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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.

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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.

18 crash reports2 fire reports15 injury reports

Engine complaints

46 reports
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20,800 miles · Aug 22, 2018
EnginePower Train

HELLO, THERE. I WANT TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE ABOUT HIGHLANDER PROBLEM. MY WIFE AND ME WENT TO MYSTIC,CT FROM MY HOME FOR PLEASURE AUGUST 8. I USED CRUISE CONTROL WITH 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY. AFTER I FINISHED TRAVELING THERE, I TRIED TO USE THE SAME CRUISE CONTROL ON THE WAY HOME. AND THEN SUDDENLY MY CAR MADE PROBLEM IN THE MIDDL…

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HELLO, THERE. I WANT TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE ABOUT HIGHLANDER PROBLEM. MY WIFE AND ME WENT TO MYSTIC,CT FROM MY HOME FOR PLEASURE AUGUST 8. I USED CRUISE CONTROL WITH 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY. AFTER I FINISHED TRAVELING THERE, I TRIED TO USE THE SAME CRUISE CONTROL ON THE WAY HOME. AND THEN SUDDENLY MY CAR MADE PROBLEM IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. RPM WENT UP TO OVER 3000 AND RPM NEEDLE ON DASHBOARD STARTED DANCING. AND I WATCHED 'CHECK AWD SYSTEM','TRACTION CONTROL TURNED OFF','CHECK ENGINE VISIT YOUR DEALERSHIP' COMING UP. AUTOMATICALLY MY CAR LOST POWER CONTROL. WE WERE VERY SCARED BECAUSE EVERYONE THERE WAS DRIVING A CAR WITH HIGH SPEED AT NIGHT. I TURNED ON EMERGENCY LIGHT AND PUT MY CAR ON SERVICE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, NO BODY FOLLOWED BEHIND MY CAR AT THAT TIME. IF SOMEONE KEPT APPROACHING MY CAR,WE WOULD HAVE MADE BIG TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE FOR US. EVEN IF WE ARE STILL ALIVE, I DON'T HAVE ANY COURAGEOUS IDEA ABOUT MY CAR. I WILL NOT BE SATISFIED WITH MY CAR. WHENEVER I DRIVE IT, I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT MY CAR CONDITION. FOR EXAMPLE, I FOUND THE SAME STORY ABOUT MY HIGHLANDER THROUGH CARCOMPLAINTS.COM THAT CAR WAS EVENTUALLY BURNED IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. SO I WANT MY MONEY BACK BY LEMON LAW.

NHTSA ODI #11121566

13,000 miles · Jul 30, 2018
Engine

IN MOTION, THERE WAS NO INDICATOR LIGHT ON BOARD, JUST BIG NOISE STARTED COMING DURING START OR SPEED OF CAR. ENGINE CYL 6 ROD BEARING WAS FAULTY , MAKING NOISE, DEALER REPAIRED IT AND NOT ABLE TO ASSURE OTHER BEARINGS DONT HAVE ANY ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #11114686

7,000 miles · Dec 29, 2017
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING UP THE I-5 GRAPEVINE AT 72 MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO UNDER 20 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE DASH SAID AWD SYSTEM DISENGAGED OR ERROR OR SOME SIMILAR MESSAGE AND TO TAKE TO THE DEALER. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO ACCELERATE TO GET OFF THE ROAD. I PULLED OFF, TURNED THE CAR OFF AN…

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WHILE DRIVING UP THE I-5 GRAPEVINE AT 72 MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO UNDER 20 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE DASH SAID AWD SYSTEM DISENGAGED OR ERROR OR SOME SIMILAR MESSAGE AND TO TAKE TO THE DEALER. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO ACCELERATE TO GET OFF THE ROAD. I PULLED OFF, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, AND IT STARTED RUNNING AGAIN. I'M LUCKY I WAS NOT REAR ENDED.

NHTSA ODI #11057498

17,100 miles · Dec 7, 2017
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE REVVED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ISLAND TOYOYA (1591 HYLAN BLVD, STATEN ISLAND, NY), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAG…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE REVVED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ISLAND TOYOYA (1591 HYLAN BLVD, STATEN ISLAND, NY), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,100.

NHTSA ODI #11052913

2,000 miles · Sep 5, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS ALSO AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF A FUEL LEAK UNDER T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS ALSO AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FORT'S TOYOTA OF PEKIN LOCATED AT: 120 RADIO CITY DR, PEKIN, IL 61554, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT RODENTS HAD CHEWED THROUGH THE FUEL LINE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 11/06/17*LJ *JS *TT

NHTSA ODI #11021428

1,200 miles · Jul 14, 2017
EngineVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER TO APPX 5MPH AND CHECK ENGINE, CHECK ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, VISIT DEALER, LIGHTS APPEARED ON DASH, VEHICLE WAS ON HIGHWAY DRIVING AT APPX 50MPH AT TIME OF INCIDENT , DEALER REPROGAMMED ECM, AND RETURNED CAR TO OWNER AND NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN

NHTSA ODI #11005233

Official recalls

3

20V682000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.