Complaint volume
205 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
2022 Toyota Highlander Complaints
205 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2022 Toyota Highlander, grouped by component category.
205 Total complaints
12 Crash reports
1 Fire reports
2 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 structure, power train, service brakes. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 12 crash reports, 1 fire report, 2 injury reports, and 1 fatality report. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 27 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 33,895 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to structure, power train, service brakes?
- 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 2022 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.
2022 Toyota Highlander
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2022 Toyota Highlander complaints?
12 Crash
1 Fire
2 Injury
1 Fatality
10 Towed
3 Medical attention
What are the most common 2022 Toyota Highlander complaint categories?
STRUCTURE 34
POWER TRAIN 28
SERVICE BRAKES 22
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18
AIR BAGS 10
VISIBILITY/WIPER 8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5
VISIBILITY 5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 4
205 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | POWER TRAIN | UA80 Transmission failure @ 3.5 yrs old and 89k miles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | STRUCTURE | Failure of the rear hatch power struts. Door not opening or closing properly. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | AIR BAGS,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Parked in sun and the SRS system malfunctioned, after power reset the system reset ok, LTA malfunction, headlight system malfunction Pre-collision malfunction. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | AIR BAGS | Parked in sun and the SRS system malfunctioned, after power reset the system reset ok, | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | AIR BAGS,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Parked in sun and the SRS system malfunctioned, after power reset the system reset ok. Front camera malfunction, RSA malfunction & Pre-collision malfunction. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | AIR BAGS | Parked in sun and the SRS system malfunctioned, after power reset the system reset ok, | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Throttle plate iced up in cold weather, causing computer to put the car in limp mode, creating a dangerous situation. Toyota had a TSB solution for this in 2023, but did not make the software update available until my vehicle failed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | CHILD SEAT | The contact owns an Evenflo Car Seat, Model Number: 368124708, Model Type: Revolve 360 Slim, Manufactured Date: July 11, 2024. The car seat was being used in a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25C010000 (Child Seat). The contact stated that the head rest foam was exposed on the left and right sides of the headrest and that the child was picking out the foam as described in the recall. The manufacturer was contacted and provided pictures of the failure. The contact was advised by a representative from the manufacturer that a repair kit would be sent in the mail to repair the car seat. The contact received the repair kit and found an 8-inch-long by 3/12-inch-wide strip of tape. The contact stated that the repair kit was inadequate to complete the repair on the head rest. The contact had not attempted to call the manufacturer back about the repair kit. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | POWER TRAIN | My 2022 Toyota Highlander experienced transmission-related issues that affected the vehicle’s performance, reliability, and overall value. These problems caused inconvenience, safety concerns, and additional stress, and in some cases required diagnostic visits, repairs, or time without use of the vehicle. As a consumer who purchased the vehicle with the reasonable expectation of dependable operation, I believe compensation is warranted for the diminished value, disruption, and potential repair costs resulting from this defect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The entire head unit in the center of the front console went crazy and started going blank, glitching out, and basically made it impossible to use any of the features associated with that screen unit. The 2022 Toyota Highlander's head unit controls infotainment (radio, streaming, navigation, phone) and integrates with vehicle settings for climate (auto AC, seat heaters/ventilators), lighting, door locks, and driver-assist features like Road Sign Assist and Parking Support Brake, with over-the-air updates available for connected models. It manages multimedia, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Wi-Fi, and vehicle alerts, offering deep customization for audio, display, and connectivity. We promptly took the car into the Toyota Dealer and they determined it was a bad head unit and I had to pick up the car and they made us drive the car for about 1 1/2 weeks broken, while the part was in transit. After the part arrived, we scheduled visit for that part replacement. They later called and said that it was causing the same issues and had to do a further diagnostic and determined that the integragation control sub assembly computer (the cpu for the head unit?) was actually the bad part. The 2nd part was ordered and installed, and ultimately repaired the issue. We had limited control over the heater and keeping the ice off the windows and other issues with no navigation and other systems during this 1 1/2 week period. This is also the same screen that gives us the backup camera, and the 360 degrees camera views. Wow, not happy that such a major part failed with the car being so new. We bought the car brand new with just a few miles on it, and have bought every service and insurance package that Toyota offered when we purchased the car and have kept and maintained the car in excellent shape doing all maintenance exactly on schedule. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission failed at 75K with no warning lights or prior evidence. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I had been driving my 2022 Toyota Highlander XLE with 46k miles that I just got for about two weeks, so about 10 days out of the 14 i actually drove it from home to work and back home. Within those 10 days driving the SUV, 8 mornings and one afternoon the highlander engine had issues accelerating and shifting gears. Basically when pulling out on to a highway from a side street coming down a hill when pressing the gas to enter the highway and flow of traffic the engine stuttered from zero to 20mph causing the entire SUV to jerk repeatedly and the gears would have issues shifting from first to second. I had to let my foot off the gas pedal then press again repeatedly as the SUV kept jerking trying to accelerate forward stuck no more than 20 mph for 30 seconds then started to even out and climb up after a minute. I have caught this on video twice. This has caused me to hold up traffic on the highway behind me with no where to pull off because my particular side street comes out from a gulch cliff side. No check engine lights came on each time. I took it to an auto shop that did a minor test drive and suggested it go directly to Servco Toyota as it should have powertrain warranty on it still and they believed it was a fuel pump issue. The issue did not happen with this auto shop but I showed them the video. I scheduled an appt at Toyota and it is with them now. They did 2 test drive but could not replicate the issue and could not see any codes coming up. I opted to leave the vehicle with them to do more test drives where the issue has happened as I do not feel safe driving it and the manager also said they did not feel safe having their techs drive it so the manager will do it. Without check engine light/code they are saying they cannot check the fuel pump or do anything else but will try to do more test drives to replicate the issue. I have seen numerous Reddit, facebook group posts, and a petition about this same issue but no official recall or word from Toyota. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Vehicle Issue Description (Rear Liftgate): The rear power liftgate intermittently fails to operate and presents a safety concern. The liftgate often will not open at all. At other times, it opens only partially (approximately one-quarter of the way) and then stops. When this occurs, the liftgate frequently will not close properly and sometimes fails to latch securely. This issue has been ongoing for approximately two years and has progressively worsened. It has now reached the point where the rear liftgate is no longer usable. If the liftgate does not open in an emergency, occupants may be unable to exit the vehicle through the rear, which could be dangerous in the event of an accident. Additionally, when the liftgate fails to latch securely, there is a risk it could open while driving, potentially causing cargo loss, reduced visibility, or allowing exhaust fumes to enter the cabin. Numerous Toyota Highlander owners report the same issue on public forums such as Reddit, indicating this is a widespread and known problem. According to these reports, dealerships are commonly diagnosing the failure as a failed liftgate strut, with quoted repair costs of approximately $1,500. I reported this issue to Toyota directly today and was told that Toyota does not issue recalls and that concerns should be reported to NHTSA. I am frustrated that this appears to be a known issue that has existed for years without corrective action. Component/System Failed: Rear power liftgate system (including latch and power operation components). Available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: Risk of liftgate opening while driving and inability to exit through the rear in an emergency, potentially trapping occupants. Dealer Confirmation: Not formally confirmed. A reset was recommended during a prior service visit, which worked temporarily for one day. Resets no longer resolve the issue. Inspected by Others: No. Warnings Prior to Failure: No warning lamps or messages. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | When turning on the heated steering wheel and about 5-10 minutes, it seems there is smoke coming from the steering wheel leather and it’s very hot that almost burnt my hand and forced me to take my left hand off. I immediately turned the heated steering wheel and stopped. There is a burning spot left on the steering wheel also. The heating option still can be enabled and the same situation repeats (like no fuse was broken) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | While driving, the vehicle’s moonroof glass spontaneously shattered/exploded without impact. It sounded like a gunshot, which caused an immediate and dangerous distraction. There was no object strike that I am aware of and no prior warning. The sudden loud noise and breaking glass created a safety hazard due to distraction and potential glass intrusion. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended and made an unusual whining sound. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact's husband, a certified mechanic, diagnosed that the transmission had failed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact related the failure to several unknown TSBs. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. In addition, the contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 71,000 |
| Dec 2025 | POWER TRAIN | early transmission failure and whining at 40,000 miles | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Premature transmission failure | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Car developed a whining noise coming from transmission at 63,000 miles. Known manufacturing defect that will lead to transmission failure. No recall issued and Toyota would not extend warranty. I do not feel safe driving the car pending a transmission failure. Toyota’s solution is to replace the transmission at a cost of $9000. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE WHINING FROM 35MPH-45MPH ACCELERATION. Needs to be replaced this is the third vehicle this week the dealership said had the same issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING,BACK OVER PREVENTION | When starting up the vehicle, the headlight system malfunctioned light came on and a pre-collision system light came on. After shutting it off and restarting the vehicle. The lights were off. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | AIR BAGS | Vehicle is parked in the sun for over 30 minutes and when the start button is pushed the Air Bag System Malfunction light is on. After restarting the light goes away. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | AIR BAGS | When the vehicle is parked in the sun for 30 minutes or more. After pushing the start button, the SRS airbag system malfunction light came on. After restarting the vehicle, the airbag light was out. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Four days ago, engine started making a whining noise when accelerating, especially in lower gears. No warning signs. 2022 Highlander Platinum is 3 years old, 80K miles, out of warranty; no extended warranty purchased due to historical, stellar Toyota reliability. Toyota service department at Toyota dealership today said whining is due to a bearing issue within the transmission (my personal mechanic inspected and said that is also likely) and cannot be repaired. Transmission could last another 10K-20K miles they said, before it becomes undrivable or just drops, causing a potential safety issue. Net, the entire transmission needs to be replaced to the tune of $9186. Just shocking. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | POWER TRAIN | About 4 weeks a go i started hearing a whining noise from my Highlander. Thinking it was a belt we replaced. Whining continued to get worse only on acceleration. We are at 88,000 miles and it is now at Toyota getting a new transmission. Is there not something that can be done about this? I have read thousands of articles that show the UA 80E/F transmissions that are in the 2021-2022 models are junk. Luckily we bought a Toyota VSA and it is covering it. What about after 100,000 miles. Whats to say after another 80,000 it won't go out again which will cost me the $10,000. When the dealers put new transmissions in these vehicles are they using the same parts for the UA 80 E/F or the upgrade parts that fixed the 2023? If we have a VSA it should extended a year past the 100,000 mile mark because of the issue or they should have to replace them completely to match the 2023 models. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |