Complaint volume
37 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
37 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2024 Toyota Highlander, grouped by component category.
Buyer interpretation
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
37 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
The most common categories are unknown or other, service brakes, electrical system. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Enriched records include 4 crash reports, 0 fire reports, 4 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage is available on 3 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 56,982 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
37 total complaints on record
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | My car was parked in the driveway with the engine running. The engine was then turned off from outside the vehicle using the start/stop button. Once the engine stopped, the car moved backward down the sloped driveway and struck a pickup truck that was parallel parked on the street. I then entered the vehicle and attempted to shift into drive, but a warning appeared indicating the hybrid system was off and instructing me to put the car in park. Multiple attempts were made to drive the car forward, but instead, it was driving in reverse. The car would not move forward for approximately five minutes. I eventually turned the engine off and restarted it after a couple of minutes. After restarting, I was able to drive the car off the street. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? THE CAR SMELLS OF GASOLINE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. THE SMELL TRAVELS IN THE CAR AND MAKES ME SMELL LIKE GAS AND ALSO THROUGH THE AIRV ENTS WHEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE. I DO NOT OVERFILL THE GAS TANK. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? WE ARE INHALING GASOLINE SMELLS ALL THE TIME AND IT IS UNSAFE Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? NO THE DEALER AND THE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR SAY THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM BUT THEY DO SMELL THE GAS Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR HAVE LOOKED AT IT Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? NO WARNING LIGHTS HAVE APPEARED DURING THE TIMES WE SMELL THE GAS | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Strong smell of fuel after a hot day. This is a new vehicle purchased new on 2024. No warning lights On dashboard. After reading a few threads about the same situation on newer highlanders it seems like it's being ignored. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I was driving on road going speed limit during the day, came around a curve, vehicle was stopped, slammed on brakes and turned wheel but still hit rear of vehicle. No collision warning or auto brakes engaged. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 2 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My car has integrated CarPlay installed for mapping. When used wirelessly with all mapping services (Apple Maps, Waze, Goole Maps) my car will appear in fields, the wrong streets, in houses. I will be given directions to turn on streets that are not where I physically am. First I worked with Apple Customer Care for over 15 hours. They have determined it is not an Apple issue. They believe it is an issue with the GNSS module in the car. I took the car twice to the dealerships service departments. The first service department did not duplicate this issue. They told me I had to plug the phone in to not have the problem. My vehicle is bluetooth, it works wirelessly! The second dealership told me they didn't need to duplicate the issue because I was the second car in for service that day for the same problem. Their solution is for me to plug my phone in for correct mapping. This sometimes works, but only is I do it in a specific order after starting the car - start the car, let it boot up the radio/entertainment/integrated map, unplug the cable, replug the cable, then plug my phone it. This is all with a bluetooth enabled car. I have requested for the dealership to test the GNSS module or replace it and they have not. They have said they are waiting for the investigation. meanwhile, I drive around and my car is given directions through backyards and fields. It is a hazard! This all started when the car was three days old. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I purchased a brand new 2024 Toyota Highlander Limited on [XXX]. On September 12th, we were going on our first road trip with our [XXX] son to Wilmington, NC (~209 miles from where we live). I bought this car as it was bigger and with a newborn wanted to feel safe. Approximately 15 miles out, as I was gassing the car on the highway, the speed limit was slowly dropping. After I released the gas, there was a slight jolt and then I was able to safely pull over on the side of the highway. To say I felt unsafe with cars flying by going 70 mph and the car slowing down out of my control with a newborn in the car is an understatement. With less than 300 miles on the car, Toyota of Wilmington confirmed it was a faulty transmission. In addition to the poor quality and safety concern, customer service and the disconnect between areas - dealership, corporate, and financial when trying to get any resolution has been ridiculous. When I asked my sales rep if the issue was a concern he informed me my gear was probably wrong and assured me I would be fine making it back to Charlotte. When I called Toyota of Wilmington, despite me telling them I was there for the weekend and needed to get home Sunday they said they could see me the following Thursday, despite the issue at hand. It wasn't until I told them it was undriveable after trying to drive again and had it towed there that they magically fit us in. I am now a month without a car, given a smaller size rental car with no ETA on being able to get a new one and unable to get in touch with anyone in Financial to discuss the car payment they are still billing me for. This was our first and last Toyota we will purchase. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the vehicle's cabin coming from the rear of the vehicle near the fuel tank. No warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vent valve remained open causing fuel to leak from the fuel tank and as a result the fuel cap needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however the failure persisted. The failure was intermittent. The contact stated that the odor was extremely strong, causing the driver to sustain headaches. The fire department issued a letter with a statement that there was a fume odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a different unknown dealer however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired for the most recent failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 | 2,000 |
| Jul 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I was driving on the highway when I heard a very loud bang. I felt like the car had been hit by something and immediately looked for a large truck around me. With such a loud noise I figured something that loud had to be kicked up by something large. No trucks were around me of any size. Just a few cars. I looked at all my windows to see if I had a crack. Nothing. I assumed whatever hit me must have hit the car and not glass. Once I pulled over I walked the perimeter of the car and found nothing. With how loud it was I knew something must have happened. I assumed maybe it hit underneath and turned my car back on to see if any malfunction lights came on. All was good so I continued to drive. I could hear a wind noise like a window was open but no windows were. A loud air sounding noise with a broken glass like noise as of I had a hole in my car made me pull over again. This time I looked at the roof which I didn’t the first time. I was shocked to find a huge hole in my sunroof. Fortunately I had my shade cover closed or all that glass would have potentially fallen on me while driving on the highway. I drove at a low speed with my hazards on to get me home where I parked my car in the garage where it sits. I did notice that the remaining glass shards point outward as if something exploded from my car. If something hit the car wouldn’t the glass point inward? Is there an issue with sunroofs? I am seeing some stories online but no recalls. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | I was in the drive thru at a fast food restaurant and after I placed my order I was about 5 cars from the pay window. As I went forward where there was a curve I stopped and then when the car in front of me moved forward to the pay window I let up on the brake and accelated slowly. When I put my foot on the brake pedal it went to the floor and the car would not stop. I served to the right of the car in front of me ( I did not hit it) and rolled to the parking space to the right. The car hit the curb and bounced up a little and hit the sign and then rolled backwards and I swerved the car so as to not hit the cars in line. I tried to put the car in drive but it wouldn't go. I then put the car into park which stopped the car with a jerk. After a few minutes I turned the car off as the brakes had not come back. I sat in the driveway blocking it. As I sat there I checked the screen for any error messages or warnings and saw none. After about 10 or 15 minutes I tried the pedal again and got pressure. I was able to start the car and pulled it into the parking spot. I then called Totota roadside service and had the car towed to my house. Today as instructed by Toyota service they sent a tow truck to my house to tow it to the dealership service department. The service manager checked something and said nothing showed up but would have the tech check everything out. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while placing groceries in the trunk, the lift gate violently fell on her head. While in the trunk, the liftgate came down, and her cousin was able to stop the liftgate from closing on the contact. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had a continuous headache and dizziness, and it was determined that she had a concussion when medical attention was provided at the emergency room. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred her to the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was unknown. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 Medical attention | Unknown |
| Mar 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Driving the interstate at 75 mph, my sunroof spontaneously shattered covering us with shards of glass. Toyota dealership and insurance said a rock must have hit but there were no other vehicles near us. Was not covered under warranty, so insurance adjuster approved new sunroof install and repaint roof for over $3,000. The loud explosion and subsequent broken glass could have caused major accident as well as blindness. We feel an investigation into glass quality should be done. In my opinion, vehicles shouldn’t even have sunroofs. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2024 | VISIBILITY | When driving at highway speeds (over 40mph) the driver side mirror excessively shakes/vibrates, negatively impacting visibility. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |