My transmission is now missing the 3rd gear and left me and my kids stalled in traffic as I was turning in oncoming traffic. Toyota dealership confirmed that was the problem upon inspection.
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 →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
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.
What owners actually said
480 reportsRough switching between gears since purchase; Whining noise in transmission when pressing on the gas.
UA80 transmission problems like everyone else. Just paid it off and it’s under 100k and the transmission gave out. It’s $11k to fix it. I have it l the proper maintenance at Toyota.
Check engine light came on without warning, car started losing power, idling roughly, stalling out, and not wanting to start. Had my battery, alternator, and starter checked and they are all fine. Diagnostic test showed it was to do with how much fuel/air the vehicle is getting. The check engine light goes off and on as I’m stil…
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Check engine light came on without warning, car started losing power, idling roughly, stalling out, and not wanting to start. Had my battery, alternator, and starter checked and they are all fine. Diagnostic test showed it was to do with how much fuel/air the vehicle is getting. The check engine light goes off and on as I’m still having to try and drive my vehicle to and from work due to not having other transportation.
My 2019 Toyota Highlander started making a whining noise from 0mph to 40mph-- and at times would shift hard. I took it to first mechanic who stated it was definitely a transmission issue. I took it to a transmission shop who also confirmed it was a transmission issue. I had vehicle towed to Toyota Dealer who performed a Multip…
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My 2019 Toyota Highlander started making a whining noise from 0mph to 40mph-- and at times would shift hard. I took it to first mechanic who stated it was definitely a transmission issue. I took it to a transmission shop who also confirmed it was a transmission issue. I had vehicle towed to Toyota Dealer who performed a Multipoint Inspection and vehicle was placed on a scanner. The codes indicated "internal failure" on transmission and quoted me $10,500 to remove and replace. Parts are backordered for 8 weeks+. Current transmission is only at 63,000 miles and I am the 2nd owner.
I heard Whining Noise from Drivetrain side under Engine Room first time about a month ago. There is a possibility sure It was generated early that Noise longer than when I heard it. and I visited Toyota Dealership Vacaville CA about this issue, Requested to Diagnosis my Highlander 2019 XLE Gas type Vehicle. Technician said, "FOU…
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I heard Whining Noise from Drivetrain side under Engine Room first time about a month ago. There is a possibility sure It was generated early that Noise longer than when I heard it. and I visited Toyota Dealership Vacaville CA about this issue, Requested to Diagnosis my Highlander 2019 XLE Gas type Vehicle. Technician said, "FOUND WHINE COMING FROM TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY INDICATING INTERNAL FAILURE". Service Advisor recommended to replace "UA80E TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY + TORQUE CONVERTER AND RECHECK". And I found Issue about There is a Document (TSB 0008-21) about this my Highlander 2019 XLE. I did not receive any information or recall or contact from TOYOTA until When I realized it.
Transmission whining sound
Sporadically, when starting up the vehicle, from the overhead console, it emanate a loud, ear piercing sound that is painful to one's ears. Apparently, this is a KNOWN issue with 2019 Toyota Highlanders in the Limited Platinum trim level. This issue has been presented to the dealership numerous times (DARCARS Toyota Frederick)…
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Sporadically, when starting up the vehicle, from the overhead console, it emanate a loud, ear piercing sound that is painful to one's ears. Apparently, this is a KNOWN issue with 2019 Toyota Highlanders in the Limited Platinum trim level. This issue has been presented to the dealership numerous times (DARCARS Toyota Frederick) with their claim they could not recreate the issue. I have provided video evidence but still no action was taken. Now out of warranty, it occurs more frequently now with this piercing noise.
Transmission began making high pitch whining sound with hard shifting to second gear. Within one year the transmission completely went out and was stuck in third gear.
My wife was driving here Highlander at freeway speeds when the vehicle started slowing and would not respond to the throttle. No warnings lights. It would drive but not accelerate to any reasonable speed. She pulled off the freeway and found a parking lot to test, restart car, etc. Again, no warning lights. Once in park, the …
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My wife was driving here Highlander at freeway speeds when the vehicle started slowing and would not respond to the throttle. No warnings lights. It would drive but not accelerate to any reasonable speed. She pulled off the freeway and found a parking lot to test, restart car, etc. Again, no warning lights. Once in park, the vehicle would not shift into gear but only revved. The vehicle could not be driven and towed to a Toyota dealer and after a number of tests, it was diagnosed as a blown transmission. It was replaced at great expense. I do not know what the dealer did with the transmission but it was not tested. The safety issue is the sudden and expected loss of power/drive train on a freeway. The vehicle has been well maintained. At 100K, plugs and transmission fluid were replaced. Although the vehicle had around 130K miles, the transmission should not have failed in my opinion.
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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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