2023 Toyota Highlander

Tailgate stays open; sensors seem to fail. It will work one day and not work on another day. My wife is short and handicapped and she can’t close it manually.

Reported

Jul 2026

Incident date

Jul 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Unknown. Toyota has recalled the recliner assembly in the second row seats. My car has been at the dealership for more than 60 days waiting for a remedy. There is still not one listed yet. I cannot safely drive my car as I have 2 children at home that must be with me as a sole parent.

Reported

Jul 2026

Incident date

May 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid – Safety Recall Number : 26V128 My vehicle has been officially grounded since XXX due to a severe safety recall that renders it unsafe to drive. A permanent remedy or repair part is currently unavailable from the manufacturer, forcing me to drive a loaner vehicle for over two months now. My car sits in uncovered parking lot of the Dealership ( Toyota Rockwall Texas) since XXX under the hot summer temperature of Texas which can cause cumulative damage to my car. . This prolonged delay creates an ongoing safety risk. The manufacturer's inability to provide a timely fix leaves me with no choice but to transport my [XXX] son in a temporary vehicle daily. I am also pregnant with my second child who is due to arrive in 3 weeks who will also be transported using the loaner vehicle if problem is not fixed yet. This situation exposes my family to unpredictable risks, as the safety history, structural integrity, and child seat compatibility of the long-term loaner are not equivalent to my personal vehicle. The manufacturer is failing to resolve a critical safety defect within a reasonable timeframe. I am filing this complaint to urge NHTSA to investigate the manufacturer's unreasonable delay in providing a final remedy for this safety recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Reported

Jul 2026

Incident date

May 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V128000 (Seats); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Reported

Jul 2026

Incident date

Mar 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

My 2023 Toyota Highlander was grounded by the dealership on 4/30/26 due to safety recall 26TB06 (NHTSA Campaign 26V128) regarding a defective 2nd row seat back latch. The vehicle has been sitting un-remedied on the dealer lot for over 47 consecutive days. The dealership state they can't return the vehicle due to safety liabilities but have no estimated date for a remedy. leaving me stranded without my vehicle. The vehicle has been sitting completely idle on an outdoor lot. Per Toyota's manufacturing guidelines, leaving a hybrid vehicle sitting unused for more than 30 days risks severe high-voltage hybrid battery degradation and capacity loss. Because of the delay in remedy , my health of my vehicle is being actively damaged on my paid off hybrid powertrain. As a Disabled Veteran, Toyota's inability to provide recall safety parts has caused a severe, ongoing physical and financial hardship. By grounding my vehicle for over 47 days, I have been entirely deprived of using my state-issued Disabled Veteran's license plates. This strips me of critical, legally mandated toll exemptions, parking accommodations, and physical accessibility benefits that I require on a daily basis. Driving an inferior dealer loaner does not adequately remedy this disruption to my veteran benefits.

Reported

Jun 2026

Incident date

Mar 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

This 2023 Toyota Highlander XLE AWD has a recurring gasoline/fuel odor that began while the vehicle was still within the basic warranty period. The concern was reported to Toyota/dealer multiple times. At first, the odor was intermittent and difficult to duplicate, but the problem continued after repeated dealer visits. The fuel smell was later duplicated/confirmed while the dealer was open, before approximately 60,000 miles, but the vehicle was still not properly repaired. The odor has continued and recently occurred multiple days in a row. The smell has been noticed around/inside the vehicle and creates a safety concern because gasoline odor may indicate fuel vapor leakage or a fuel-system problem. Possible sources could include the fuel tank, fuel pump module or seal, filler neck, fuel lines, EVAP system, charcoal canister, purge valve, injectors, fuel rail, or another related fuel-system component. The vehicle has been inspected by a Toyota dealer multiple times, but the cause has not been identified or corrected. No warning light has clearly identified the source of the problem. The concern is especially serious because it involves fuel odor, possible vapor exposure, possible fire risk, and possible fuel-system failure. Occupants and others could be placed at risk if the odor is caused by a leak or defective fuel-system component. The dealer is now recommending removal/drop of the fuel tank for further diagnosis and quoted approximately $1,500 for that step. My concern is that full fuel-system diagnosis, including tank removal if needed, should have been performed earlier when the complaint was repeatedly made during warranty. The issue is not a new complaint; it is a continuing unresolved fuel odor concern that started during warranty and remained unresolved despite repeated dealer involvement. The vehicle and related components should be available for inspection upon request.

Reported

Jun 2026

Incident date

Oct 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Toyota has an open safety recall/campaign for my 2023 Toyota Highlander, but the manufacturer/dealer has failed or is unable to remedy the recall in a timely manner. I am requesting NHTSA review the delay and lack of available remedy/repair.

Reported

Jun 2026

Incident date

Jun 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

driving down the road and the sunroof exploded

Reported

Jun 2026

Incident date

May 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Sunroof Shattered and it sounded like a shot gun blast. The blast was from the inside out. Weather was a mild 70 degrees.

Reported

Jun 2026

Incident date

May 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

When applying brake, in sporadic and unpredictable circumstances, the vehicle seems to switch from regenerative braking to brake pump braking. During this switch, braking power is lost completely. The vehicle was inspected by the Dealer, they stated no issues found / unable to reproduce. This issue, if unresolved, increases risk of vehicle collision. No warning lights, no messages, no other symptoms of the problem. This issue has been present for ~1.5 years.

Reported

Jun 2026

Incident date

Jun 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The driver’s seat lower cushion in my 2023 Toyota Highlander provided inadequate support during normal driving, particularly on the left side of the seat cushion where support for my left leg and hip area appeared insufficient. This caused uneven seating posture, increased discomfort, pressure, and difficulty maintaining a proper driving position during extended periods of driving. The seat became increasingly uncomfortable during prolonged use and caused pain, numbness, and difficulty maintaining a proper driving position. I am a professional driver and spend many hours operating the vehicle. Over time, the lack of support contributed to left-sided sciatica symptoms that required medical evaluation and physical therapy. Medical records document that prolonged sitting in the vehicle aggravated my condition and limited my ability to sit and drive comfortably. An independent upholstery specialist inspected the seat and determined that additional foam had to be added to the driver’s seat lower cushion to improve support and comfort. After the modification, the seat became significantly more comfortable. This indicates that the original seat cushion support may be inadequate. I believe this condition may affect other vehicles of the same model and should be investigated as a potential safety concern because it can affect driver posture, comfort, concentration, and safe vehicle operation during extended driving.

Reported

Jun 2026

Incident date

Mar 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

1 injuries

My 2023 Toyota Highlander was experiencing a high pitch whiny noise when accelerating. I looked up on line and saw that this could be a failing transmission issue. I took it into the Toyota Dealership , 6321 West Canal Drive, Kennewick, WA 99336. They confirmed my concerns. They said the transmission was toast and I could not drive it until repaired. They informed me they would have to order a replacement transmission under warranty. They further informed me that there is a backlog of requests for replacement transmissions because this is a major problem with Toyota. They have no idea how long it will be. It could be weeks or it could be months. In looking online, it appears that Toyota has been aware of this issue with the 8 speed transmission and has not been addressing the problem. My question, why isn't Toyota addressing this problem? Why does it take weeks or months to building a replacement transmission? Something needs to be done about this.

Reported

Jun 2026

Incident date

May 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The brakes on this vehicle disengage and re-engage at will during braking. There are no indications of when it will occur. Brakes will disengage during low and high-speed braking, braking while going uphill, downhill, on flat roadway or during turns. This has resulted in several near miss accidents as well as debris was struck in the roadway due to being unable to stop. This vehicle was purchased new from the dealership in NM and was reported to them starting at 18,000 miles. Vehicle has been taken to numerous dealerships and reported with them as well. Toyota's answer is this is normal. Brakes disengaging and resulting in near accidents is not normal. It is now pending formal inspection from Toyota corporate by dealerships dismiss the problem as unable to replicate. This is to the point where we only drive when absolutely needed due to fear of an accident as this is the only vehicle.

Reported

May 2026

Incident date

May 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Right after vehicle passed 60k miles mark (manufacturer warranty ended) I noticed a whining noise under load. During acceleration the noise is most noticeable between 30-50 mph speed range. If a gas pedal released the noise is gone and if pressed again the noise is coming back. The pitch increases with a speed increase. I took the car to dealership (current odometer reading 61,037 miles) and they diagnosed transmission failure. Apparently it is a very common issue with the current transmission family (UA80/UA81).

Reported

May 2026

Incident date

May 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Rear back seat unproper locking system. I have got rear ended while my kids were at back and I found out the rear seat slide a bit about couple inches. Dealership can't do anything of the recall at the moment.

Reported

May 2026

Incident date

Jan 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The lift gate will not close, especially during temperatures below 35 degrees. The litigate will go down a few inches, beep, then go back up. In colder temperatures below 25 degrees the lift gate will not open.

Reported

May 2026

Incident date

Jan 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at lower speeds, pulling into an uphill driveway, the vehicle had independently accelerated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. In addition, the contact stated that she was not able to depressed in time and had crashed into the left side of the house, causing damage to the front driver-side bumper and quarter panel. The contact stated that the accident caused property damage to the garage of the house, which was covered by the insurance provider. A police report file. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the accelerator pedal was depressed throughout the accident; however, the brake pedal was depressed after the crash had occurred, according to the electronic data. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

Reported

May 2026

Incident date

Jan 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Crash

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V128000 (Seats) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the remedy was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Reported

May 2026

Incident date

May 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the instrument panel had been inoperable for approximately 5 months. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V595000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 149,000.

Reported

May 2026

Incident date

Sep 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Received a safety recall stating "Seat Back Reclinging Assembly May Not Securely Lock". Based on this information, it goes on to state that "a seat back that has not been secured in a locked position may fail to properly restrain occupants, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash at certain speeds." Currently there are no remedies available but it is advised that "no one sit in or use the second-row seats while the vehicle is moving until the remedy is performed on the vehicle." In speaking to headquarters as well as mutliple dealerships, the only "solution" is to provide a rental car in the amount of $42/day and they would reimburse in 6-8 weeks. There is no current remedy date. That would mean there is an out of pocket cost of $1200+ a month, in which these funds are not available to our family. I am the primary caretaker for two small children who are in car seats and required to utilize the back seat/2nd row. Since I have been advised not to use it, my car is currently unsafe to use for its intended purpose. I have been given no other solutions at this time.

Reported

May 2026

Incident date

May 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I was at a gas station and enter car wash, the machine didnt wash my car and distriy my front right tire

Reported

Apr 2026

Incident date

Apr 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V128000 (Seats); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Reported

Apr 2026

Incident date

Mar 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at 60–65 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into the passenger's side of an oncoming vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. In addition, the contact stated that it was a very hard impact on an older model vehicle. The contact stated that the older model vehicle was made of steel. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The contact was transported to the local medical center. The contact sustained severe sternum bruising, full spine whiplash, severe pain in the neck, both shoulders, and the upper back area. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was not inspected by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,125.

Reported

Apr 2026

Incident date

Apr 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Crash 1 injuries

I was in an accident today in this vehicle . Upon impact, traffic was suddenly stopped on the highway. The air bags didn’t deploy and the automatic emergency breaks didn’t engage. Impact was so hard three vehicles were Involved.

Reported

Apr 2026

Incident date

Apr 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Crash 1 injuries

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V128000 (Seats); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Reported

Apr 2026

Incident date

Apr 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

2023 Highlander Hybrid braking suddenly changes at low speeds when coming to a stop. Vehicle's brakes work properly (Regenerative and hydraulic combined) until it slows to make a stop or slows in heavy traffic. Suddenly the brake pressure changes and the vehicle "lunges" forward and brake pedal must be pressed extremely hard to stop or slow the vehicle. Problem happens most often when on a hill approaching a stop. Toyota dealer initially said that they never heard of such a problem until I presented them with T-SB-0059-23 Hybrid Regenerative Brake Transition Feeling Improvement for Model years 2020 thru 2022 from Toyota's website. I had reported the issue 3 times before (twice while in warranty and documented by them once while in warranty) but they claim that there is no fix available and when and if one comes available it will only apply to vehicles with 36,000 miles or less. LOOKS like Toyota and this dealer could care less about SAFETY and its customers.

Reported

Mar 2026

Incident date

Mar 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, and driving at an undisclosed speed, the seat belt alarm chimed while the seat belts were properly buckled. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and released and fastened the seat belt securely however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The failure recurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer a third time; however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000.

Reported

Mar 2026

Incident date

Mar 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Some times when I request the rear hatch to open is does nothing but most of the time when I depress the close button, it moves less than an inch and then beeps. I have had to depress the button up to 6 times before the hatch closes. The car is only 3 years old as of this month and the problems stated more than 6 months ago but my mileage was over 36,000 6 months ago so it was out of warranty. This is a joke since my 12 year old suv has no issues with its powered hatch. There are a lot of online complaints on the power hatches. It is a safety issue of the hatches don’t close. This is almost a daily challenge (it not closing when I ask it to be closed (fob, rear hatch button as well as dash hatch button).

Reported

Mar 2026

Incident date

Oct 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

While driving down the highway I went over a bridge joint and my sunroof suddenly exploded sending glass both into and off the back of the vehicle. I was able to find the moment of the explosion on my rear dashcam (saw the falling glass) and checked the front dashcam for any evidence of an object that would have impacted and did not find any. Neither I or my two passengers saw an object hit. The front dashcam also confirmed rough pavement near the bridge joint that would have caused some vibration in the vehicle.

Reported

Mar 2026

Incident date

Mar 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

It takes time to accelerate. The car jerks and shakes before moving

Reported

Mar 2026

Incident date

Mar 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I bought this vehicle new in March 2024. I normally use Apple CarPlay for music and more importantly maps. Approximately 1 year after purchase, I was driving along and all of a sudden a new screen appeared with a keyboard requesting that I sign in with my email address. To clear the screen, I had to hit the small "X" in the upper right hand corner of the screen. That cleared and then a new screen appeared in blue saying "Experience Drive Connect" and asking me to subscribe to their software service for navigation and other services. To get back to the map on Apple CarPlay I had to hit another button on the upper left of the screen. I will upload screenshots. This is a safety issue not only in losing the map but more importantly it takes my eyes off the road to resolve (the buttons are small and not easily pushed while driving.) This happens multiple times a day in short around town drives. I googled this on line and noted many complaints by Toyota owners for the same problem. So I asked the mechanic yesterday when I had the car serviced if he could disable the Experience Drive Connect so i wouldn't have the problem. He laughed and said it's a common complaint by customers and that it's "hard wired" in and cannot be disabled unless you call Toyota and purchase their monthly plan for $15/month or $20/mo for the premium version. This is not only a scam but it's an unsafe feature that could be disabled if Toyota chose to make a software change. I urge you to use your influence to correct this unsafe and unethical feature of their otherwise excellent vehicles.

Reported

Mar 2026

Incident date

Mar 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Delayed acceleration, jerking shifting between gears and whining noise

Reported

Mar 2026

Incident date

Feb 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The rear window on my car spontaneously shattered as I was driving. This was in light rain on the freeway. I had turned the rear-window defrost on at the beginning of my 20 minute drive to work in the dark at 5:30AM . When I was almost at my destination, I heard a noise and looked in the rear view mirror to see my rear window had shattered. My car is just three years old with about 30,100 miles on it. I drove to the dealer, waited until they opened, and they evaluated - saying it would take $1300 and three days to fix. They said it would not be covered by my bumper to bumper warranty as that had expired in the prior week. They said it would not be covered by my Toyota extended care warranty. As much rain was expected later in the day, I fixed paying for the repair myself as I found a third party installer who could do it for a fraction of the dealer's asking price on the same day. There were no warnings, messages or other symptoms. I had only turned on the rear defroster one other times in the three years I owned the vehicle. This happened without warning.

Reported

Feb 2026

Incident date

Feb 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

My Toyota Highlander 12.3 inch display of the instrument panel may be blank at startup. Operating the vehicle with this display blank reduces the ability to see certain malfunction indicators. This Safety Recall that has been active since September 11, 2025. The problem been acknowledged and confirmed by Millers Toyota, in Anaheim, California and Toyota in Bueno Park, California dealers. Their answers, Toyota currently does not have a remedy as of to date, February 17, 2026. The screen goes blank every time I start my car, while driving, or trying to access the applications on my screen. I would greatly appreciate help regarding this recall.

Reported

Feb 2026

Incident date

Sep 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The vehicle's tailgate motor has started to malfunction and is failing prematurely. When opening the tailgate it makes a loud squealing noise. When attempting to close utilizing all automatic features it will stop and beep twice. After multiple attempts the tailgate remains open is unable to be closed via automatic means. This is a safety issue as it compromises the closing an opening functionality if the tailgate itself and could lead to unsecured tailgates or vehicles with an inability to close their tailgates.

Reported

Feb 2026

Incident date

Oct 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Air bags did not deploy during accident Black box did not record any incident occurred and vehicle was totaled vehicle black box data was downloaded by manufacturer representative accident report was submitted On October 28 2025 a deer ran in front of us and we hit it at approximately 55mph vehicle was determined to be totaled after insurance adjuster reviewed Sheriff deputy and tow truck driver both said air bags should have deployed. Upon receiving the pdf file of black box raw data, it states that no incident happened. I asked a relative who works for a major airline manufacturer and the opinion of their analyst for data recorders is that the computer seems to have been defective. Toyota however states the accident did not meet the parameters to register an incident. I find this answer highly suspicious at best.

Reported

Jan 2026

Incident date

Oct 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V595000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the instrument panel failed to display critical safety information as intended. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

Reported

Jan 2026

Incident date

Jan 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Emission Recall Remedy not available. 2.3 in display of the instrument panel may be blank at start up. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?/operating the vehicle with this display blank reduces the ability to see certain malfunction indicators remedy not available. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, dealership Toyota of Anaheim and Buena Park. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, Toyota Of Anaheim and Buena Park. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? None

Reported

Jan 2026

Incident date

Sep 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V595000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while the vehicle was running, the instrument panel was black and failed to display critical safety information as intended. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Reported

Jan 2026

Incident date

Oct 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The transfer case blew out when I stopped at a red-light, within the first 3 years of original ownership. Only 65,000 miles on the odometer, mostly from highway driving. The car is now inoperable and repair quotes are prohibitively expensive.

Reported

Jan 2026

Incident date

Dec 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Driving vehicle and front lower bumper cover assembly fell off on highway. 2 days later received a recall notice for exact issue. Safety recall 23TA12. Brought vehicle into NuCar Toyota of North Attleboro and they refused to execute recall stating prior damage to upper bumper which is not true. There are a few scratches but no indentation or external damage preventing the recall from being executed.

Reported

Jan 2026

Incident date

Jun 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from behind the dashboard and the rear passenger-side door. The contact stated that it sounded as if something was loose. No warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the abnormal sound started after the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V720000(Structure). The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,700.

Reported

Dec 2025

Incident date

Sep 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

A vehicle turned in front of me as I was going down the highway and I collided with the vehicle at 44 mph. The airbags of my car did not deploy but the airbags of the other vehicle did deploy.

Reported

Dec 2025

Incident date

Dec 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Crash

On November 24, I took the vehicle into Gene Messer Toyota in Lubbock, TX to have them diagnose a noise in the front end. They confirmed hearing the noise but assured me the vehicle was safe to drive. No repairs were performed. 10 days later, on December 10, the front driver wheel detached while my husband was driving at highway speed.

Reported

Dec 2025

Incident date

Dec 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

When applying the brakes sometimes, particularly when breaking at the bottom of a hill, the car lunges forward before the brake catches and it stops. The transition is jarring and does not seem safe at all. I've been told by mechanics at the Toyota shop that it is normal for a hybrid vehicle, but if that is the case they need to not sell hybrid vehicles or find a way to avoid this problem. I've read tons of posts on online forums confirming that many other people have this with their Toyota hybrid vehicles, including the Highlander.

Reported

Dec 2025

Incident date

Dec 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Since I got this car, when going down hill the breaks don't work properly. It is a sudden surge and the car takes a few extra seconds to break. It happens often and I always need to keep a good distance from the car in front of me to avoid a collision. I brought up during service to my Toyota dealership but they don't have a solution. Nothing shows up in the panel, the car just launches forward.

Reported

Dec 2025

Incident date

Dec 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

My 2023 Toyota Highlander has had an issue where the steering wheel and brake pedal vibrate when braking at around 25 mph and higher. The car will also vibrate. This happens on the highway mainly but also on 25+ speed zones in residential areas. I have taken my car for regular maintenance and the brakes have always checked out fine. There has never been a service report stating anything is wrong with the rotors. I have purchased new tires and have had them aligned and balanced and the issues still persist. When I reported this to Toyota Service I was told that my brakes were good. The problem still persists.

Reported

Nov 2025

Incident date

Nov 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Tailgate struts failed within 2k miles of the 3/36k warranty. Even with the power back door feature "off", the struts are not simply converted to normal manual hydraulics. To lift the gate and close the gate it takes significant effort and I injured my shoulder while trying to lift it while holding items I didn't want to get wet on the ground during a rain event.

Reported

Nov 2025

Incident date

Sep 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the liftgate had failed to open or to close intermittently. The contact stated that the liftgate made an abnormal grinding sound while opening and would open 3-inch at a time while the contact continuously pressed the power liftgate button manually. The contact stated that the dealer had reset the liftgate; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.

Reported

Nov 2025

Incident date

Jun 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Blind spot feature is detecting a vehicle two lanes over from the lane I’m driving on. This has caused to almost result in a crash due to this safety hazard. Blind spot is always detecting a vehicle driving two lanes over. Blind spot signal on driver mirror flashes as well when such vehicle two lanes over is detected and I am about to move over to my adjacent lane.

Reported

Oct 2025

Incident date

Oct 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.

Risk: A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed April 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated August 27, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB06 and 26TA06.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner vehicles. Due to an error in the instrument panel software at vehicle startup, the instrument panel may fail to display vehicle speed, brake system, and tire pressure warning lights.

Risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 5, 2025. Additional letters will be sent, anticipated in May 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB08 and 25TA08. Lexus' numbers for this recall are 25LB05 and 25LA05.

Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2022-2024 model year Highlander L and Highlander LE vehicles equipped with the Blackout Package that includes 20" black alloy wheels and tires. The installed tires have an insufficient load rating. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Risk: Tires with an insufficient load rating may be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GST will inspect and replace the tires as necessary, and install a new tire information label as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2024. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R1.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, 2023 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX500 Hybrid, 2023-2024 Lexus NX250, NX350, and NX350 Hybrid vehicles. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: A deactivated driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TA08. Lexus' number for this recall is 23LA02.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Highlander & Highlander Hybrid vehicles. During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching.

Risk: A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace the upper and lower front bumper covers as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 22, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB12/23TA12.

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Highlander vehicles. The 20-inch accessory tires with an insufficient load rating for the vehicle's Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) were installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Risk: Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: SET will inspect and replace the tires and information placard, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 16, 2024. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET24A.

Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain Toyota 2023 GR Supra, 2024 4 Runner, Corolla, Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Tacoma, Tacoma Hybrid, 2023-2024 BZ4X, Corolla Cross Hybrid, GR Corolla, GR86, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius Prime, Sequoia Hybrid, Tundra, Tundra Hybrid, Venza Hybrid, 2023-2025 Crown, and 2025 Camry Hybrid vehicles equipped with GST accessories. The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Risk: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GST will mail new labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2024. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R2.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Lexus RX350, 2023-2024 NX250, and NX350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23V-480. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: A deactivated driver's air bag will not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 25TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 25LA02.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE25.