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2018 Toyota Highlander

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 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

110 reports with mileage · 155 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 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports1 fire reports15 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

43 reports
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25,000 miles · Jan 30, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SuspensionUnknown Or OtherInjury

VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND ROLLED. IT PICKED UP SPEED AS IT CONTINUED TO ROLL AND THERE WEREN'T ANY OCCUPANT. THIS TOOK PLACE IN A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE ROLLS WHILE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ON ALLL THE TIME AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11303022

100 miles · Jan 19, 2020
Unknown Or Other

PRE COLLISION SYSTEM AS ADVERTISED DOES NOT FUNCTION. IT DOES NOT WARN NOR SELF BRAKE FOR IMMINENT COLLISIONS WITH VEHICLES NOR PEDESTRIANS SHOULD DRIVER FAIL TO REACT MANUALLY IN TIME. SELF TESTS USING LARGE CARDBOARD BOXES HAVE VERIFIED THIS. TOYOTA REFUSES TO REMEDY PROBLEM NOR RECOGNIZE OWNER TEST. NON FUNCTIONAL SINCE NEW…

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PRE COLLISION SYSTEM AS ADVERTISED DOES NOT FUNCTION. IT DOES NOT WARN NOR SELF BRAKE FOR IMMINENT COLLISIONS WITH VEHICLES NOR PEDESTRIANS SHOULD DRIVER FAIL TO REACT MANUALLY IN TIME. SELF TESTS USING LARGE CARDBOARD BOXES HAVE VERIFIED THIS. TOYOTA REFUSES TO REMEDY PROBLEM NOR RECOGNIZE OWNER TEST. NON FUNCTIONAL SINCE NEW, 5/2/18. SEVERAL DEALERS AND TOYOTA CUST. SERVICE CONTACTED & COMPLAINT IGNORED. ALL INSTANCES VEHICLE IN MOTION ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS. BOX TEST IN MOTION IN PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ODI #11300292

15,327 miles · Jan 17, 2020
Unknown Or Other

BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY DOES NOT WORK FOR OWNERS OF IPHONE 11 PRO MAX WITH THIS MAKE MODEL AND YEAR OF VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH APPLE AND TOYOTA TO TRY TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE, AS IT DIRECTLY IMPAIRS THE SAFE DRIVING OF THIS VEHICLE DUE TO NO ACCESS TO THE HANDS FREE FEATURES. I HAVE COMPLIED WITH EACH COMPANY'S DIRECTIVES AN…

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BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY DOES NOT WORK FOR OWNERS OF IPHONE 11 PRO MAX WITH THIS MAKE MODEL AND YEAR OF VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH APPLE AND TOYOTA TO TRY TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE, AS IT DIRECTLY IMPAIRS THE SAFE DRIVING OF THIS VEHICLE DUE TO NO ACCESS TO THE HANDS FREE FEATURES. I HAVE COMPLIED WITH EACH COMPANY'S DIRECTIVES AND NOTHING HAS CORRECTED THE ISSUE. I AM BEING TOLD BY APPLE THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO UPDATE ITS BLUETOOTH SOFTWARE, AND BEING TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT IT IS AN APPLE ISSUE. I AM TIRED OF THE RUN AROUND AND I WANT THIS FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #11300186

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2020
Unknown Or Other

MY BLUETOOTH KEEPS TURNING OFF SO I AM NOT ABLE TO USE MY PHONE HANDSFREE

NHTSA ODI #11300137

12,300 miles · Oct 9, 2019
Service BrakesStructureUnknown Or OtherCrashInjury

WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE, SLOWLY, WITH RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, GETTING READY TO STOP BEFORE THE CURB, THE CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB GOING OVER THE SIDEWALK AND HIT THE BUILDING. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE WHEN IT STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED IN A DOCTORS OFFICE PARKING LOT. AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE.

NHTSA ODI #11267384

13,000 miles · Aug 26, 2019
Unknown Or Other

THE REAR SUNROOF ON OUR CAR SHATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON ON 8/24/19 WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY (I-15 IN NORTHERN UTAH, AROUND 8PM). THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF AN IMPACT FROM A FOREIGN BODY WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF AND INVESTIGATE. INITIALLY THE GLASS WAS CRACKED BUT INTACT, BUT WHEN WE CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD, T…

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THE REAR SUNROOF ON OUR CAR SHATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON ON 8/24/19 WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY (I-15 IN NORTHERN UTAH, AROUND 8PM). THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF AN IMPACT FROM A FOREIGN BODY WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF AND INVESTIGATE. INITIALLY THE GLASS WAS CRACKED BUT INTACT, BUT WHEN WE CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD, THE PIECES STARTED FALLING INTO THE CLOTH COVER. WE CONTACTED OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TODAY (8/26/19) AND THE SHOP MANAGER TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT HE'D HEARD OF WITH A 2018 HIGHLANDER THIS MONTH.

NHTSA ODI #11246467

9,900 miles · Aug 15, 2019
Unknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING INTO GRAND TETON NP OUR HIGHLANDER'S SUNROOF EXPLODED LOUDLY IN WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SPONTANEOUS FASHION. NO SIGN OF A ROCK OR OTHER ROAD DEBRIS WAS SEEN OR FOUND. FORTUNATELY, OUR SUN SHADE WAS CLOSED AND WE WERE NOT SHOWERED WITH GLASS. WE WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH AND THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND MILD AT ABOUT 68…

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WHILE DRIVING INTO GRAND TETON NP OUR HIGHLANDER'S SUNROOF EXPLODED LOUDLY IN WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SPONTANEOUS FASHION. NO SIGN OF A ROCK OR OTHER ROAD DEBRIS WAS SEEN OR FOUND. FORTUNATELY, OUR SUN SHADE WAS CLOSED AND WE WERE NOT SHOWERED WITH GLASS. WE WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH AND THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND MILD AT ABOUT 68 DEGREES.

NHTSA ODI #11244138

16,500 miles · May 16, 2019
Unknown Or Other

MUSTY SMELL IN THE VEHICLE SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2018, VEHICLE BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP EARLY APRIL 2019 WITH NO RESOLUTION. VEHICLE RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP EARLY MAY 2019. WATER FOUND UNDER PASSENGER CARPET ALONG WITH MOLD. ADVISED BY TOYOTA NO DEFECTIVE PARTS AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO.

NHTSA ODI #11208119

11,500 miles · Mar 21, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or Other

EARLY TODAY, 3/21/19, WAS ALERTED THAT MY HATCHBACK WAS OPEN. THE CAR HAD BEEN LOCKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS, BUT WHEN I CAME OUTSIDE I WAS TOLD BY A FRIEND THAT THE HATCH HAD JUST OPENED ON IT'S OWN. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, I WAS DRIVING AFTER DARK AND RECEIVED A BLINDSIDE MIRROR ALERT--THE CLOSEST CAR WAS AT LEAST TWO CAR LENGTHS IMME…

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EARLY TODAY, 3/21/19, WAS ALERTED THAT MY HATCHBACK WAS OPEN. THE CAR HAD BEEN LOCKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS, BUT WHEN I CAME OUTSIDE I WAS TOLD BY A FRIEND THAT THE HATCH HAD JUST OPENED ON IT'S OWN. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, I WAS DRIVING AFTER DARK AND RECEIVED A BLINDSIDE MIRROR ALERT--THE CLOSEST CAR WAS AT LEAST TWO CAR LENGTHS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND ME IN THE SAME LANE. SHORTLY AFTER, THE CAUTION LIGHT CAME ON, BEEPED, THE ECO LIGHT CAME ON, IT BEEPED AGAIN AND THE ECO LIGHT WENT OFF. ABOUT 40 MINUTES LATER, I HAD THE BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS ON WITH THE AUTO DIM ENACTED. THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, THE DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT, THE RADIO STAYED ON, AND THE NAVIGATION SCREEN GOT VERY BRIGHT. I HAD TO RETURN THE LIGHT CONTROL ON THE SIGNAL SWITCH AWAY FROM THE SETTING AND THEN BACK TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHT TO COME BACK ON. ALL EVENTS EXCEPT HATCH WERE WHEN VEHICLE IN MOTION. HATCH OPENED WHILE PARKED AND EMPTY. ALL EVENTS WERE WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS OF EACH OTHER. 10000 MILE SERVICE HAD JUST BEEN COMPLETED 3/15/19 WITH NO CONCERNS NOTED.

NHTSA ODI #11190636

300 miles · Mar 3, 2019
Service BrakesUnknown Or OtherWheels

CAR VIBRATION AT 40MPH AND UP AND BRAKE VIBRATION TOO .

NHTSA ODI #11183795

Official recalls

4

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.

20V012000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Jan 13, 2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 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, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.

18V211000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

Apr 3, 2018

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry and Highlander vehicles, 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the oil galley in the rotor for the brake booster vacuum pump assembly may have been improperly machined possibly resulting in a sudden loss of brake assist.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake booster vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0K/JLD.

17V831000 · Equipment:other:labels

Dec 20, 2017

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.

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.