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2019 Toyota Highlander

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Highlander years

Owner complaints for the 2019 Toyota Highlander are substantially higher than the model-year median of 186.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

140 reports with mileage · 340 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 194 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 86 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports1 fire reports12 injury reports

What owners actually said

480 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2023
Unknown Or Other

When I start the highlander, there is a loud (hurts your ears) feedback noise through the speakers, and the red and green lights near the SOS button flash multiple times. This happens intermittently, and when it doesn't happen the SOS button only flashes red/green once.

NHTSA ODI #11541027

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2023
Seat Belts

Seat belt refused to retract and was pressing on our son's belly 911 was called and notified of the issue, Policeman had to cut off the seat belt for my son's safety Insurance was notified and we were informed that insurance will cover the repair cost but we have a $ 500 deductible Toyota gave us a quote for $ 470.12 plus sales …

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Seat belt refused to retract and was pressing on our son's belly 911 was called and notified of the issue, Policeman had to cut off the seat belt for my son's safety Insurance was notified and we were informed that insurance will cover the repair cost but we have a $ 500 deductible Toyota gave us a quote for $ 470.12 plus sales tax 19.29 for a total of $545.73

NHTSA ODI #11539140

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2023
Forward Collision AvoidanceService Brakes

Display screen Brake fluid low. Stop safety. Engine stop to start..

NHTSA ODI #11536735

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2023
StructureUnknown Or OtherCrash

I was turning into Starbucks at a low speed when the next thing I knew the car jumped forward and hit the car in front of me not one time but three times. I was finally able to get the car stopped but had Damage to both cars. I believe the accelerator was stuck causing the accident. I want to know if there is a recall on the acc…

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I was turning into Starbucks at a low speed when the next thing I knew the car jumped forward and hit the car in front of me not one time but three times. I was finally able to get the car stopped but had Damage to both cars. I believe the accelerator was stuck causing the accident. I want to know if there is a recall on the accelerator petal that it would have caused the highlander to do this because to me this was a frightening site to go through.

NHTSA ODI #11535273

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2023
Service Brakes

I got the message: BRAKING POWER LOW and the Engine Check light is ON I couldn't turn it on.

NHTSA ODI #11535028

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2023
Service Brakes

Approximately two weeks ago, my brakes began to fail. When i press the brakes, I receive a warning message on the steering wheel portion of the dashboard that says "breaking power low" and an orange triangle with an exclamation point illuminates. The extremely weakened brakes almost made me rear end a vehicle traveling in front …

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Approximately two weeks ago, my brakes began to fail. When i press the brakes, I receive a warning message on the steering wheel portion of the dashboard that says "breaking power low" and an orange triangle with an exclamation point illuminates. The extremely weakened brakes almost made me rear end a vehicle traveling in front of me. Since then, I have taken my vehicle to a local mechanic/autobody and also to a Toyota dealership in Hackensack, NJ. The local mechanic advised me that he could not find anything physically wrong with the vehicle that would be causing the problem, which he also experienced. Hackensack Toyota, after having my vehicle for over two hours, could not make a diagnosis of what was wrong with my vehicle and also wanted to charge me a substantial amount of money for something that should be an immediate hazard and saftey concern. This issue also sounds like a manufacturer defect that should be treated as a recall since there was no action or incident that led to or caused this brake failure. Since this is my only vehicle, it forces me and my family to take significant risks by traveling in it.

NHTSA ODI #11532132

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2023
Unknown Or Other

When starting my vehicle, I get a high pitch ear piercing noise. My ears will ring after it because it is so loud. This is extremely high for my passengers, grandchildren and my husband and I. I am not putting in ear plugs in me or passengers just to start up my car. I have reported this to Toyota Brand Engagement Center Case 23…

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When starting my vehicle, I get a high pitch ear piercing noise. My ears will ring after it because it is so loud. This is extremely high for my passengers, grandchildren and my husband and I. I am not putting in ear plugs in me or passengers just to start up my car. I have reported this to Toyota Brand Engagement Center Case 230711000212. This component has NOT been inspected by anyone, as I am not paying over $300.00 just to have a technician look at it. There has not been any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. This noise started around 3 weeks ago, Week of June 19, 2023.

NHTSA ODI #11531525

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2023
Unknown Or Other

I have a 2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and about two years after driving the car, I get a loud, very high-pitched/high-frequency screeching sound when getting in the vehicle coming from the speakers. It lasts about 10 seconds. It's so loud it hurts our ears. Upon contacting Toyota, they declined to repair the issue, and I disco…

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I have a 2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and about two years after driving the car, I get a loud, very high-pitched/high-frequency screeching sound when getting in the vehicle coming from the speakers. It lasts about 10 seconds. It's so loud it hurts our ears. Upon contacting Toyota, they declined to repair the issue, and I discovered several other users have the same issue. It's loud and excruciating and doesn't happen constantly, but it gets more frequent. complains from other owners: https://www.toyotanation.com/threads/2019-highlander-platinum-painful-ear-screech-sound-from-speakers-when-starting-car.1734165/page-3 This is the noise made:

NHTSA ODI #11531457

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2023
EngineForward Collision AvoidanceService Brakes

While I am driving my Toyota Highlander XLE 2019 in a parking lot to park my car, I stopped to yield to people crossing and I slowed down and applied brake , but my car stopped and unable to restart as car display showing an error - Braking Power Low I unable to star the car and ended up towing to Toyota Dealer ship in Plano,TX…

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While I am driving my Toyota Highlander XLE 2019 in a parking lot to park my car, I stopped to yield to people crossing and I slowed down and applied brake , but my car stopped and unable to restart as car display showing an error - Braking Power Low I unable to star the car and ended up towing to Toyota Dealer ship in Plano,TX I am still waiting for Dealer to check on and advise on the issue I feel this is huge safety issue as car can stop in middle of traffic or on busy highway with out any warning and can cause a serious accident I am really pissed off at Toyota quality

NHTSA ODI #11531205

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2023
Fuel/propulsion SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other

Vehicle check engine turned on to check AWD system after about 2 days when filling with gas the engine wouldn't start and had Low brake power message on dashboard. Checked code and got P0171 and P0174 which mean engine's air/fuel mixture becomes too lean for the Engine Control Module (ECM) to correct within its normal operating …

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Vehicle check engine turned on to check AWD system after about 2 days when filling with gas the engine wouldn't start and had Low brake power message on dashboard. Checked code and got P0171 and P0174 which mean engine's air/fuel mixture becomes too lean for the Engine Control Module (ECM) to correct within its normal operating range there are many posts and threads about same issue on highlanders as old as 2017 please look into this issue that could potentially cause a hazard. will take vehicle in for inspection 06/13/23 at Toyota of Naperville

NHTSA ODI #11526896

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.

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.

19V244000 · Equipment:other:labels

Mar 27, 2019

Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling certain 2019 C-HR, 4Runner, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Sienna, Tundra and Yaris vehicles. The text on the load capacity label may become illegible. 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: If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 19R1.

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.