2019 Toyota Highlander Engine Problems

72 owners have reported engine & cooling problems with the 2019 Toyota Highlander to NHTSA — 14% of all 500 complaints for this model year. The typical failure happened around 15,000 miles. That ranks #3 of 25 Highlander model years for engine complaints (a typical year has 21). No engine recall has been issued for this model year.

72complaints
15ktypical miles
0related recalls
3crashes
1fires
1injuries

Which parts fail

  • Engine › Crank/camshaft position sensor
    1

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    2372%
  • 25k–50k
    39%
  • 50k–75k
    413%
  • 75k–100k
    13%
  • 100k–150k
    13%
  • 150k+
    00%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2019 Toyota Highlander owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

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.

96,000 miles · Aug 2024 · fire

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.

40,000 miles · Aug 2022 · crash

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.

20,000 miles · Jul 2021

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the contact heard abnormal buzzing sounds coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the failure could not able to be replicated. The contact stated that a day or two days later, while stopped at an intersection, and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and restarted; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

59,000 miles · Nov 2025

I was involved in an accident that I believe was caused by sudden unintended acceleration (sua). In a very busy commercial parking lot, I was pulling into a parking space proceeding at a very slow speed, when there was a sudden surge in acceleration accompanied by a grinding/acceleration sound. I hit the brake to no effect, and the vehicle jumped the curb and hit a building shop and entered the shop. The air bags did not deploy, and I was shaken up but not injured. Thankfully, there was no one at the front desk area of the business. The car was not drivable and was towed to a body shop.

Sep 2021 · crash

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed as a failure with the crankshaft sensor. The contact was informed that the crankshaft sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. The VIN was not available.

Engine › Crank/camshaft position sensor · 60,000 miles · Jul 2024

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with head gasket failure, resulting in damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,000.

124,000 miles · Oct 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the check engine warning light illuminated and disappeared later in the evening. Additionally, the contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was a winding sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,471.

54,000 miles · Nov 2024

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that recently while driving at speeds above 40 MPH, there was a whining sound coming from the engine compartment. The cause of the sound was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 51,000.

51,000 miles · Sep 2024

2GR engine family in general used in Toyota and Lexus, may have a MANUFACTURING defect as per google about the 2GR-FE engine subtype Yes, the Toyota 2GR-FE engine, a 3.5L V6 found in many Toyota and Lexus models, is known to have a recurring issue with head gasket leaks, particularly where coolant leaks externally from the engine block due to corrosion around the cylinder head where the coolant port is located; this is considered a common problem with this engine type. Key points about the 2GR head gasket issue: Leak location: Coolant typically leaks outside of the engine block, visible as stains on the block surface, rather than internally into the combustion chambers. Cause: Corrosion around the cylinder head near the coolant port, often exacerbated by road salt and old, acidic coolant. …

Feb 2025

Engine complaints in other Highlander years

’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’251929873614409762814211935312105034721747102851
Engine complaints per model year, Toyota Highlander.

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2019 Toyota Highlander?

NHTSA has 72 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2019 Toyota Highlander, 14% of the model year's 500 complaints. The component named most often is engine › crank/camshaft position sensor (1 mentions).

Is there a recall for 2019 Toyota Highlander engine problems?

No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2019 Toyota Highlander, though it has 3 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 2019 Toyota Highlander engine problems start?

Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 15,000 miles, and 72% before 25,000 miles.

Is it dangerous?

Owners linked 3 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury to engine & cooling 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.