There are 3 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 2018 Toyota Highlanderin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
THE HEADLIGHTS ARE REALLY DIM MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. WHEN I AM NEXT TO OTHER VEHICLES, THEIR HEADLIGHTS LIGHT UP THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME AT LEAST 80% MORE THAN MY HEADLIGHTS. PHYSICALLY, THE HOUSING LOOKS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE IT IS CLOUDY. PERHAPS A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE MAY 2018 BUT NEVER DROVE DURING NIGHT / DARK HOURS UNTIL MY SHIFT RECENTLY CHANGED.
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.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026