Owners have reported 22 crashes, 1 fire and 18 injuries to NHTSA for the 2019 Toyota Highlander. These are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defect rates.
Owner complaints145
POWER TRAIN
Owners report frequent transmission failures in the 2019 Toyota Highlander, with many describing a sudden loss of power or inability to shift properly. Complaints often mention a whining noise during acceleration, which precedes the transmission issues, and some note erratic shifting or lack of throttle response. These issues typically arise between 68,000 to 133,000 miles. Safety implications are significant, as several owners describe being stranded in traffic or experiencing sudden power loss, which could lead to accidents. Potential buyers should be aware of the reported transmission failures and consider the availability of replacement parts, as some owners report long wait times due to backorders.
Owner complaints53
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owners of the 2019 Toyota Highlander frequently report issues with the automatic transmission, with symptoms including inconsistent shifting, whining noises, and complete transmission failure, often occurring around or after 70,000 miles. Complaints also describe a loud, ear-piercing noise from the speakers upon starting the vehicle, which is intermittent and can occur multiple times a day. Additionally, there are reports of sunroof glass spontaneously exploding while driving, which has led to crashes and injuries. These issues highlight potential safety concerns, particularly regarding the transmission failures leading to loss of vehicle movement and the sunroof incidents causing driver distraction.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 5 injury reports
Owner complaints45
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners of the 2019 Toyota Highlander frequently report issues with the vehicle's electrical system, particularly involving a loud, high-pitched screeching noise from the speakers upon starting the vehicle. This issue is linked to the Data Communication Module (DCM) and is described as intermittent but highly disruptive, with some owners expressing concern over potential hearing damage. Additionally, multiple complaints describe the vehicle unexpectedly shutting off or failing to start, often attributed to battery failures or the start/stop system draining the battery. These problems are reported across various mileage ranges and have led to crashes and injuries in some cases, highlighting potential safety risks. Buyers should be aware of these recurring electrical issues and their implications for vehicle reliability and safety.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 0 fire, 3 injury reports
Owner complaints44
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Owners of the 2019 Toyota Highlander frequently report issues with the fuel/propulsion system, particularly involving the fuel pump. Common symptoms include unexpected stalling, loss of power, and failure to accelerate, often accompanied by warning lights such as the check engine light and various system malfunction alerts. These issues typically occur at varying mileage, with some reports as early as 12,000 miles and others beyond 30,000 miles. Safety concerns are evident, as several owners describe near-miss accidents due to sudden deceleration or complete vehicle shutdown in traffic, though no crashes or fires are reported in the provided complaints. Buyers should be aware of these potential issues, especially considering the ongoing recall and repair availability challenges noted by multiple owners.
Owner complaints21
ENGINE
Owners of the 2019 Toyota Highlander frequently report transmission issues, with symptoms such as rough or delayed shifting, whining noises, and a burning smell. These problems often occur between 59,000 and 110,000 miles, and several owners indicate a need for complete transmission replacement. Additionally, there are numerous reports of fuel pump failures leading to stalling, particularly at higher speeds, with some cases involving the vehicle shutting down entirely. Safety implications are noted, including one crash due to unintended acceleration and several instances of vehicles stalling in traffic, posing a risk of accidents. Prospective buyers should be aware of these issues, especially for vehicles within the affected mileage range.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints12
AIR BAGS
Owners of the 2019 Toyota Highlander frequently report issues with airbag deployment failures, often in the context of crashes. Complaints describe situations where airbags did not deploy during collisions at various speeds, including incidents with significant vehicle damage and some resulting in injuries. Several owners mention receiving dashboard alerts for airbag malfunctions, with some indicating repeated warning light activations despite dealership inspections. The reported mileage at the time of these incidents varies, but some occur as early as 500 miles, with others around 70,000 miles. These patterns highlight potential safety implications, particularly given the number of crashes and injuries associated with these airbag issues.
Severity signals: 8 crash, 0 fire, 5 injury reports
Owner complaints10
SERVICE BRAKES
Owners of the 2019 Toyota Highlander frequently report issues with the braking system, particularly involving brake failure and unexpected vehicle movement. Common symptoms include difficulty in braking, the brake pedal going to the floor, and warning messages such as "Braking Power Low" appearing on the dashboard. Several complaints note these issues occurring around 25,000 to 27,500 miles. One report involves a crash due to the brakes not activating in time, highlighting potential safety risks. Buyers should be aware of these reported problems, especially since some owners mention unresolved issues despite dealership inspections.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints8
STEERING
Owners of the 2019 Toyota Highlander frequently report issues related to steering, with symptoms including momentary power steering failure, erratic steering response, and a consistent leftward drift requiring constant correction. Several complaints involve electronic power steering (EPS) failures, often accompanied by warning lights, occurring at low mileages such as 1,230 miles. One incident involves a crash due to a control arm failure, resulting in injury. These issues typically manifest at various mileages, with some reports indicating problems as early as 4,000 miles. Safety implications include loss of control and potential crashes, making these complaints relevant for prospective buyers to consider when evaluating vehicle reliability.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owners of the 2019 Toyota Highlander frequently report issues with vehicle speed control, including sudden unintended acceleration and delayed throttle response. Complaints often describe the vehicle lurching forward unexpectedly, particularly after turns or when accelerating from a stop, with some incidents resulting in crashes and injuries. Mileage at the time of incidents varies, with one owner noting a problem at approximately 10,000 miles. Safety implications are notable, with two reports involving crashes, and one citing the accelerator pedal becoming stuck on the mat. Additionally, several owners mention hesitation when accelerating, especially in situations requiring quick response, such as merging into traffic or navigating turns, which may pose a risk in high-traffic conditions.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Owners of the 2019 Toyota Highlander report several issues related to engine and engine cooling. Commonly mentioned problems include loss of motive power, with some experiencing this without any warning lights, while others note the illumination of the check engine light. Complaints frequently involve engine component failures, such as head gasket failure and crankshaft sensor issues. One report details a fire originating from the engine compartment, resulting in the vehicle being destroyed. These issues appear at varying mileages, from as low as 3,033 miles to over 124,000 miles, highlighting potential safety risks, including vehicle fires and sudden stalling.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 1 fire, 0 injury reports
