2019 Toyota Highlander Problems & Complaints

Most common 2019 Toyota Highlander problems

• Transmission & drivetrain~65,000 miles
  21042%
• Fuel & propulsion system~6,000 miles
  10822%
• Other / not specified~4,000 miles
  8016%
• Engine & cooling~15,000 miles
  7214%
• Electrical system~5,000 miles
  5611%
• Brakes~25,000 miles
  204%
• Air bags~18,000 miles
  143%
• Driver assistance~8,000 miles
  143%
• Speed control & acceleration~10,000 miles
  133%
• Body & structure~5,000 miles
  122%
• Steering~4,000 miles
  82%
• Seats~3,000 miles
  61%
• Seat belts~30,000 miles
  61%
• Windows, wipers & sunroof~60,000 miles
  61%
• Wheels & tires~9,000 miles
  61%
• Stability & traction control~9,000 miles
  51%
• Suspension~13,000 miles
  51%
• Lights~14,000 miles
  41%
• Locks & latches~5,000 miles
  20%
• Equipment & accessories
  10%

Share of the 500 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Toyota Highlander complaints by model year

Best Highlander years: 2025, 2016, 2014. Years to avoid: 2021, 2019, 2023, 2022, 2020. Compare all years →

2019 Toyota Highlander recalls (3)

What 2019 Toyota Highlander owners say

Transmission & drivetrain all 210 →

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was an abnormal whining sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact previously owned a 2017 Toyota Highlander and heard the same whining sound coming from the transmission. The contact stated that when the 2017 Toyota Highlander was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was purchased, the contact was offered a trade of the 2017 Toyota Highlander for the 2019 Toyota Highlander. Following the failure of the 2019 Highlander, the vehicle was taken to two different dealers to be diagnosed. The first dealer had not diagnosed the vehicle but stated that the vehicle was operating normally. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH uphill, the vehicle downshifted unintendedly and failed to shift back to the intended gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the transmission was recorded; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving uphill. Additionally, the contact stated that while at a complete stop and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle lunged unexpectedly. The contact stated that while driving on a level road surface and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal went to the floorboard; however, while driving uphill and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal travel distance was reduced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the brake line was bled; however, the failure persisted. …

Fuel & propulsion system all 108 →

My vehicle was not part of the fuel pump recall like the other 3.3M vehicles from Toyota. However, my vehicle exhibited the exact same symptoms as those cars and stranded me on the side of the road twice. This included pushing on the accelerator and getting no response from the car followed by numerous system warning lights including hybrid system malfunction, front collision system failure, and check engine light. Initially, the dealership could not find anything wrong when I first brought it to them. The second time it happened, I was able to bring the car in with the check engine light still on so they were able to diagnose it and are currently replacing the fuel pump. My car (and many others) should have been included in this recall, this is a huge safety issue as this had me stranded on the side of very busy highways twice plus not being able to accelerate in traffic.

I had just driven up a steep driveway and made a slightly sharper than 90 degree turn at a very low speed to pull into a home parking spot when the car lunged forward suddenly and slammed into the stone wall of the house at a high speed. The section of this driveway after the turn is only 2.5 car lengths, but the car picked up enough speed to smash the front of the car in. The car was totaled and driver and side curtain airbags all deployed. I do not know why this happened as there is no way I would have hit the gas hard while pulling up to a building to stop. I also would not have slammed on the gas thinking it was the brake since there would have been no reason to slam on the brake when I was only going 5-10 miles per hour max around the tight turn. My shoe was not caught on a pedal, both sandals were still on my feet after the accident. I am not a two footed driver. …

Engine & cooling all 72 →

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH the vehicle began to loose automotive power and stalled. During the incident, several warning messages were activated which included the check engine light and the ABS warning. While inspecting the vehicle smoke and fire began to stream from under the engine hood and moments later the frontend of the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed and later towed away. A police report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 96,200.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while his wife was driving in a parking lot at approximately 2 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without the contact's wife having depressed the accelerator pedal. The vehicle crashed into a railing in the garage. The contact stated his wife had not noticed any warning lights. The vehicle had minor damage to the front grill and bumper there were scrapes and dents on the driver's side front fender and also to the passenger side front fender. The vehicle was drivable. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer, the vehicle had not been diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

2019 Toyota Highlander engines & fuel economy

EPA ratings. Class: SUV.