Suspension complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2021 | 4 | 1% | — |
| 2020 | 5 | 2% | 0 miles |
| 2019 | 5 | 1% | 13,000 miles |
| 2018 | 6 | 2% | 25,000 miles |
| 2017 | 4 | 1% | 68,000 miles |
| 2016 | 2 | 2% | 3,000 miles |
| 2015 | 3 | 2% | 4,000 miles |
| 2014 | 4 | 3% | 46,000 miles |
| 2013 | 2 | 1% | 37,000 miles |
| 2012 | 3 | 2% | 160,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 1% | 51,000 miles |
| 2009 | 5 | 4% | 21,000 miles |
| 2008 | 5 | 1% | 43,000 miles |
| 2007 | 2 | 2% | 78,000 miles |
| 2006 | 4 | 1% | 107,000 miles |
| 2005 | 3 | 1% | 90,000 miles |
| 2003 | 6 | 2% | 95,000 miles |
| 2002 | 3 | 1% | 105,000 miles |
| 2001 | 1 | 1% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I was forced to change lanes quickly from the left lane to the left shoulder of an interstate when a double tandem tractor trailer moved into my lane of traffic. The interstate was dry and the left shoulder was in excellent condition and wide enough to accommodate my vehicle easily. All lane assist options were turned off, the driving mode was set to "economy" and the cruise control was turned to "off". A few seconds after entering the left shoulder of the interstate, I felt the rear end of my vehicle sway from side to side for a few seconds. After the swaying ended, I thought there was a brief loss of vehicle control after which the vehicle returned completely to my control. My vehicle is a Toyota Highlander Limited AWD gas engine SUV with about 2700 miles when this occurred. …
3 wheel alignments in same vehicle needed in less than 30 months: <5,000, 30,000 and 35,000 odometer readings It's not from pot holes; I have owned about 14 cars in family fleet and have never had 1 vehicle need more than 1 alignment during it's time of ownership of over 1,000,000 miles driven Something is wrong with vehicle design or mechanical components to go out of alignment so frequently
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. …
Both front struts and bearing plates failed at 75k miles. They were leaking oil before that mileage. Approximate date of failure was 1/5/24. No parts were available until now. Parts were on back-order for upwards of a year for this model of Highlander in the FWD configuration, with 18" wheels. Prematurely failure causes a lot of bouncing in the car, therefore making the vehicle unresponsive to quick steering maneuvers. The bounce also made it so that typical driving within the city is dangerous as the bounce makes the car difficult to control. This is an issue that is documented on Toyota forums for FWD models. An accident has not been caused by this failure as of yet. Vehicle will be repaired soon. Mechanic was finally able to get two factory struts and bearing plates. Each strut is $200 and mounting plates are about $150 each. …
While entering a business park's parking lot, my vehicle suddenly and immediately stopped all forward movement. I was thrown against the steering wheel, injuring the right side of my chest and scraping the skin off my right forearm which was covered with the sleeve of my shirt. I was dazed, had no idea what happened, and thought that I had hit something but yet no airbags had deployed. When the vehicle stopped it was near a light post which I assumed I had hit. Upon exiting the vehicle I noticed the front tire was blown and the wheel was sitting on the ground at an odd angle. Walking around the vehicle showed no other body damage other that a few small strips of yellow paint from the base of the light post. When the tow truck driver was placing the chains to load it onto the flatbed, he called my attention to the fact that the drivers side control arm had failed. …
This vehicle safety complaint is regarding my 2019 Toyota Highlander XLE, VIN [redacted] . A Toyota-authorized dealership, Sansone Toyota in Avenel, New Jersey, documented that the front driver axle is prone to freezing in the differential. This is a serious safety concern because if the axle seizes while the vehicle is in motion, it could cause sudden loss of control. This vehicle is used regularly as our family vehicle, including to transport our family of 6 with our young children. I am extremely concerned about continued operation of the vehicle while this documented condition remains unresolved. In addition to this safety-related axle issue, this vehicle has a broader history of serious mechanical problems. …
The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a clunking sound coming from the front driver's side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and the owner was informed that the struts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was later driven to a local tire and battery service center who inspected the vehicle and informed the owner that the front control arms were rusted and needed to be replaced, and that the front axle was cracked. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The daughter was informed that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 101,000.
Took my 2018 Highlander to have the 5000 mile service done. Upon entering the service department I spoke with one of the certified technicians. I told him my vehicles is pulling to the left. They then did a alignment and tire rotation. After leaving mike wood Toyota of uniontown I noticed that my vehicle was now pulling to the right. When I got home I examined the tires closely only to notice the tires were cupped and starting to feather out on the inner and outter edges. I then scheduled another appointment two days later showing the dealership service department my findings. The service tech got in and took a ride with me. He also drove my 18 Highlander. He observed my vehicle pulling and the cupling and feathering of my tires. He stated that the tires should not have done that in 5000 miles. I am waiting now to see if Toyota is going to replace my tires. Or if the tires are defective
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Highlander years have suspension problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (6), 2018 (6), 2008 (5), 2009 (5) and 2019 (5) model years. Suspension complaints make up 2% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Toyota Highlander suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension 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 suspension problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 57,000 miles; 53% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the rear (4 mentions), followed by the front (1).
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.