It-??s been a known issue that Toyota Highlander has transmission problems under 100k miles from 2016-2021 or later (social media sites confirmed such). My vehicle require a trans axle replacement as well as the struts are leaking oil and my vehicle has less than 62k miles and is only 5 years old. This is being covered under my extended warranty but parts are on back order After doing research many owners complain about a whining noise showing acceleration of vehicle. If left unfixed this leads to transmission gears slipping and eventually needing an entire replacement Some owners also complain about leaky struts. My car has an issue with leaky struts and is being fixed under warranty Some owners say they need an entire new transmission and after that is replaced the rear transaxle goes and needs replacement Toyota is not putting a recall on this but it-??s a known issue. Owners are asking to have this put out as a recall by toy. All parts are on back order and takes several months before transmission can be repaired or replaced. This tells me there are hundreds if not thousands of Highlander-??s having the same issue This is a Toyota problem and is related to building transmission in the factory..recall the older vehicles and do better in the factory

- Tilton , NH, USA

Whining noise from the transmission after 66K miles - Change fluids still no improvement - Known issue with UA80 transmission. Dealers knew of the issue but still sold cars

- Laguna Niguel, CA, USA

Final drive failing in transmisssion

- Youngsville, NC, USA

8 speed automatic transmission started whining at 45k miles (purchased new), has been inspected, dealer confirmed transmission is bad and part is on back order (date keeps moving out),

- Harbor City, CA, USA

Began hearing a high-pitched whining sound when I accelerated. Took it into the dealer and they casually told me that I needed a new transmission. My car was less than four years old, but had more than the 60,000 miles that would apply under a warranty. I am now reading online. This is a widespread problem involving Toyota Highlanders. Can-??t get a new transmission for three months or more.

- Chicago, IL, USA

2020 Toyota Highlander l developed a whining noise and after extensively researching this sound it seems like its common on highlanders with the UA80 transmission and leads to transmission failure. There is a Toyota forum where owners have gathered about this issue not only for this year highlander but early models when the specific transmission above started being used. Quotes to replaced this transmission range from $6,000-$13,000 at the dealer. Toyota has been called and they have been of no help to anyone. Even worse it seems all places are backordered on these transmissions and owners are left without a car. To quote a toyota member who called to get hemp with the issue, this is what Toyotas response was: -?? Toyota refuses any support stating that "we can't predict an average life expectancy for any specific part of component", This only means life expectancy on their parts does not exist" Shouldnt they have a target life expectancy on parts" A lot of dissatisfied toyota owners as toyota is hiding from this issue.

- Richmond Hill, NY, USA

Around 90,000 miles, the transmission has started to whine really bad. This seems to be a common problem with this 2018 to 2021 Highlanders, but 2020 has no recall or service bulletin. My mechanic priced a transmission from a dealership and was told it would be 3 months at least to get a reman transmission. There is a good chance of catastrophic failure before we can get a new transmission installed.

- Rutledge, GA, USA

At about 85,000 miles, the transmission developed a whine noise, and two dealers and a transmission shop all state it needs replacement. However, the backlog for replacement is enormous and I risk the transmission failing catastrophically while driving.

- Bartlesville, OK, USA

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, there was a whining sound coming from the transmission. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the internal bearings had failed, and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced Technical Service Bulletin: TSB-0008-21 as a possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 99,000.

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

There is a whining noise coming from the power train/transmission. It only happens when the accelerator pedal is pressed. We had a couple of mechanics look at it. The transmission oil was changed twice, with the vehicle less than 78,000 miles. Neither mechanic can find any issue with any other item, including the engine. The noise still persists. There are no warning lights on. We have researched the web. Toyota is aware of the problem and has replaced some transmissions still under warranty. They have issues a TSB (TSB008-21) in February 2021, but did not issue a recall or notify owners of a potential problem.

- Brick , NJ, USA

The transmission is making a whining noise at 104;368 miles. We own another 2020 Toyota Highlander and it had to have the transmission replaced for the same reason. It is available for inspection. It-??s a safety hazard because it-??s a bearings in the transmission that-??s failing. The transmission will eventually stop working. The issue was confirmed by a Toyota dealer and one of our transmissions has already had to be replaced. Toyota has a service bulletin out for this known problem. There were no warning signs for the transmission noise.

- Wyensboro, VA, USA

Around 92k miles my transmission started makining a whining noise while driving. Dealership diagnosed a transmission problem and it needed to be replaced. They said eventually the transmission will go bad and stop working, potentially leaving me stranded or causing an accident. Spoke with Toyota HQ who would not offer financial assistance or assist with getting a part. UA80F transmissions are on a nationwide backorder. They also would not acknowledge that there is a problem.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

Transmission going out afraid it will come apart or lose power while driving. Toyota dealership told me that we could put new transmission in but it will be the same as the one that is in it and that problem with them has not been corrected and it probably won't hold up long either. Our vehicle only has 71000 miles and we bought it new.

- Apison, TN, USA

The 8-speed automatic transmission was making a whirring, whining noise. Transmission could failed completely and stranded occupants including children. Vehicle has been serviced every 5,000 miles and no warning lights or indicators ever came on. Dealer inspected and diagnosed an internal component failure necessitating complete transmission replacement. Vehicle is 4 years and 2 months old with 65,000 miles on it.

- Middleton, WI, USA

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle was making an abnormal whining sound. The contact stated that the failure occurred at various speeds. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: T-SB-0008-21 Whine Or Grind Noise from Transmission (Power Train). The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

- Picayune, MS, USA

At 76000 miles my 2020 Highlander water pump began to fail. 20 days after the water pump was replaced at Kings Toyota dealership, the transmission is now failing at 79000 miles. The warranty only covers repairs on each up to 60000 miles. This car has been maintained by the dealership and no engine light ever came on. The water pump was $1200 to repair and I-??m being quoted $10K to repair the transmission. I also don-??t trust that dealership didn-??t accidentally cause the transmission to fail bc they surprisingly have a new transmission in stock the day I came in. If it truly failed today, then Toyota needs to recall this car for safety reasons. It went from fine to not fine in just a few days of driving.

- Madeira, OH, USA

Complete transmission and transfer assembly failure at 72,000. Just outside manufacturer warranty. Toyota Dealership and Corporate refused to acknowledge responsibility, stating that the transmission and transfer assembly met warranty requirements, and that they would not entertain assistance.

- Manhattan, KS, USA

The transmission is starting to whine at 108,000 miles. Toyota service told me the only fix is a replacement and they have seen two failures within the same week. They also said this is a known issue with this model year. A Reddit thread shows many owners in the US and Canada with the same issue. If this is resulting in failures of the transmission in operation this is a safety issue and a reasonable recall being a known defect for this line of transmissions. The recommendation from the service department since this vehicle is paid off is to run it to failure.

- Perrysburg, OH, USA

Before hitting 100,000 miles the car started making a whirring/whine noise when accelerating. We mentioned it to the service advisor when taking the car in for an oil change. Initially the advisor said the service technicians took it for a drive and didn-??t notice any noise; when we picked up the vehicle asked the advisor to sit in with us to point out the noise to him, he heard and acknowledged there in fact was a whining/whirring noise and said he would inquire about it to the shop foreman. The next day the advisor called me and said the shop foreman stated that noise is a transmission issue.

- Wichita, KS, USA

The transmission started slipping without any warning and then went into neutral while driving and I am not able to drive it anymore. The dealership said the transmission is bad. I see many complaints online about 2020 Toyota Highlander transmissions going bad for no reason. This is a new car only 4.5 years of normal driving and the transmission goes, this is not normal for such a high rated vehicle.

- Vernon, CT, USA