NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
52 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Oct 27, 2023
Electrical SystemStructure
We have a 2019 Toyota Highlander. VIN: [XXX] . There are two issues with this vehicle... 1) Our bumper fell down after an uneventful car wash. We didn't hit anything. Reported it to the car wash place (Ollie's Car Wash in Walker, LA) after we noticed it fell. We had to tie-strap it back up because the clips no longer worke…
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We have a 2019 Toyota Highlander. VIN: [XXX] . There are two issues with this vehicle... 1) Our bumper fell down after an uneventful car wash. We didn't hit anything. Reported it to the car wash place (Ollie's Car Wash in Walker, LA) after we noticed it fell. We had to tie-strap it back up because the clips no longer worked right. This happened August 12, 2023. We have pictures of the damage. 2) A second issue is totally separate from the first. This one has to do with the back lifting door. It often gets stuck to where we have to manually force it closed. We have to reset the button often. Sometimes it gets stuck open and sometimes it won't open at all. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #11552188
Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2023
Electrical SystemEngine
I experienced a sudden engine failure while driving my 2015 Toyota Highlander on Interstate 294 outside Chicago. I was driving about 75 mph in the far left lane. A warning message "Check AWD" came on the screen, followed by the Engine icon lighting up, then a "TRAC off" message appeared on the screen. I began to merge to the rig…
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I experienced a sudden engine failure while driving my 2015 Toyota Highlander on Interstate 294 outside Chicago. I was driving about 75 mph in the far left lane. A warning message "Check AWD" came on the screen, followed by the Engine icon lighting up, then a "TRAC off" message appeared on the screen. I began to merge to the right across four lanes of traffic to get to the shoulder. As I was doing so, a beep sounded, and the message "Engine Stopping" appeared on the screen. The accelerator stopped working. I reached the shoulder and the car came to a stop just as I made it to the shoulder. The whole incident, from the time the first warning light came on until the car completely stopped, lasted about three minutes. Prior to this, there were no warning lights, and I had been driving the car without incident. The car had received all regular maintenance at proper intervals. Mileage was 86,100 at the time. There were five people in the car, including myself, my teenage daughter, her friend, and her friend's parents. We were driving the girls home from a summer camp. We are unharmed -- and possibly alive -- only because I was able to merge across four lanes of traffic and reach the shoulder before the engine completely failed. Just behind us and just ahead of us on this stretch of interstate, there is no shoulder. Semi trucks populate this very busy road. We had to sit on the shoulder for two hours waiting for a tow truck. We are all truly fortunate to be alive and unharmed. The vehicle is in the possession of [XXX] Toyota, [XXX] . The service department has diagnosed as follows: "Performed diagnostic and found codes P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0306 engine misfire codes. Code P1603 Engine stalls out. P1604 Stability malfunction. Code P1605 Rough idle. Spark plug number 6 is damaged. Check piston with borescope, piston is also damaged." I am being advised to replace the engine at a cost of $8820. Toyota US has been notified. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5
NHTSA ODI #11534554
Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2023
Air BagsElectrical SystemStructure
Water leak at sun roof caused by rubber seal failure in sun roof frame due to faulty material and or installation. Water damage to side air bag so tat it does not deploy properly & is a safety hazard. Mold carpet which is a health hazard & impedes drivers ability to drive.
NHTSA ODI #11527077
Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2022
Electrical System
actuators, yes it's available for inspection The actuators on all the door are going out, they randomly work. It's a safety issue if you needed to exit the car for any emergency or making sure your car is locked and secured. You're at risk due to it simply not working, getting into the car it's a security issue, presents issues…
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actuators, yes it's available for inspection The actuators on all the door are going out, they randomly work. It's a safety issue if you needed to exit the car for any emergency or making sure your car is locked and secured. You're at risk due to it simply not working, getting into the car it's a security issue, presents issues for parent(s) with children, children with disabilities, driver/passengers with disablities. When the car is put into reverse, they will not automatically lock as they should. Same when put into park, they do not automatically lock or unlock. Yes, the dealer confirmed the issue. The driver door actuator has been replaced but the other doors need to be replaced now as well. To my knowledge the faulty actuator has not been inspected No warning it just happened. but when they due fail to lock when using the keypad the car doesn't confirm the lock and security is set. When they fail to unlock using the keypad the car continues to beep several times after hitting the unlock button. You have to manually reach/maneuver to lock or unlock the door.
NHTSA ODI #11455034
Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2022
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherFire
On Jan 25, 2022 while sitting in my car... engine running. Smoke filled the inside of the vehicle. Prior to seeing smoke I smelled electrical smell and also my heated seat was warmer than usual. I did not think nothing of it. Smoke definitely came from the knob to turn heated seat on with and also appeared to be coming from t…
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On Jan 25, 2022 while sitting in my car... engine running. Smoke filled the inside of the vehicle. Prior to seeing smoke I smelled electrical smell and also my heated seat was warmer than usual. I did not think nothing of it. Smoke definitely came from the knob to turn heated seat on with and also appeared to be coming from the vent. I shut the car off. Thirty to 45min later I turned the car back on. More smoke came but it cleared out with me letting all windows down. Afterwards the panel to control air was completely out along with the clock. The clock came back on later while blinking. I immediately called Toyota Corp. I have case numbers each time I called. I took it ti the Toyota dealership with assistance of Toyota Corp. My car has been at Toyota universe in little falls, nj and they have yet to fully explain what is going on with the defective that occurred in my car. They do not call you back. I've had to go there to get answers due to them not returning calls.
NHTSA ODI #11451145
Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2021
Electrical SystemStructure
The door locks have stopped working one by one. First I noticed the driver door not unlocking or locking with the key fob, with the touch system on the door handle, or with the button on the inside panel. Then I noticed my back door on the driver side not locking or unlocking with the key fob OR with the button on the inside pan…
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The door locks have stopped working one by one. First I noticed the driver door not unlocking or locking with the key fob, with the touch system on the door handle, or with the button on the inside panel. Then I noticed my back door on the driver side not locking or unlocking with the key fob OR with the button on the inside panel. Both of these locks are now manual only. And the front passenger door lock only works sometimes, so I imagine it will stop working altogether soon as well. This puts the safety of my belongings, myself, and my children at risk. I don't know how long this had been happening before I noticed it, so I very easily could have been unknowingly leaving my car unlocked all over town. I am unable to enter my car quickly because I have to take the key fob apart and use the manual key to enter the driver door, and then my son has to wait for me to manually unlock his door before he can get in. My daughter sits on the other side so he can't just switch to the side that works. Well he could but then my daughter would have the same issue. If it was an emergency situation and we had to get into the car quickly it's just not possible. Also in traffic or in parking lots when we are inside the car I feel like we are left vulnerable with the doors unlocked and I can't lock them without reaching and manually doing this for each door. Which I do, but shouldn't have to. A quick internet search has made it clear that I am FAR from the first person this has happened to with these vehicles. It is clearly an extremely common issue with Highlanders and other Toyota vehicles and it 100% should be a recall.
NHTSA ODI #11429572
130,000 miles · Feb 28, 2021
Electrical System
THE SCREEN FREEZES AND RESTART FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE SITUATION IS HAPPENING WITH MY VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY.
NHTSA ODI #11398245
100,000 miles · Jan 17, 2021
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemSteering
THIS VEHICLE HAS A REALLY BAD ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL,IT FEELS LIKE IT WONDERS FROM TIME TO TIME.THEN THE MOTOR WILL STALL OUT ALMOST COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. TAKEN TO DEALER TO ONLY HAVE THEM NOT REPLICATE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS WHEN WE HAVE IT. I KNOW IT'S NOT ME BECAUSE MY SPOUSE HAS DISCUSSED IT…
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THIS VEHICLE HAS A REALLY BAD ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL,IT FEELS LIKE IT WONDERS FROM TIME TO TIME.THEN THE MOTOR WILL STALL OUT ALMOST COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. TAKEN TO DEALER TO ONLY HAVE THEM NOT REPLICATE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS WHEN WE HAVE IT. I KNOW IT'S NOT ME BECAUSE MY SPOUSE HAS DISCUSSED IT WITH ME TOO. I SEE THERE'S RECALLS FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITHIN THE SAME PRODUCTION ON THIS VEHICLE BUT SOMEHOW IT DIDN'T GET ANY NOTIFICATIONS BUT CLEARLY IT DESCRIBES THE SAME PROBLEMS.
NHTSA ODI #11388552
110,000 miles · Oct 17, 2020
Electrical System
DOOR ACTUATORS ON BOTH REAR PASSENGER DOORS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. DOOR LOCKS DO NOT RESPOND TO POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH NOR THE KEY FOBS.
NHTSA ODI #11364852
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2020
Electrical System
THE MONITOR RESETS/ REBOOTS AT LEAST ONE TIME EVERY TIME YOU IN MOTION WITH THE VEHICLE. MEANING THAT THE GPS, BLUETOOTH AND MUSIC ALL STOPS AND RESTARTS. I'VE PAID TO HAVE THE MONITOR REPLACED BUT IT STILL DID NOT STOP THE ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT THIS HAPPENING. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY ARE NOT ACK…
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THE MONITOR RESETS/ REBOOTS AT LEAST ONE TIME EVERY TIME YOU IN MOTION WITH THE VEHICLE. MEANING THAT THE GPS, BLUETOOTH AND MUSIC ALL STOPS AND RESTARTS. I'VE PAID TO HAVE THE MONITOR REPLACED BUT IT STILL DID NOT STOP THE ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT THIS HAPPENING. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY ARE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT IS AN ISSUE AND THE DEALERSHIPS DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT WHICH I BELIEVE MAKES IS A LARGER ELECTRICAL ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11341080