Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Toyota Highlander owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
When I was trying to park my Toyota Highlander 2005 in front of the building where I work, backing up, the engine iddle went extremely high and I tried to stop, but I could not do it because the steering wheel and the brakes locked. I tried to put the gear in neutral, but instead, it went straigh to drive, so it causes major damages to 2 vehicles behind mine, and other 3 in front of mine too. Also my vehicle destroyed a mail box and a tree, but I could not stop until my Highlander stopped by itself totally destroyed. I ended up in the hospital with some trauma.
Unexplained vehicle acceleration with inability to stop before hitting vehicle in front of me. Pulled off of road behind truck to park. Lifted foot from gas pedal to put on brake so as to put vehicle into park. There was then an extreme vehicle acceleration which was uncontrollable with brake. Slammed into truck. Toyota corp claims no errors logged in computer system, and that if foot would have been on brake pedal, the filament would have broken. I can't be certain the braking happened before the accident-it was very fast. I am certain foot was on brake and not on gas!! There has been a previous denial of a petition to investigate numerous instances of this identical situation with other Toyota's-(NHTSA action # dp05002). NHTSA please investigate this!! There are too many complaints of this happening-do something before there are deaths! Is Toyota immune from safety recalls? …
I own a 2005 Toyota Highlander. I went to a friend's house and parked vehicle in front of the house in the driveway by placing the gear shift in the park position. I left the vehicle idling while I went into my friend's house to get a grocery list. I went in and out of the house on 2 different occasions over a period of about 10- 15 minutes to retrieve items for my friend that were outside. On both occasions my vehicle was in the driveway idling. While I was back inside retrieving the grocery list my friend and I observed my vehicle moving through her back yard and proceeded into the woods behind her house where it came to a stop after hitting a tree. This vehicle somehow took itself out of the park position and into drive!!!! I reported this to my Toyota dealer and the insurance company. …
Bought the car and not even a week after owning it I had transmission problems, I took it back to the dealer they replaced the trans and updated the computer. The problem still persist, there is a huge hesitation in the transmission when slowing to an almost stop and re accelerating. The RPM's rev up but the car does not respond sometimes. This is very dangerous when going through intersections or merging into traffic. There are numerous complaints from people experiencing the same problem. I have a new trans in my car, fluid levels are perfect the computer has been updated and still having huge issues with my trans. This is dangerous very dangerous.
My Highlander has 120,000 miles on it and the transmission suddenly gave out while driving on the highway. It started by downshifting suddenly, making it difficult to retain control of the vehicle. Then I lost all forward power and had to coast to a stop on the side of the interstate. I am now stuck paying a $3500+ repair bill despite keeping up on regular maintenance according to the manufacturers maintenance guide. After talking with several mechanics, I found out this is apparently a common problem on the transmissions used by the rav4s and highlanders, but Toyota has only issued recalls for the rav4s? Very disappointing.
Summary: 2005 Toyota Highlander has signification hesitation when accelerating. 1.) events leading to failure: failure is constant since it is present during normal operation of vehicle; 2. Failure and its consequences: if I accelerate (step on the gas pedal), the vehicle hesitates/lags/dies for a few seconds before vehicle will begin moving. The consequences of this failure is that there is constant danger when making a left turn during gaps in oncoming traffic. Although a margin of safety is always used, I am afraid that one day, something May happen to reduce this margin, e.g. Oncoming car is accelerating very quickly or the hesitation worsens from a few seconds to several seconds; 3.) what was done to correct the failure: nothing. …
Front differential catastrophically failed on 2005 Toyota Highlander (4wd) (65,220 mi) while traveling at 65 MPH on interstate. Vehicle instantaneously lost speed (to 30 MPH) & we narrowly avoided being run over by semitrailer at highway speed. Due to configuration of road - only sporadic shoulders because of terrain - this was a very dangerous situation. Car stuck in travel lanes for an extended period. Feel very lucky that no one was hurt. Repairing dealer asserted that the part had no fluid remaining due to seal leak. Vehicle was last serviced by local dealer ~2,000 miles earlier (63,226 mi) with no leakage seen. Entire front differential / transfer case assembly was replaced (still have part). Car was totally inspected by repairing dealer at the time (65,220 mi) and no other problems found. One month later found fluid puddle in driveway (66,216 mi). …
Bought the car used with 49K miles approximately. Did not do this for the first 1.5 yrs we owned this now problems with the tranny and dealer told us it is suppose to do that. I dont think so by other people in the Toyota Highlander forums. There are thousands of owners with this tranny problem and Toyota has no fix but to replace the tranny for $5000.00 wife's 2005 Highlander is not shifting correct when she slows down and then tries to speed up or when she goes around a corner slow and speeds up the tranny has a delay and then shifts kinda hard. When starting from a dead stop shifts fine no problems just slowing down and then accelerating it will delay then shift. It kind of jerks the car and makes you wonder what is going on. Car has been doing this for about 6 months. This is very dangerous when in traffic with the delay shifting trying to merge in stop and go traffic. …
I am the original owner of the vehicle and throughout my ownership since 2/2005 when it was bought this car has issues with acceleration. It usually occurs when you are sitting at a stop and try to accelerate the vehicle. The car does not recognize when you are pushing the acceleration pedal and has a delay when it finally responds. There have been numerous incidents where I have tried to cross a busy intersection or pull out into traffic and the vehicle hesitates when trying to accelerate, ending with a jerk of the vehicle. I have almost been t-boned a few times trying to cross busy intersections and the car doesn't want to move. I have brought this to the dealership numerous times and the only response they have is that the car adjusts to different drivers and it then programs itself based off your driving habits, so they reset the coding on it. …
My 2005 Toyota Highlander developed a leak from the transfer case, which has the potential to cause a complete loss of transmission fluid as well as loss of steering control. There are documented accidents which have occurred as a result of this problem. This repair would normally be covered by a 5 year/60,000 mile power train warranty however the leak was discovered a few months after the 5 year time period expired. I have since learned that Toyota was aware of this potentially dangerous problem and first released a technical service bulletin (TSB) in November of 2007 with the most recent TSB being issued May of 2010. My vehicle was clearly under warranty at the time that the TSB's were initially issued, but Toyota withheld this information from the consumer. This results in a cost of several thousand dollars to the consumer in potential repairs. …
Transmission complaints in other Highlander years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2005 Toyota Highlander?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2005 Toyota Highlander, 23% of the model year's 224 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (27 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Toyota Highlander transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2005 Toyota Highlander, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Toyota Highlander transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 45,000 miles, and 41% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.