2019 Toyota Highlander Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: October 1, 2026 · Filed: November 2, 2026

Whining in the transmission. Took to a certified Toyota Mechanic and confirmed transmission is failing. Will need a total transmission replacement.

Incident: October 18, 2026 · Filed: October 28, 2026

The component that failed was the transmission. My safety was at risk because I was going uphill and the engine surged then the transmission seized, almost causing a rear-end incident with my family in the car. The dealer confirmed that the transmission has failed. No incident happened so only the dealer needs to be involved at this time. There were no warning lamps indicating to me that the transmission failed. Upon discovering that the transmission was not downshifting (based on the engine not downshifting uphill), I put the car into manual mode to determine if I could manually shift down or not, it would not downshift. Attempting to downshift to gears 4, 3, 2, or 1 was not possible, the lowest gear was gear 5 and the engine had no torque to get up the hill that it was seized on. The 2019 Toyota Highlander was serviced for the automatic transmission fluid at 100K miles and failed at about 120,450 miles.

Incident: October 19, 2026 · Filed: October 27, 2026

My transmission failed while driving. The gears began to stick and then I lost all driving capability while on a state highway.

Incident: August 1, 2026 · Filed: October 26, 2026

The transmission has been making a whining noise for a little while now. After having it diagnosed by Toyota, the entire transmission has to be replaced. According to multiple reports on the internet, the 8 speed transmission in the 2017 to 2026 model will fail prematurely do to defective components. Toyota has even replaced multiple model year transmissions under a specific TSB but has not included later model years. I know have to spend $10,500 to replace the transmission at Toyota.

Incident: June 1, 2026 · Filed: October 24, 2026

Transmission is failing and accelerating past 40mpg produces very loud sound that seems it could break any moment. It is available for inspection. Safety is compromised as it could experience failure and abruptly lose ability to accelerate. Problem has been confirmed by independent service center who has also contacted Toyota Dealership regarding possible replacement and about the issue at hand. Has not yet been inspected by manufacturer, police, or insurance rep. No warnings and it first occurred June 2026 of this year. Contacted Toyota Brand Engagement Center and denied any assistance.

Incident: October 5, 2026 · Filed: October 23, 2026

I was on interstate 75 and the transmission went out. I had to be towed home (over 100 miles). I pulled into a rest area and when I went to leave, I pulled out and the engine RPM's went real high and the car would not go over 20 MPH. I was in the way of semi-trucks as I tried to get back to a parking spot at the rest area. Thankfully This did not happen while driving. After getting to the repair shop they could not even steer the car. I want Toyota to help me with the cost of the repair. This car only has 85,000 miles on it and it is a 2019. It should be good for at least 200,000 miles. I feel very fortunate that I was not actually on the highway when this happened.

Incident: August 3, 2026 · Filed: October 23, 2026

I purchased this Toyota Highlander two years ago, and I am extremely disappointed and frustrated that it now requires a transmission replacement costing approximately $10,000. I understand that vehicles can require maintenance and repairs, but a major mechanical failure of this magnitude is a significant financial burden. I have reached out multiple times seeking assistance and a reasonable resolution, but I have been unable to get anyone to take responsibility or offer meaningful help. I should not be left to shoulder such an enormous expense without a fair review of the circumstances. I am filing this complaint because I believe this matter deserves further investigation and I am requesting assistance in reaching a fair resolution.

Incident: October 16, 2026 · Filed: October 21, 2026

Transmission is making a whining noise, took it to the dealer and they confirmed the transmission needs to be replaced. Looked online and there appear to be thousands of these cases with the transmission going out on Toyota Highlanders between 2017-2021

Incident: October 19, 2026 · Filed: October 21, 2026

My husband was driving my car out of town, and while driving approximately 70 mph, my car stopped going. When he pressed the gas pedal, the engine revved, but did not move forward. He had to coast down the interstate and pull over on the side of the road. He said he almost got tear ended by a semi-truck. I called roadside assistance through my insurance company and it took them 2.5 hours to get to us. We had to have it towed about 70 miles to a shop and pay $184.00. The body shop we towed it to said it is the transmission. He said he knew it to be a common issue with 2019 Toyota Highlanders. I looked it up online and found several instances of similar stories. There was no warning.

Incident: November 17, 2025 · Filed: October 20, 2026

The vehicle began making a whining noise several months ago. After doing some research this vehicle has the UA80 transaxle that has a known defect that produces the whining noise and eventual damage. There are other years of this vehicle that are subject to a recall/repair for this same transaxle issue, but not for the 2019 even though it's the same transaxle with the same assembly defect. This is a known issue by the manufacturer. The end result without repair will be a transaxle failure while in gear / loss of propulsion. This vehicle has not been taken to a dealer for inspection yet. If a request for inspection is made, the vehicle can be made available. Also, no warning lamps or messages gave any early indication of an issue, only a whining noise was noticed.