Traction Control complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2019 | 5 | 1% | 9,000 miles |
| 2018 | 3 | 1% | 25,000 miles |
| 2017 | 3 | 1% | 38,000 miles |
| 2016 | 4 | 4% | 50,000 miles |
| 2015 | 4 | 2% | 91,000 miles |
| 2014 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2013 | 2 | 1% | 51,000 miles |
| 2012 | 1 | 1% | 72,000 miles |
| 2011 | 2 | 1% | 122,000 miles |
| 2010 | 6 | 3% | 3,000 miles |
| 2009 | 3 | 2% | 142,000 miles |
| 2008 | 15 | 4% | 128,000 miles |
| 2007 | 5 | 4% | 150,000 miles |
| 2006 | 13 | 5% | 85,000 miles |
| 2005 | 2 | 1% | 119,000 miles |
| 2004 | 18 | 6% | 74,000 miles |
| 2003 | 4 | 2% | 97,000 miles |
| 2002 | 2 | 1% | 55,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (electronic stability control and traction control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
May 31 I was picking my passengers as diving to uber driver. I parked my vehicle step out to open back door to open my 3rd row seat but door didn't able to open and same minutes I heard voice beep coming out from front steering wheel. I turned around went to see what this voice is about.. Before I touched anything my vehicle start to rolled backwards and I got so scared and I tried to hold the steering wheels from outside to stop vehicle somehow but it went so fast dragged me over 100 feets throws me on the street and went out on 2 homes property over the bushes and hit the railing guards on one home . I called police on the spot where they asked my passengers as well what was happened and they stated what I just wrote here. Ambulance came put bandages on my ripped left knee and told me to call them if I needed them later on. …
Me and my family were leaving a hotel in tarrytown ny. I parked the car: Toyota Highlander 2019 outside, helped my wife and 21-month baby into the back seat and had to put something in the trunk but it was locked. In that moment the car was in park with the engine running; the ground was not steep at all: 5-10 degrees the most. I took out the key from ignition to go open the trunk with the button from the remote. Suddenly the car started rolling backwards with my wife and kid in the back seat. There was a slope few feet away from where I parked and the angle became about 40 degrees and it picked up speed quickly. I rushed in (drivers door was lucky open and flapping around), at the last moment was able to press the break but we still hit another car with people inside. …
Vehicle was in park and rolled. It picked up speed as it continued to roll and there weren't any occupant. This took place in a driveway. The vehicle rolls while the emergency brake is on alll the time as well.
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.
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. …
Twice the AWD system has failed. 12/28/2016 and March 17/ 2019. The check engine light comes on the the 4wd shuts down along with the trac and vehicle stability system. Under both times the car was being operated in extreme weather conditions of deep heavy snow, slush, ice and mud. The vehicle will not allow the wheels to spins enabling me to keep moving in the hazardous conditions. I needed to shift between 1, 2 and 3 gears to engage the higher revs to spins the tire to keep the car from getting stuck or sliding off the road. In both instances I was in remote, isolated areas with no help and no cell service. The December 2016 instances was repaired by a Toyota dealer in omaha. Dealer could not readily understand how the problem initiated.
When driving, periodically, under no particular road or weather condition, the "check AWD system," "ABS," "brake" and "stability control" warning lights light up. When warning lights are on, only the front wheels will drive and stability control is inactive. Real wheels are not active. This condition May last five to ten minutes, then return to normal. This has occurred 10 to 15 times in the last six months.
Our 2015 Highlander steering intermittently locks up and has a complete loss of power. First happened when starting the vehicle and had to sit and start and stop over 15 times and the steering finally came back. We immediately contacted Toyota and they said this vehicle had no recalled parts and there is no problem. When it happened the second time we took it in and they said it had a bad battery and the problem was fixed. We paid a hefty service fee and paid for a really expensive battery. Two days later it happened again and while moving on a city street about 35/40 MPH. We got over safely but was so dangerous. Took it back to Toyota and they are telling us the vehicle has no problem and we just need to use it till it happens again and bring it back! If we don't kill ourselves or another motorist! …
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Highlander years have traction control problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2004 (18), 2008 (15), 2006 (13), 2010 (6) and 2007 (5) model years. Traction Control complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 2004.
Is there a recall for Toyota Highlander traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for any Toyota Highlander model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Toyota Highlander traction control problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles; 40% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic (asc) (3 mentions).
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.