Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 29 of 245 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
16 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
245 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2023
Unknown Or Other
The Sunroof/Moonroof shattered as we drove down the highway. Glass shattered and a hole in the sunroof was made. Our shield kept the glass from falling in on us. Dealership has said that they believe road Debry cause the sunroof to shatter. No debry was found in the hole or shield area. No other groups have inspected the su…
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The Sunroof/Moonroof shattered as we drove down the highway. Glass shattered and a hole in the sunroof was made. Our shield kept the glass from falling in on us. Dealership has said that they believe road Debry cause the sunroof to shatter. No debry was found in the hole or shield area. No other groups have inspected the sunroof. No warning lights or messages.
NHTSA ODI #11514780
Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2023
Structure
There is a safety issue with the driver side mirror, as it shakes in its housing at varying speeds and on non-smooth roads, in that it becomes a distraction of focus in the small time of you looking at the mirror to then switch back to front. This has happened to me few times, changing lanes to the left lane, I saw the shaking o…
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There is a safety issue with the driver side mirror, as it shakes in its housing at varying speeds and on non-smooth roads, in that it becomes a distraction of focus in the small time of you looking at the mirror to then switch back to front. This has happened to me few times, changing lanes to the left lane, I saw the shaking of the mirror and lost focus of the image in the mirror and momentarily had no visual input while driving on a highway, at least no useful visual input for driving purposes. This phenomena is the same as if someone drew on the mirror and your eye just cough that drawing and just focused on that instead of the rear view image and then to the front. Side view mirrors are critical safety components of the car, but their viewing purpose is for very short and momentary when needed. If you add a distracting and almost blinding effect to them, you are bound to take away the drivers attention in that critical moment when you least can afford to lose attention. 4 things: 1. The driver is not looking at the road ahead, where the most attention is needed 2. The driver is looking at the left, bringing the instinctive tendency to move the hands, hence the steering, to the left 3. The driver is actually not visually perceiving reflection image of the mirror, instead the mirror itself, often the edges as it naturally gravitates the eye focus in this visual pattern 4. The time spent in looking to the left in the view of the driver side mirror is extended well beyond the safety limit and time needed to get mirror reflection view I foresee: 1. Someone encountering this, in a right curving 1 lane road, the path of the car would bi straight line directly towards the apposing lane/car. 2. Someone looking to the driver side mirror to change lanes to the left and either lose focus and not notice the oncoming car or worse notice abruptly a car and oversteer to the right, then over correct to the left then losing control Toyota driver confirmed today
NHTSA ODI #11513592
12,000 miles · Feb 23, 2023
Service Brakes, Air
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, causing the vehicle to shudder and the steering wheel was vibrating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with warped rotors. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 007…
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The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, causing the vehicle to shudder and the steering wheel was vibrating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with warped rotors. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 0072-18 (Front Brake), however, the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.
NHTSA ODI #11508703
Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2023
Tires
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22T021000 (Tires). The Toyota dealer was initially notified of the failure and referred her to the Bridgestone manufacturer for assistance. The tire manufacturer referred her to a Bridgestone service center; however, she was…
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The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22T021000 (Tires). The Toyota dealer was initially notified of the failure and referred her to the Bridgestone manufacturer for assistance. The tire manufacturer referred her to a Bridgestone service center; however, she was informed that the tire needed for repair was on backorder. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA ODI #11504768
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2023
Visibility/wiper
December 2022 I was driving to my Toyota dealer which is about an hour away from my home for a routine 10k oil. change. Air temperature here in Minnesota was 20-25 degrees. After 10 minute of highway driving with front defroster activated, all windows including the front windshield had some fogging. The fogging continued to spre…
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December 2022 I was driving to my Toyota dealer which is about an hour away from my home for a routine 10k oil. change. Air temperature here in Minnesota was 20-25 degrees. After 10 minute of highway driving with front defroster activated, all windows including the front windshield had some fogging. The fogging continued to spread on all windows. I made several adjustments to the climate control settings but nothing improved the fogging. By 30 minutes into the drive frost was forming at the top of the windshield and side windows where hot air was not blowing directly on the windows. My wife and I pulled off the road several times to wipe moisture off of the glass and sometimes scrape frost. I reported the issue to my dealer in St Cloud Minnesota and inquired if there was something I was doing wrong with the climate settings. They made a couple of suggestions which I thought I had originally tried, but it didn’t seem to be something they were aware of as being a wide spread problem. I made the return trip home with no improvement of the fogging/frost conditions. The problem continued each time we drove the car. We did not use that car again until January 15, 2023 when we traveled to Arkansas for a week. On the 650 mile trip down we had the same issues as before with defrost on high until the temperature rose to the 40s. Before our return trip home, I began researching my problem and found T-SB-0020-19 and T-SB-0024-22 which described my issues. The 650 mile trip was in temperatures from 28-32 and we needed to use the defrost during the entire trip. I scheduled an appointment with Toyota for February 1, 2023. Temperatures were now below zero and did not feel I could safely drive 1 hr to the dealer for the repair. Having extensive experience with auto repairs, I followed the instructions in the TSB and found the exact defect described. I completed the repair which fixed the problem. The 2022 Highlander is not listed in the TSB used for the repair nor any I could find.
NHTSA ODI #11504349
Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2023
Service Brakes
I only have 8500 miles on my car and when driving in when I hit the brakes it vibrates. I went to the dealership to get the brakes checked and they wanted charge an inspection fee when the car is under 36000 miles which should be bumper to bumper warranty. I decided to my car to my mechanic and he told me it was the rotors. Th…
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I only have 8500 miles on my car and when driving in when I hit the brakes it vibrates. I went to the dealership to get the brakes checked and they wanted charge an inspection fee when the car is under 36000 miles which should be bumper to bumper warranty. I decided to my car to my mechanic and he told me it was the rotors. The mechanic told me this has to be a faulty rotors because that is not enough miles for normal wear and tear. I have scheduled an appointment tomorrow 1/17/23 at the Toyota dealership in Ontario, CA for inspection. I have extended warranty with -0- deductible and they wanted to charge me $195 inspection fee. I got really mad and they are supposedly doing an exception.
NHTSA ODI #11502078
Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2023
Air Bags
On our 22' Highlander I observed water lines on the passenger side A pillar, one of which was colored pinkish this led me to believe it was dyed from car wash soap. I found that whenever you go through a car wash water leaks into the headliner and down the passenger side A-pillar where the air bag module is. Toyota Bountiful cla…
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On our 22' Highlander I observed water lines on the passenger side A pillar, one of which was colored pinkish this led me to believe it was dyed from car wash soap. I found that whenever you go through a car wash water leaks into the headliner and down the passenger side A-pillar where the air bag module is. Toyota Bountiful claims that the drainage channels are likely clogged and it failed to drain properly. I ran the test as recommended by pouring water into the corner drainage hole identified by the service advisor. I found the water to exit the drainage port behind the front tire in two different spots at a very quick rate, yet the headliner and A-pillar covering got wet again. Toyota claims this is supposed to cleaned annually by the vehicle owner and is likely not covered by warranty. Obviously, the issue overall is irritating on a 1-year-old car, clean title, no accidents, no windshield replacement vehicle. However, what is most concerning is water is free flowing into the air bag area on the a-pillar.
NHTSA ODI #11501789
Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2023
Forward Collision AvoidanceService BrakesCrash
My mother was killed on 5/27/22 by her brand new 2022 Highlander Platnum with about 2000 miles on it. There wasn’t anyone inside her car at the time of her wrongful death. No person’s car should kill it’s owner in her own driveway at anytime especially when the car was empty. The Police report has not been completed by the lo…
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My mother was killed on 5/27/22 by her brand new 2022 Highlander Platnum with about 2000 miles on it. There wasn’t anyone inside her car at the time of her wrongful death. No person’s car should kill it’s owner in her own driveway at anytime especially when the car was empty. The Police report has not been completed by the local Police department yet. The day before the accident she took her car to her dealership Hansel Toyota Petaluma at 9am where she bought her car only a few weeks earlier bc her front bumper had fallen off on the freeway to ask them to put her bumper back on but Hansel Toyota of Petaluma refused her reasonable request. What they told my parents was to go file a claim with her auto insurance carrier. So they did. The next day my mother was run over and killed by her own car. Why did Hansel Toyota refuse to fix my mother’s front bumper that day? Isn’t that their job? Isn’t that their legal responsibility? Doesn’t the front bumper affect the safety the vehicle? So why did Hansel Toyota of Petaluma refuse service when the car’s warranty was in effect? We feel my mother was wrongly killed by a machine that malfunctioned. Her front bumper was dragging on the ground for a few miles on the freeway when it abruptly fell off and hence exposed a metal part of the car. This unfortunate event should never have happened. Our mother would still be alive today had it not been for other peoples irresponsible behavior. We believe the missing bumper played a role in her death. We also believe her car malfunctioned that led to her wrongful death.
NHTSA ODI #11499811
Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2023
Lane Departure
The system designed to prevent lane departure has a particular issue with the dashed road markings that denote the entrance to tapered deceleration lanes or right-hand exit ramps on Oregon freeways. I have not noticed an issue when similar markings are on the driver's side. In particular, the in section 360, figure 360-A of the…
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The system designed to prevent lane departure has a particular issue with the dashed road markings that denote the entrance to tapered deceleration lanes or right-hand exit ramps on Oregon freeways. I have not noticed an issue when similar markings are on the driver's side. In particular, the in section 360, figure 360-A of the ODOT Traffic Line Manual (https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Engineering/Documents_TrafficStandards/Traffic-Line-Manual.pdf) the line marked "WD" is consistently able to fool the lane departure system and allow the vehicle to drift or steer toward the "Physical Gore Point" as shown in the figure. On November 11th, 2022, I very briefly took my hands off the steering wheel to unscrew the cap on my water bottle while lane centering was activated on the lane departure avoidance system and the vehicle steered to the right without warning while passing an exit lane having the "WD" markings. This nearly resulted in my Highlander leaving the road at freeway speeds. Now, I understand this is not responsible behavior on my part, but these things occur, and it may result in accident or death in the future if it hasn't already. The system is otherwise quite reliable. However, I was previously aware of the issue as it has happened for as long as I've owned the vehicle. This is the first time it nearly caused an incident because I normally do not remove my hands from the steering wheel completely and can correct the steering manually. No warning lamps or messages were observed, but the lane departure warning may have sounded after passing the "WD" markings. The issue has not been reproduced by any service center on my vehicle, nor has it been inspected by another party. On carcomplaints.com another Oregon resident mentioned a similar issue as an additional note about an unrelated braking issue: https://www.carcomplaints.com/Toyota/Highlander/2022/brakes/service_brakes.shtml I would be willing to make the vehicle available for testing/inspection.
NHTSA ODI #11499719
Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2022
Visibility/wiper
Wipers quit working. Available for inspection. Unable to see road because it was raining. Wipers haven’t been inspected. No messages or warning lamps. I was driving in rainy weather with the temperature slightly above the freeze point..
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 9, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB06 and 26TA06.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Highlander vehicles. The 20-inch accessory tires with an insufficient load rating for the vehicle's Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) were installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will inspect and replace the tires and information placard, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 16, 2024. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET24A.
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2022-2024 model year Highlander L and Highlander LE vehicles equipped with the Blackout Package that includes 20" black alloy wheels and tires. The installed tires have an insufficient load rating. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Tires with an insufficient load rating may be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GST will inspect and replace the tires as necessary, and install a new tire information label as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2024. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R1.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Highlander & Highlander Hybrid vehicles. During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace the upper and lower front bumper covers as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 22, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB12/23TA12.
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2022 4Runner, Tacoma, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification labels may not be permanent and can fade, becoming illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An illegible label may allow the vehicle to be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GST will notify owners by mail, including a replacement load carrying capacity modification label for their vehicle and detailed replacement instructions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 22R1.
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.
2022 Toyota Highlander Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year