Complaint volume
453 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2019 Toyota Highlander Complaints
453 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2019 Toyota Highlander, grouped by component category.
453 Total complaints
22 Crash reports
1 Fire reports
12 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are power train, fuel/propulsion system, unknown or other. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 22 crash reports, 1 fire report, 12 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 139 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 27,463 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to power train, fuel/propulsion system, unknown or other?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2019 Toyota Highlander?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2019 Toyota Highlander
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2019 Toyota Highlander complaints?
22 Crash
1 Fire
12 Injury
0 Fatality
27 Towed
7 Medical attention
What are the most common 2019 Toyota Highlander complaint categories?
POWER TRAIN 149
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 48
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 45
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 19
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 16
ENGINE 12
AIR BAGS 9
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 8
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 8
453 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2022 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | My car continues to stall/become powerless while driving even after replacing the low-pressure fuel pump as part of the earlier safety recall On Oct/28 2021by the dealer. The same problem started re-occurring once two weeks ago and again twice today while driving on busy road. It is a safety issue, my car has driven only 17k miles. I have visited the dealer last week and reported the issue and requested to check the fault code and ascertain the fault. They have expressed their inability to do it and said, the car is out of warranty. I think the problem is beyond the fuel pump or the work was not done in a proper workmanship manner. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | This is a 2019 Toyota Highlander and I have had to put three windshields in it. One every year. Substandard glass from the lowest bidder most likely. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2022 | AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS | Ever since I bought this car i have been having an issue where the SRS airbag Malfunction light comes on and my airbags are off seatbelts don't get recognized as buckled in. I have taken this car to the dealership numerous times to get it checked out but they cant seem to find a problem or solution. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE and I would really like someone to get involved in this issue and help me figure out my next steps because of what they tell me is that they just reset the modue and it never comes back on until 2-3 months from after they chekc it out and reset it. Please help me | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2022 | STEERING,LANE DEPARTURE | Vehicle constantly drift to the left which make it very unsafe because the driver is in a continuous correction mode to remain in one lane - can inspect anytime, alignment and tire rotation has been complied with at least 8 times within the last 3 months by Toyota Dealer and Firestone conclusion alignment is OK sometimes with minor correction. I'm constantly holding pressure on the steering to the right and left to remain in my lane doesn't matter about the road. The problem is worst on multi - lanes in the same direction with tractor trailers passing due to air current. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES | Suddenly very difficult to use the breaks. Car then stalls and can’t be started. Had happened twice. Dealer said it was the battery but I don’t believe it | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | I was driving and stopped at a red light on 4 lane intersection (very busy). I went to press on the gas and my car would not move. I put it in park and and then back in drive. It still did not move. It "died". I looked at the dash and it said "electrical system - move over to a safe place". My car would not start - I could not move it. I was stuck in the middle of the street -scared out of my mind. I had to call 911 and they told me someone already called for me and the police were on their way. When the police came he told me to stay in my car and he would stay behind me. There were no warning lights or anything to let me know that this was going to happen. If there was, I would not be in the middle of a 4 lane road. Toyota states it is the start-stop battery system. This is completely unsafe. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2021 | STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | Erratic steering - Steering response is unpredictable when changing lanes, especially at highway speeds. Stall out on hard acceleration - such as accelerating from an entrance ramp onto an interstate. Glare on navigation screen - creates hazard when shading screen by hand to see it while driving. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | While driving on highway, sunroof on 2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid exploded outward. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | Since having recall work done my vehicles computer system has not been functioning the same. My vehicle has been stalling out and saying braking power low,stop in a safe place, charging system malfunction. I’ve reached out to Haley Toyota 8301 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23235 where the diagnostic was done and let them know of the error code I was given ( P0335) Crankshaft Position Sensor “A” Circuit. I took it in for diagnostic there and they told me they couldn’t find any issues with my vehicle , ( picked up Oct.3, 2021). It’s Oct.4 , 2021 and here I am at Sams Club trying to leave but my vehicle will not start. I contacted Toyota again and let them know of the same issue and they said to once again bring it in for diagnosing. I asked the gentleman on the phone if they had previously had it for a week and didn’t seem to find any issues with it after doing diagnostic then what were they planning on doing differently. My vehicle is under warranty and I’m trying to figure out who and where I can take it to to get some answers. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | STEERING,SUSPENSION | 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. See the attached pictures for further detail. I am very grateful that I was not in traffic on a major highway as this would have been a horrific accident. Pictures show the control arm had a crack with exposed rust on edges of a fracture in the control arm. This vehicle has only been serviced at Toyota authorized dealerships and has undergone their multipoint inspections during these visits that include the front and rear suspension. I will not feel comfortable driving this vehicle again! | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed | Unknown |
| Sep 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | 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. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Sep 2021 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Our 2019 Highlander xle ( VIN [XXX]) is currently at the Lonestar service department. Service Rep ([XXX]), Assistant Sales Manager [XXX], and [XXX], were fully advised of the stall problems of our vehicle on 9/13/2031. Our paperwork on previous tall repairs were left with [XXX]. On 9/13/2021, we left our 2019, Highlander XLE in the Toyota Lonestar Service department, Lewisville, Texas, for stalling (would not drive) repairs. They were fully notified of several stall episodes. The most recent stall was while driving, 30 mph in Denton, Texas, in heavy traffic, in the middle of an intersection. My wife was terrified when the car stalled. The screen went black. Her car mileage was 9344 mileage at this most recent problem 9/2021. My wife when she starts the car leaving the house. She always going through the procedure to turn off the "start/stop" function, before leaving our residence ("manually turns off the auto stop-start feature"). This vehicle has stalled, several times, in heavy traffic while wife was driving, putting my wife in personal danger. The vehicle is very much at risk of a serious traffic accident. The Toyota dealer, in Denton Texas, has been made aware this problem, when it was returned for service repairs several times. They have not fixed this on going problem at all. This car is a "Lemon". This problem has occurred (stalls occurred on 3/16/2021, and 3/26/2021, 5/17/2019)The care was taken to Lonestar Toyota and Denton Toyota for repairs on these stall occasions. My wife says there were additional stall episodes. The Denton Police have a report of my wife being stalled on I-35 in heavy traffic on 3/5/2021. We waited in a police car for four hours for a tow truck, because of dangerous fast traffic. My wife says two other police departments have similar reports of these stall episodes, when police responded, (Flower Mound Police was one she recalled. https://www.consumerreports.org/car-recalls-defec INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | We purchased our brand new Toyota from the dealership in July of 2019. We used the dealership for every scheduled maintenance and maintained updated contact information the whole time. On August 6, 2021 when we were approximately 100 miles from home our car stalled abruptly in the middle of an intersection. The car was not driveable so we called a tow truck and we’re able to obtain a rental car. The car was towed to the nearest dealership which informed us the problem was due to a recalled faulty fuel pump. ( The first we had ever heard of the recall) The dealership fixed the car free of charge but denied us twice when we asked for approximately $450. 00 in reimbursement charges for the tow truck and car rental. We finally received a notice concerning the very long ongoing recall on or about September 2, 2021. We feel Toyota possibly knew about the dangerous recall when they sold us the car in July 2019. Thankfully it happened just as we were leaving a red light and no one was coming through the intersection, so no crash occurred | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2021 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While driving threw a construction zone the car upfront of me stopped. Upon applying the brakes nothing happened. There was a tractor trailer beside us and I was at the reR and another car was at the front plenty of time to stop. Brakes didn't activate until right before impact and the nose dove down. ABS never activated and the collision avoidance never activated. I was traveling with my wife and two young kids lucky no one was hurt and I had no avenue of escape due to cement barriers and 18 wheeler. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Aug 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Vehicle will slip into drive without the hybrid system engaging, allowing vehicle to roll without brakes or steering. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Aug 2021 | FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL | 2019 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLE REPAIRS RELATED TO SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE RECALL LIST AS THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2021 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Problems: 1) Check Engine Light lit up. 2) "Hybrid System Malfunction" warning on heads-up display. 3) "Pre-Collision System Failure" warning on Heads-Up Display. 4) Gasoline engine stalls after an intentional deceleration and is unable to come back up to speed. First Event: On July 4th, my wife and I were driving on an interstate highway. We entered an exit ramp interchange to merge onto another highway and when trying to accelerate the car suddenly became sluggish, and gave messages for problems 1), 2), and 4) stated above. Problem 3) did not occur during this event. Messages stated to pull over in a safe location. We parked on the shoulder and immediately shut the car off, waited 5 minutes and then started the car again. We were able to drive to the next off-ramp to a city street (about 100 yards) before the engine started becoming sluggish again and lurching, error messages remained throughout the event. OBD codes stated simply "faulty engine" on a car with 16,000 miles. Dealership was unable to find a cause, but did find a code for ignition failure. They checked some things but did not do any repairs, and were unable to replicate the issue as it seemed to have cleared. Diagnosis was "vapor-lock" and no explanation for why. Second Event: On August 6th, my wife was driving the vehicle to visit family, when pulling onto an exit ramp, was unable to accelerate again afterwards. All the same warnings popped up, but this time also had problem 3). Engine stalled when warnings appeared and did the same sluggish lurching. After pulling off in a safe area, Shut the car off and tried to restart 4 times, warning did not clear. Gasoline Engine does not operate when pedal is pressed. Shut the car down for 2 hours and tried to restart afterwards, warnings still present, engine now runs when pedal is pressed, but stalls when idle. Shutdown for another hour while waiting for a tow, warnings still present, still stalls when idle. Waiting on callback from dealership. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While driving onto an exit ramp I applied my brakes to my 2019 Toyota Highlander but the engine just roared up, took my foot off the brake and applied both feet to the brakes and the engine roared up again, I then came up right behind a car at the intersection and the front end collision did not stop me so I survived to the left lane but then I was headed into the highway and was T-boned by another Toyota Highlander and came to a stop on the right side of the highway. All the air bags deployed in the other SUV but none deployed in mine. The fireman had to use the jaws of life to get me out of the SUV. My wife and I were very shook up but had no serious injuries. But my brakes, the front-end collision, and the airbags all failed in the Toyota. My Highlander was totaled by my insurance company but they will not investigate the failures. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I purchased this vehicle in March 2020. I specifically asked if it had been a rental car. Having worked in the rental car industry, I know how hard people are on rental cars so I absolutely did not want one. I checked the Carfax and it was completely clean. I purchased this vehicle and a few months later noticed a sticker under the rearview mirror that was an Avis/budget sticker. Still, the Carfax never said it was a rental car. Today I'm cleaning out the glove box and registration falls out from the previous owners: Avis Budget in NJ. So this is confirmation that this car absolutely was a rental car at some point and your Carfax failed to disclose that. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Driving under "normal" weather conditions when the check engine light warning along with the hybrid maintenance warning light. The car stalled while trying to safely pull to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the nearest Toyota dealership. They confirmed fuel pressure codes p0087, p107b, p3190. I was told Toyota has not issued any updates for this problem. So I am stuck with a car that isn't safe to drive, especially long distances. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Jun 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I was driving my car on a major intersection. The light turned green and I proceeded to make a left turn onto a major street. As I made it onto the street a warning came up that said "Hybrid system malfunction" and my car immediately started decelerating even though I had the gas pushed. I was able to sway to the right into a parking lot and stop the car before it stopped. My daughter was in the back seat at the time when the car failed and since we were in the middle of accelerating to get onto the major street when the car started decelerating, the cars behind me had to hit brakes/change lanes. I had the car towed to the closest Toyota dealership. They diagnosed it as a failed fuel pump. I looked up the issue and saw that Toyota had a recall on fuel pumps. I told them I wanted the improved fuel pump replacement. They informed me that my car was a Toyota Highlander Hybrid and my fuel pump was different than the recalled Toyota Highlander fuel pump and was not on recall. They replaced the failed fuel pump with the same product and assured me that the car was safe to drive and my fuel pump just failed and was not on recall. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | While driving approximately 70mph on an interstate, lost ability to accelerate. Car started to slow down, forcing us to stop. Very fortunate no one was behind us or we would have been rear-ended. Multiple warning lights came on at this point, including the check engine light, AWD malfunction, pre-collision system malfunction and hybrid system malfunction. Contacted Toyota dealership immediately and slowly drove the car to dealership. Upon inspection, was told that the fuel pump failed. Was also told that the problem is a recall issue for other Toyota models but not for the Hylander. Car is now at dealership being repaired. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | In the morning of 6/15/2021 while driving the 2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid in 90+ degree heat on a busy Denver suburb thoroughfare, the Denso fuel pump failed causing multiple malfunction messages to be displayed and the engine to stall placing the SUV and me in a very unsafe situation in traffic. The SUV was partially in traffic because a curb prevented me from driving the vehicle out of traffic and the fail safe mode did not allow me to drive to a cross street to get the SUV out of traffic. Fortunately, a police squad arrived, parked behind me with emergency lights flashing until the tow truck arrived. The SUV was taken to a nearby Toyota dealer where Toyota service personnel in conjunction with Toyota engineering determined the Denso fuel pump was the problem and was replaced. Toyota has the Denso fuel pump. Moments before the SUV stalled multiple malfunction messages started being displayed including but not limited to: check engine light see dealer, pre-collision system malfunction, AWD system malfunction, Hybrid System malfunction, etc. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2021 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROAD FOLLOWING A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. CRUISE IS ON AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME IS NOT AFFECTING MY SPEED. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TURNS LEFT INTO THEIR DRIVEWAY AND IS COMPLETELY OFF THE ROADWAY. MY CAR BRAKES VERY HARD LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING IN FRONT OF ME. THEIR WAS NO ON COMING TRAFIIC. I'VE HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN BUT THE OTHER CAR WAS TURNING RIGHT. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY OFF THE ROADWAY AND AGAIN MY CAR STARTS BRAKING VERY HARD. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,000 |