THIS ENGINE BURNS OIL. 1/8 OF AN INCH PER WEEK. IF A PERSON DOES NOT CHECK THEIR OIL VERY OFTEN THEIR ENGINE WILL FAIL AND LOCK UP. THIS COULD HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
2017 Toyota Highlander
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2017 Toyota Highlander do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 186.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Highlander years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
123 reports with mileage · 142 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
46 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY SPED FORWARD, DROVE OVER A MEDIAN, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE OR PROCESS A REQUEST FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPURCHASED. THE CO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY SPED FORWARD, DROVE OVER A MEDIAN, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE OR PROCESS A REQUEST FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPURCHASED. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHICH OPTION TO TAKE. DARCARS TOYOTA FREDERICK (5293 BUCKEYSTOWN PIKE, FREDERICK, MD 21704, (301) 696-6300) WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,680. *BF MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED.*JB
THE VEHICLE STALLED TWICE ON ME AT A RED LIGHT. NO POWER TO STEER. THIS BOTH HAPPENED AT A CITY NEAR WASHINGTON DC. HAD MY BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED . BOTH CAME BACK AS IN GREAT CONDITION. ALMOST GOT HIT TWICE FROM BEHIND CAUSE OF THE STALLING.
CAR STALLED HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 5 TIMES AT PARKING LOT - GAS STATION - HOME - RESTAURANT - CAR WASH CAR HAS STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON MAIN STREET 1 TIME
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE COFFEE CUP ICON DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HUDSON TOYOTA (599 ROUTES 440 SOUTH, JERSEY CITY, NJ, 07305, (201)…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE COFFEE CUP ICON DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HUDSON TOYOTA (599 ROUTES 440 SOUTH, JERSEY CITY, NJ, 07305, (201) 201-5483). THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, REPLACED THE ENGINE OIL, REPLACED THE FILTERS, AND ROTATED THE TIRES. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A METAL FRAGMENT WAS LOCATED IN THE MOTOR AREA; HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE METAL OBJECT THAT WAS LOCATED IN THE MOTOR. THE DEALER CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,966.
I STOPPED AT MY NEIGHBORS HOUSE TO GIVE HER SOMETHING,I LEFT THE ENGINE RUNNING WHEN I WENT IN TO HER HOUSE AS SOON AS I WENT INTO HER HOUSE I HEARD A NOISE LOOKED OUT AND COULDN'T SEE THE CAR,I WENT OUT SIDE AND THE CAR HAD JUMPED IN TO GEAR AND WENT INTO HER GARAGE ( THE DOOR WAS OPEN) THE CAR HIT HER BIKE,GOLF CLUBS THERE WA…
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I STOPPED AT MY NEIGHBORS HOUSE TO GIVE HER SOMETHING,I LEFT THE ENGINE RUNNING WHEN I WENT IN TO HER HOUSE AS SOON AS I WENT INTO HER HOUSE I HEARD A NOISE LOOKED OUT AND COULDN'T SEE THE CAR,I WENT OUT SIDE AND THE CAR HAD JUMPED IN TO GEAR AND WENT INTO HER GARAGE ( THE DOOR WAS OPEN) THE CAR HIT HER BIKE,GOLF CLUBS THERE WAS A 2X4 ON A CHAIR THE CAR HIT THE 2X4 AND THEN THE OTHER END OF THE 2X4 HIT HER WASHING MACHINE WITCH STOPPED THE CAR.THE DOOR WAS LOCKED SO I WENT HOME (3 HOUSES FROM HER HOUSE) TO GET THE OTHER SET OF KEYS THE CAR STILL WOULDN'T UNLOCK SO I USED THE THE KEY THAT IS IN THE REMOTE CONTROL TO UNLOCK IT AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF.I CAN'T BELIEVE THE CAR LOCKED BECAUSE THE KEYS WERE IN MY PURSE THAT WAS IN THE CAR.THE 2X4 WENT INTO THE ENGINE AND A TOW TRUCK HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE GARAGE.I CAN'T BELIEVE THE CAR JUMPED INTO GEAR AND MOVED ON ITS OWN. AT ONE TIME WHEN WE HAD AND OIL CHANGE MY HUSBAND TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT WHEN WE PUT THE CAR IN GEAR THE CAR WOULD MAKE A CLUNK NOISE AND HE SAID THEY ALL DO THAT. MAYBE THEY DO BUT I WOULDN'T THINK SO AFTER WHAT HAPPENED.
I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE WITH DYNAMIC SPEED CONTROL ON. THE CAR SLOWED APPROPRIATELY TO MATCH THE SPEED OF THE THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. SUDDENLY SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES APPEARED: MASTER WARNING LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE, CHECK AWD, GO TO TOYOTA DEALER, ENGINE POWER LOSS.THE CAR SLOWED TO ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR (IN A …
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I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE WITH DYNAMIC SPEED CONTROL ON. THE CAR SLOWED APPROPRIATELY TO MATCH THE SPEED OF THE THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. SUDDENLY SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES APPEARED: MASTER WARNING LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE, CHECK AWD, GO TO TOYOTA DEALER, ENGINE POWER LOSS.THE CAR SLOWED TO ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR (IN A 65 MPH AREA) WHILE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME WAS AT (OR ABOVE) THE SPEED LIMIT. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET TO THE SHOULDER AND TURN THE CAR OFF. I TOOK A FEW MINUTES TO USE MY SMARTPHONE TO FIND THE NEAREST DEALER AND PLANNED TO GO OFF THE EXIT (WHICH WAS JUST A FEW YARD AHEAD) AND TRY TO MAKE IT TO THE DEALER ON SIDE ROADS. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR ALL LIGHTS AND WARNINGS WERE OFF AND THE CAR DROVE WITHOUT INCIDENT UNTIL I REACHED THE DEALER NEAR MY RESIDENCE, ABOUT 100 MILES AWAY. THE SERVICE REP AT THE DEALER ADVISED I HAD TRAVELED TOO FAR SINCE THE INCIDENT FOR THEIR COMPUTER ANALYSIS TO WORK AND HE HAD NO ADVICE EXCEPT TO GO TO THE NEAREST DEALER IF IT EVER HAPPENED AGAIN. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME INFO ON HOW TO AVOID SUCH AN INCIDENT AGAIN.
ON SUNDAY OCT 21 2018, THE DRIVER HAD JUST LEFT THE OLIN REST AREA IN NORTH CAROLINA, HEADING NORTHBOUND ON RT 77. AFTER DRIVING FOR A LITTLE BIT THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATION UNINTENTIONALLY BY ITSELF. AND THE CAR STARTED TO ZIG ZAG ACROSS THE HIGHWAY LANES WITHOUT THE DRIVER TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER TRIED TO PRES…
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ON SUNDAY OCT 21 2018, THE DRIVER HAD JUST LEFT THE OLIN REST AREA IN NORTH CAROLINA, HEADING NORTHBOUND ON RT 77. AFTER DRIVING FOR A LITTLE BIT THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATION UNINTENTIONALLY BY ITSELF. AND THE CAR STARTED TO ZIG ZAG ACROSS THE HIGHWAY LANES WITHOUT THE DRIVER TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER TRIED TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE BUT IT WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. THE CAR THEN GRAZED AN HIGHWAY GUARDRAIL AND IT PARTIALLY RIPPED OFF THE REAR LEFT SIDE AND REAR BUMPER. THE DRIVER KEPT PRESSING THE BRAKE WITHOUT EFFECT WHILE SWERVING ACROSS THE LANES. THEN SUDDENLY THE BRAKES STARTED TO WORK AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER. THE DRIVER PUT IT INTO PARK BUT THE ENGINE KEPT REVVING AT HIGH RPM UNTIL THE DRIVER TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I THINK THE CAR HAD A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENT DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL. IN ADDITION, I THINK THE ZIG ZAG WAS DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC TRACTION/ STABILITY CONTROL, SENDING EXCESSIVE POWER TO A WHEEL ON A PARTICULAR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT DIDN'T NEED IT.
CITY STREET, TWO WHILE TURNING FROM A STOP AND TWO FROM A STATIONARY STOP. LOSS OF POWER. PRESSING ON ACCELERATOR HAD NO AFFECT BUT APPROXIMATELY 5-10 SECONDS REGAINED MOVEMENT AND CONTINUED ON. UNSURE/UNKNOWN OF THE SAFETY CAUSE. SCARING ESPECIALLY TURNING LEFT WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC COMING AT YOU.
ON AUGUST 10TH 2018, I WAS DRIVING MY 2017 HIGHLANDER WITH 17,000 MILES ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN CALIFORNIA WHEN I ACCELERATED HARD TO PASS OTHER VEHICLES. SUDDENLY THE HIGHLANDER LOST ALL POWER WITH ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES SOUNDING. THE ORANGE TRIANGULAR WARNING/CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON WITH THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM FAILUR…
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ON AUGUST 10TH 2018, I WAS DRIVING MY 2017 HIGHLANDER WITH 17,000 MILES ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN CALIFORNIA WHEN I ACCELERATED HARD TO PASS OTHER VEHICLES. SUDDENLY THE HIGHLANDER LOST ALL POWER WITH ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES SOUNDING. THE ORANGE TRIANGULAR WARNING/CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON WITH THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM FAILURE FLASHING NEEDING IMMEDIATE SERVICE. I WAS ABLE THE GET TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT GETTING KILLED AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER A MINUTE I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS RESET. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE HIGHLANDER HAD ONLY 4,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. I WAS TRYING TO PASS. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN RENO NV THEY SAID ALL THE ERROR CODES WERE NOT CAPTURED AND THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS ISSUE DESPITE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AS WELL AS THIS SITE? I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO WITHOUT AN ERROR CODE. THEY SUGGESTED THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS, DO NOT RESTART THE CAR AND HAVE IT TOWED THE A DEALERSHIP TO TRY AND RECAPTURE AN ERROR CODE. I FILED A CLAIM WITH TOYOTA CORP BUT THEY LEAD ME TO THINK THAT THEY DON'T INVESTIGATE INCIDENTS LIKE THIS UNLESS THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. I HAVE ADVISED MY FAMILY OF THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION WITH THE HIGHLANDER AND IF ANY ONE GETS HURT OR KILLED PLEASE SUE THE HECK OUT OF THEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SYMPTOM WITH THE HIGHLANDER THAT IS GOING TO GET SOMEBODY KILLED AND TOYOTA DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE.
Official recalls
320V682000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Nov 4, 2020
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
17V520000 · Equipment
Aug 23, 2017
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The roof rails may loosen and possibly detach from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GST will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and properly torque the fasteners, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2017. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 17R3.
17V295000 · Tires:temporary/emergency Spare Tire
May 2, 2017
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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