barely and to keep it running I have to floor the accelerator. Any other time it starts just fine. There are also no codes causing a check engine light.

I have had this car seat for 1 year and 3 days and I just found out that the headrest foam piece came off the plastic base frame(06/26/2025). It has been handled with extreme care and I got it in June 2024. It has stayed in my car and the only reason I found the problem was because I was cleaning them off. It is the third Chicco car seat to have found the foam headrest either broken in half or completely separate from the plastic base in 2 months (2023 & 2024 manufacture dates). There is something wrong with this and I really hope an investigation starts so that others can avoid these issues and potential repercussions from this flaw.

I have had this car seat for 1 year and 10 months and I just found out that the headrest foam piece is split in half (06/26/2025). It has been handled with extreme care and I got it in September of 2023. It has stayed in my specific car and the only reason I found the problem was because I was cleaning them off. It is the third Chicco car seat to have found the foam headrest either broken in half or completely separate from the plastic base in 2 months (2023 & 2024 manufacture dates). There is something wrong with this and I really hope an investigation starts so that others can avoid these issues and potential repercussions from said flaw.

Transmission yes it’s available for inspection rite now on vacation on a very steep hill the transmission quit pulling at the top of the hill in the middle of a very narrow street and we had to ease backwards down to a place on the hill to turn around and get to level ground all this happened with no previous warning

Formal Complaint to NHTSA – Summary I am submitting this formal complaint regarding repeated mechanical and electrical failures involving my 2017 Toyota Highlander, purchased as a Toyota Gold-Certified vehicle with an extended Platinum Warranty. Despite strictly following Toyota’s maintenance guidelines and using only certified dealerships for all services, the vehicle has become inoperable multiple times, requiring five separate tows and resulting in repair costs exceeding $10,000. In June 2025, a Toyota dealership replaced the engine after diagnosing a warped head due to water pump failure. Following this, the vehicle began experiencing repeated charging system failures and electrical malfunctions. Multiple components—including the alternator, battery, and sensors—were replaced at another Toyota dealership based on ongoing issues, but the problems persisted. On September 2, 2025, a Toyota technician identified a missing ground wire nut as the likely root cause of these electrical failures. He confirmed the issue originated during the engine installation and that the unsecured ground caused system malfunctions. After repairs, the vehicle was again returned with a loud engine knocking noise, later traced to an improperly secured component from a prior repair. These events have raised significant concerns for the safety of myself and my family. Improper installation of major components and misdiagnosis by certified service providers have led to hazardous driving conditions, unexpected vehicle shutdowns, and unnecessary costs. I am requesting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigate this matter for potential safety defects related to improper engine installation, grounding failures, and faulty electrical diagnosis by certified Toyota service centers. Documentation, invoices, and repair records are available upon request. Thank you for your attention to this critical safety issue.

Car is shaking heavily when stopped. Several misfires while engaging the brakes. Mechanic is telling me that he has seen many vehicles of this model with faulty purge valves.

Transmission failed in May 2025, around 95,000 miles. Had to have entire transmission replaced. Shop said metal filings were found in the fluids, leading to the breakdown and need for full replacement. No other warning lights or lamps indicated a problem. A high pitched whining noise was the indicator, which then led to several visits to the shop, monitored the issue, changed fluids, but the transmission eventually failed. Transmission failed in May of 2025, it took 3 months for a new transmission to be built and shipped to the midwest for install in Aug 2025.

My 2017 Highlander XLE AWD had complete transmission failure at 106,000 miles. Toyota has an extended coverage warranty for this but according to them my VIN number was not included even though it failed for the same reason as the recalled transmissions. Loud whining started around 100,000 miles on acceleration around 30mph and continued to get louder. From a dead stop it is very slow to accelerate and misses 3rd gear and jerks. There is a TSB out on this and the extended customer satisfaction extended warranty ZJC but they refuse to cover. I was also told by Toyota corporate that even if my VIN was affected they would not cover due to all maintenance not being done at a toyota dealership. I am the 4th owner and should not be penalized for this. My case number with Toyota is Toyota Brand Engagement Center Case 250416002071

Driver side interior visor has failed and does not secure in place causing obstruction of view while driving.

Known issue with the transmission assembly that results in a whining noise and eventually hard shifting and transmission failure. Known issue acknowledged by Toyota across this model and date, but they seemingly are only addressing some vehicles - and not others - with said known issue.

With 22k miles on vehicle, car won’t start due to Brake power low fault. Battery was replaced in attempt to rectify problem with no success, vehicle will need to be towed in for repair.

Transmission failure requiring replacement. Known pattern failure from Toyota. Customer support program from Toyota does not cover all affected vehicles.

Transmission intermittently allows the RPMs to double from 2,000 to 4,000 RPMs. It occasionally displays trouble codes, and exhibits a grinding, whirring noise. An Independent transmission shop confirms that it needs to be replaced. Toyota has issued a recall referred to as Customer Support Program ZJC, but their representatives claim that our vehicle does not qualify, even though the date and model of the transmission clearly Falla under their parameters.

Toyota manufacturing issue-fuel line is manufactured incorrectly-had gas seeping into cab of vehicle and tailpipe. Severe safety issue Steering wheel/column sticks and almost lose control when driving due to a worn out coupler-poor design and manufacturing.

Side mirror (glass) shakes/rattles at speeds over 45mph. This affects the visibility of things in the mirror as well as becomes distracting to the driver. When on the interstate with smooth pavement it's impossible to ignore... It's just more noticeable then. Tried moving the mirror to verify and yes, it's loose. Just reporting it now that I became aware of this website but car has had this issue for at least 2 years.

As the electronic back hitch was closing, I pressed the Start Engine button and the vehicle dashboard lit up but would not start. Then I pressed the button again and it said the Ignition is On. Pressed again to shut off. Vehicle made a bunch of clicking noises but would not start. Disconnected battery to “re boot” electrical system… but a charger on battery and then the vehicle started. BUT the ! And Check Engine light was now on… saying take to your dealer… Check AWD. Drove vehicle at lunch time… and warning light and check engine light just went off! So weird!

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power with several warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that an image with the brake pedal depressed was displayed. The contact was informed by his wife that the vehicle then stalled. The driver was unable to restart the vehicle and assistance was provided to push the vehicle to the side of the roadway. The driver was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The contact stated that the failure had reoccurred, and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V682000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

Car suddenly began to slip out of gear and have difficulty shifting smoothly. After having car examined by 2 repair shops it was determined the UA80 Transmission needed replaced. Repair shop advised car was not safe to drive with this condition. Warning lights for Check Engine and Check AWD system and traction control came on at the same time as the slipping and rough shifting.

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.

During the Multi Point Inspection, technician inspected the vehicle. He checked the engine, transmission, and cooling system, topping off all fluids. However, the engine was failing inspection as there was oil underneath the vehicle, which was also seen around the engine, due to an oil leak.

Several weeks ago my wife noticed that the vehicle skids when accelerating and she told me about the situation. I hardly drive the vehicle because I was not aware of the situation, but today I drove it and realized what is happening. I am not a mechanic to give a diagnosis of the situation. For me it could be the transmission and it only has 85K. I'm going to do the next oil change at the dealer. Right now I do them at Firestone, it's close to my house and for me it's more convenient.

2017 Highlander with the Auto Start/Stop. It will sometimes go completely dead when idling, like at a stop light. Completely dead meaning zero electricity - no lights. This will last a couple of seconds. But one day, the car died at a stop light right. No power. Completely dead. Couldn’t turn on my hazard lights Gears were stuck. Couldn’t shift gears.

my car has 18600.0 miles on it the problem is i started getting a " brakes under powered find a safe place to park" after doing some research, i have been advised to replace the vacuum pump and power booster at cost of aprox. 4 thousand dollars the car is not safe to drive i am disabled so this creates a hard ship for me. this is a major brake component why does it need to be replaced with only 18600.0 miles on it this is my only from of transportation and yes the mileage is correct

Vehicle shurtter cause toque converter issue with all Toyota Highlander