Complaint volume
465 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
465 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2019 Toyota Highlander, grouped by component category.
465 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 162
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 59
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 52
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 31
ENGINE 29
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 18
AIR BAGS 10
SERVICE BRAKES 8
SEAT BELTS 5
SEATS 5
465 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Traveling at approximately 60-65 mph on interstate 95 in Wakefield the vehicle suddenly downshifted causing a rapid deceleration to around 40 mph. It would not upshift requiring us to pull into the breakdown lane. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | POWER TRAIN | A wining started on my 2019 Toyota highlander. I took to mechanic and they confirmed it was transmission. There was no warning. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Loud whining noises from transmission, repeated unpredictable shifts making pulling out/merging unsafe | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | POWER TRAIN | I own a 2019 Highlander at just barely over 55,000 miles. I began hearing a humming noise while accelerating and brought it into Toyota. They told me that bearings are worn in the transmission and I need a new transmission replacement, which will cost $11,569.21. I am shocked Toyota has not issued a recall and corrected this well-known issue. I am disappointed in Toyota, being a loyal customer over the years, if they can't guarantee quality or assist in the issue they know about, I will not trust Toyota again. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | POWER TRAIN | I am writing to you as a deeply loyal Toyota customer who is facing a distressing and financially significant situation with my 2019 Toyota Highlander. Our family has been committed Toyota owners for several decades. Over the years, we have owned a Toyota Corolla, Camry, and multiple Highlanders — and we currently drive two Toyota vehicles. We have consistently chosen Toyota over other brands because of the trust we place in your engineering, reliability, and the value Toyota stands behind. We even replaced all of our Honda vehicles with Toyotas because of that trust. We purchased our 2019 Toyota Highlander during the COVID-19 pandemic, paying above market value because we believed in the Toyota brand and its long-standing reputation for durability. We have never regretted that decision — until now. At approximately 95,000 miles, our Highlander began exhibiting a high-pitched humming noise and gear slippage. We brought the vehicle to our Toyota dealership, who diagnosed the issue as a complete transmission failure. The repair estimate provided was $17,000. We were also informed that this repair would not be covered under any existing warranty. We are not only shocked by the severity and cost of this failure on a well-maintained, 7-year-old vehicle — we are also deeply concerned by what we discovered in our research. There appear to be hundreds of complaints from other Toyota Highlander owners reporting the exact same transmission issue, across the same model years, suggesting this may be a widespread and systemic defect rather than an isolated incident. Given this context, we respectfully ask Toyota to consider the following: 1. A goodwill warranty exception or partial/full coverage of the transmission repair cost, in recognition of our long-standing loyalty and the apparent prevalence of this issue across multiple vehicles. 2. An acknowledgment of the reported pattern of transmission failures in the 2019 Highlander, and whether Toyota is investigating or plan | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Hi Dear My car doesn’t report crash. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The independent mechanic replaced the transmission fluid; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed back to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that parts were on back order. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 128,669. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 128,699 |
| Apr 2026 | POWER TRAIN | At 138,000 miles my 2019 Toyota Highlander's transmission failed. I noticed a whining sound when I pushed on the accelerator, so I scheduled a service appointment to have it looked at. The day I brought it into the mechanic it began stalling at stop signs. I was driving my children to school when the vehicle began stalling, fortunately I was able to get it looked at that day. My local mechanic diagnosed it as a failed transmission having to do with something inside the transmission. I called Toyota and they said in order to qualify for support through their service program I needed to have the vehicle diagnosed by at a Toyota dealership. I had the vehicle towed to the dealership, where they too confirmed the transmission had failed due to something inside the transmission, which they diagnosed with a telescope. They quoted me 12K for a new transmission! I had routine maintenance performed throughout the life of the vehicle, primarily at the Toyota Service Center. Just 20 months prior to this happening I had the suggested transmission services completed at the dealership. The only services I had completed outside of the dealership over the last 20 months were regular oil changes and tires. The transmission in my 2019 Highlander is the same failed transmission as the ones in the 2017-2018, which Toyota issued a bulletin on, the same transmission Toyota has received numerous complaints about. The same transmission with hundreds of other customer's have filed incident reports on. The transmission they knew was problematic yet continued to put into new vehicles. I've been a loyal Toyota customer, this is my 5th Toyota. I can't believe that there is nothing Toyota is willing to do to support their customers. I thought Toyota prides itself on being a trusted brand with loyal customers, because they make vehicles that last and take care of them when they don't. I was wrong. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | My Wife drove to work yesterday with no issues. After her shift she stops at the local gas station by her job, she puts the car in park but the car continues to roll forward( as if it was in neutral). Applies the brake and puts the E-brake on(car is now stationary). Puts in some gas, turn car back on, puts in drive and the car is makes a grinding like noise. We get the car towed home, jack it up, drain the fluid. The color of the fluid was darkish but still had a reddish tone to it, very slight sparkle look to it..didn’t see or feel any metal shavings to it.. highly confused on what failed for the transmission to be like that. Haven’t gotten it to the shop yet but a lot of research is showing something internal. No leaks, maintenance has always been serviced on time. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission. Taken to dealership immediately. Notified that the transmission was going to have to be replaced. Notified there were no transmissions available or re-manufactured transmissions available, that our warranty was up 3 months prior to this date and we would have to spend in the range of $8500-$12,200 to get it fixed when a transmission was available. Warranty company did decide to cover some of the cost, but we were out of pocket almost $4000. This problem did not gradually appear, it was instant on the date the incident occurred. Filed a complaint with Toyota, they will not take responsibility and reimburse us any money. This should not be a problem with a Toyota with this many miles on it and they should take responsibility. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | My transmission is now missing the 3rd gear and left me and my kids stalled in traffic as I was turning in oncoming traffic. Toyota dealership confirmed that was the problem upon inspection. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Rough switching between gears since purchase; Whining noise in transmission when pressing on the gas. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | I heard Whining Noise from Drivetrain side under Engine Room first time about a month ago. There is a possibility sure It was generated early that Noise longer than when I heard it. and I visited Toyota Dealership Vacaville CA about this issue, Requested to Diagnosis my Highlander 2019 XLE Gas type Vehicle. Technician said, "FOUND WHINE COMING FROM TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY INDICATING INTERNAL FAILURE". Service Advisor recommended to replace "UA80E TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY + TORQUE CONVERTER AND RECHECK". And I found Issue about There is a Document (TSB 0008-21) about this my Highlander 2019 XLE. I did not receive any information or recall or contact from TOYOTA until When I realized it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | My 2019 Toyota Highlander started making a whining noise from 0mph to 40mph-- and at times would shift hard. I took it to first mechanic who stated it was definitely a transmission issue. I took it to a transmission shop who also confirmed it was a transmission issue. I had vehicle towed to Toyota Dealer who performed a Multipoint Inspection and vehicle was placed on a scanner. The codes indicated "internal failure" on transmission and quoted me $10,500 to remove and replace. Parts are backordered for 8 weeks+. Current transmission is only at 63,000 miles and I am the 2nd owner. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | UA80 transmission problems like everyone else. Just paid it off and it’s under 100k and the transmission gave out. It’s $11k to fix it. I have it l the proper maintenance at Toyota. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Check engine light came on without warning, car started losing power, idling roughly, stalling out, and not wanting to start. Had my battery, alternator, and starter checked and they are all fine. Diagnostic test showed it was to do with how much fuel/air the vehicle is getting. The check engine light goes off and on as I’m still having to try and drive my vehicle to and from work due to not having other transportation. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Transmission whining sound | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Sporadically, when starting up the vehicle, from the overhead console, it emanate a loud, ear piercing sound that is painful to one's ears. Apparently, this is a KNOWN issue with 2019 Toyota Highlanders in the Limited Platinum trim level. This issue has been presented to the dealership numerous times (DARCARS Toyota Frederick) with their claim they could not recreate the issue. I have provided video evidence but still no action was taken. Now out of warranty, it occurs more frequently now with this piercing noise. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission began making high pitch whining sound with hard shifting to second gear. Within one year the transmission completely went out and was stuck in third gear. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | My wife was driving here Highlander at freeway speeds when the vehicle started slowing and would not respond to the throttle. No warnings lights. It would drive but not accelerate to any reasonable speed. She pulled off the freeway and found a parking lot to test, restart car, etc. Again, no warning lights. Once in park, the vehicle would not shift into gear but only revved. The vehicle could not be driven and towed to a Toyota dealer and after a number of tests, it was diagnosed as a blown transmission. It was replaced at great expense. I do not know what the dealer did with the transmission but it was not tested. The safety issue is the sudden and expected loss of power/drive train on a freeway. The vehicle has been well maintained. At 100K, plugs and transmission fluid were replaced. Although the vehicle had around 130K miles, the transmission should not have failed in my opinion. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | Our 2019 Toyota Highlander currently has 54,605 miles. In August 2025, when the vehicle had 50,236 miles, we brought it to the Toyota dealership to address a whining noise coming from the transmission. At that time, the vehicle was still under the manufacturer’s warranty. The dealership performed a transmission service during that visit. Within the following weeks, however, the whining noise returned, and the vehicle began experiencing hard and delayed shifting. Our children and grandchildren have recently moved to Washington, and we had planned to drive there to visit them. Unfortunately, we are now reluctant to drive the vehicle due to safety concerns, as we have been advised that the transmission may be failing. The dealership has now recommended a full transmission replacement. Because the original concern was reported while the vehicle was still under warranty, we believe the issue should have been properly diagnosed and resolved at that time. However, the problem was not addressed, and the vehicle is now outside the warranty period, with Toyota declining to cover the cost of the replacement transmission. Given that the problem was first reported while the vehicle was under warranty, we are requesting that Toyota reconsider covering the transmission repair or replacement. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled; the contact shifted the vehicle into park(P) and restarted the vehicle for the vehicle to return to normal operation. No warning lights were illuminated; however, the “Auto START/STOP Failure” and “See Dealer" messages were displayed on the instrument panel. The failure reoccurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,530. | Crash: No Fire: No | 86,530 |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | High pitch wine when accelerating | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Vehicle hesitates and sputters upon acceleration, loss of power, and stalls during operation. Trouble codes P0191, P0171, P0174, and P0107B have generated in combination. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission began making a whining noise around 70,000 miles. Transmission completely failed at 90,000 while driving on the highway and lost all forward gears and neutral. Only reverse gear works. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |