10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,897 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #18

Aug 112021

Highlander

  • miles
My 2017 Toyota Highlander just stop working all of sudden, I can-€™t start the engine at all it says in the dashboard boaster power low/ park in the side in safe place. I was trying to start the engine it since it-€™s 102 outside and I have my baby with me. I search it online and find out that toyota has recall for the same problem but only for 2018 Toyota Highlander. I can-€™t even drive my car to the dealer/mechanic since I can-€™t even start it all. Driving with this type of vehicle with same problem is really danger. The toyota should check inspect all their vehicle first for safely of everyone.

- Delano , CA, USA

problem #17

May 272021

Highlander

  • miles
When turning on the car the emergency hybrid system states to put in P and take foot off brake. Car will not stop. When in car wash on neutral car would not go into drive and rolled out and was able to find spot but couldn-€™t turn off and back on. Has occurred multiple times. Multiple Warning lights on dash light up when it occurs.

- Broomfield , CO, USA

problem #16

Apr 252021

Highlander

  • 35,000 miles
Five different times failure to start the engine and battery appears drained with approx. 30K miles. Each time the vehicle was stationary and either in my garage or parked. Jumper cables used to start the car did the job the first two times, then a powerful portable battery jumper was needed the next two times and the battery was replaced by aaa - told me the oe battery failed (not under warranty, so it cost me out of pocket. Now, the 5th time I am waiting for aaa again. Their battery is still under free replacement warranty. This is very poor performance for a (I bought new) car that has just over 35K miles and less than 39 months old. Also, seeing all the electrical problems and a recall for the 2020 same model, leads me to believe Toyota is not as reliable as they once were.

- Strongsville, OH, USA

problem #15

Mar 082021

Highlander

  • 13 miles
On 3/8/21 I was driving my 2017 Toyota highland approx. 13 miles away from my home. I began to smell smoke as I was driving and through further investigation I found the smoke to be coming from the charging port at the bottom of the middle arm rest. There is a functional cap on this port to keep debris from falling into it. I did not see any debris in it at the time of the incident. But while checking for the source of smoke I felt heat coming from the port and then it melted to the floor. Once this happened I pulled over turned the truck off and exited.

- Upper Marlboro, MD, USA

problem #14

Jan 052021

Highlander

  • 44,832 miles
I was out for heading home & my vehicle would not start. I had the brake pedal pressed & pushed the start engine button. The vehicle just made a rapid clicking noise. There was a "braking power low/ stop in a safe place" light on the dashboard. Having been through this before after having the vehicle for 8 wks I waited & tried to get the brake pedal to the up position. Tried starting again;results the same. Called the local dealership, was told to tow it in for a diagnotstic. Again, I tried the brake pedal/ start sequence: No luck. The dash message center light reappeared immediately over-lapped by "depress brake pedal and push engine switch to start"(brake was depressed). Tried one more time to start results the same. Then the "charging system malfunction/ stop in a safe place/ see owner's manual" light appeared in the dash. Finally started 3 hours later: I drove home. Went to local dealer they said it was the battery. Went to my regular dealership. Enroute, the message center on the dash flashed bright red without words(@ 40mph). My regular dealership tested my battery, it was fine. They ran diagnostic; they said the result was a bad computer that needed to be replaced. Was given a loaner vehicle. 2 wks later they called and said after more testing it is the battery, not the computer.

- Dundalk, MD, USA

problem #13

Jan 192021

Highlander

  • 36,000 miles
Auto stop/start malfunction. It will stop the engine while turning, and won't start the engine while release break. It happened occasionally at the beginning, now seems getting worse. The mechanics couldn't figured out the problem. I see there is a recall in 2020 model, but my 2017 Highlander has same issue.

- Chesterfield, MO, USA

problem #12

Nov 072020

Highlander

  • miles
While pressing on brake and pushing power button to turn on vehicle, a clicking noise sounded as if the battery was malfunctioned. When looking at the screen, it alerted low braking power. Unable to turn on vehicle because of this. The vehicle was stationary when this occurred.

- Heber, CA, USA

problem #11

Aug 272020

Highlander

  • 19,800 miles
2017 with just under 20K miles. Vehicle stalled from stop while at a a red light. Would not restart. Only clicks from start button. Multiple warning lights. Had been driven on city streets 5 miles of 6 mile commute. Car also required jump start twice in past week. Dealer evaluation one day prior to stall " battery checks out fine". I'm afraid there's something more serious going on.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

problem #10

Jul 262020

Highlander

  • 40,000 miles
1 week ago, 7-26-20, my car stalled slightly and then an engine icon appeared. A message appeared for me to visit my dealer. I took it to the Toyota dealer. The light went off as I arrived there. I had to pay for a diagnostic check and they couldn't find anything wrong. I was told to make sure I was using a good grade of gas. Later in the week I got gas at a shell station. The car wouldn't crank at the pump. It kept trying to turn over. I got a message to depress the brake and push ignition. Then it said low brake pressure. I sat there a few minutes and tried again. I finally got it to stay on. The next day I drove around fine for a while with no problem. Then I tried to go back out and it wouldn't crank. It was full of good gas. The engine icon came back on. Then the message about being harder to steer came up. It kept saying depress the brake and push ignition. I tried a few more times and got the message about problems with the smart key system. I checked the recalls for 2017 Highlanders and noticed there electrical problems. I bought this car used in March 2020.

- Augusta, GA, USA

problem #9

Dec 112019

Highlander

  • 23,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. Contact stated that while driving at various speeds, without warning the vehicle would violently shake intermittently, lurch and accelerate. The contact stated that while driving in a parking lot the vehicle inadvertently accelerated while driving through a crosswalk. The brake pedal was depressed to stop the vehicle. The contact stated due to the vehicle lurching and shaking, she has sustained injuries to her tongue, neck and back. No medical attention was needed. The contacted stated that various warning lights would illuminate, the moon roof would randomly open and close, as well as the vehicle would shift gears violently. The vehicle was taken to dealer whom performed a software update. The contact stated that these were ongoing failures. The vehicle was taken to Toyota of greensburg (4964 us-30, greensburg, pa 15601 (724) 552-2761) where the failure could not be duplicated and diagnostic testing results found no failure. The contact stated that an inspector from the manufacturer Toyota was to inspect the vehicle however, no final reports have been completed. The contact mentioned that the inspector stated that he was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact was awaiting call back from the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #8

Dec 202019

Highlander

  • 44,000 miles
The battery failed after we owned the car for 2 yrs and 11 months (mileage ~44,000). The replacement battery cost about $450 including installation. This is excessively early failure, and we are out a large amount of money for something that should not have happened with this new of a vehicle. It took 1 month to get the replacement battery. Also excessive.

- Port Neches, TX, USA

problem #7

Oct 062019

Highlander

  • 71,000 miles
The vehicle stalled twice on me at a red light. No power to steer. This both happened at a city near Washington DC. Had my battery and alternator checked. Both came back as in great condition. Almost got hit twice from behind cause of the stalling.

- Waldorf, MD, USA

problem #6

Aug 022019

Highlander 6-cyl

  • 37,516 miles
My Toyota Highlander would not go into park. The SUV lunged forward over curbing and into building. Then went violently into reverse and into a uncontrollable spin. Then the SUV went violently into drive and jumping over a curbing and into a ditch and was sitting on top of a natural gas line. During this whole time I was pressing the brake and pushing the ignition switch trying to turn off the engine. This was done in a parking lot as I was trying to park.

- Maurepas, LA, USA

problem #5

May 042019

Highlander

  • 41,000 miles
Car stalled has happened more than 5 times at parking lot - gas station - home - restaurant - car wash car has stopped while driving on main street 1 time

- Harbor City, CA, USA

problem #4

Jan 242019

Highlander

  • 27,800 miles
I was driving on an interstate with dynamic speed control on. The car slowed appropriately to match the speed of the the vehicle ahead of me. Suddenly several warning lights and messages appeared: Master warning light, check engine, check AWD, go to Toyota dealer, engine power loss.the car slowed to about 35 miles an hour (in a 65 mph area) while traffic in front of me was at (or above) the speed limit. I was able to safely get to the shoulder and turn the car off. I took a few minutes to use my smartphone to find the nearest dealer and planned to go off the exit (which was just a few yard ahead) and try to make it to the dealer on side roads. When I restarted the car all lights and warnings were off and the car drove without incident until I reached the dealer near my residence, about 100 miles away. The service rep at the dealer advised I had traveled too far since the incident for their computer analysis to work and he had no advice except to go to the nearest dealer if it ever happened again. I would like to have some info on how to avoid such an incident again.

- Royersford, PA, USA

problem #3

Apr 272018

Highlander

  • 25,000 miles
While driving on interstate on cruise control at 75 mph, without warning, alerts went off and vehicle slowed to about 40 mph and would not let me go any faster. The AWD failure alert sign came on as did system engine failure alert came on. I was able drive at that slow speed for approximately 4 miles on interstate ramp with flashers on. My son advised me to turn engine off for one minute and restart, which it did without alerts. Then able to drive the 2O miles home. Next day took it dealership where it's been going on 3 rd day. Extremely bad possible outcome could have occurred on the interstate being rear-ended or if had been trying to pass someone or vice verse. Car presently at dealership so do not have VIN. Or actual mules

- Rockingham, VA, USA

problem #2

Nov 262017

Highlander

  • 11,980 miles
Driving approximately 72 mph when vehicle died causing a potentially very hazardous situation - check engine light came on, master warning light came on, see dealer for repair message displayed. Was able to limp to side of road and had vehicle towed to dealership. After 2 days of diagnostic testing the engine control module (ECM) was replaced under warranty (less than 12,000 miles on vehicle). The vehicle is running, however, now notice a decrease in gas mileage and difference in transmission shifting since replacement.

- Wesley Chapel, FL, USA

problem #1

Feb 142017

Highlander 6-cyl

  • 3,150 miles
Many electrical problems, fuses repeatedly blowing out, power lift gate not closing, many different error message appearing on the screen for no reason, vehicle went into accessory mode while driving resulting in a loss of power.

- Old Orchard Beach, ME, USA