2019 Toyota Highlander
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 483 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 25 Highlander model years with reports.
Of the 2019 reports, 22 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 18 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpNov 4, 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
Campaign 20V682000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpJan 13, 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
Campaign 20V012000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsMar 27, 2019
Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling certain 2019 C-HR, 4Runner, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Sienna, Tundra and Yaris vehicles. The text on the load capacity label may become illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 19R1.
Campaign 19V244000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
483 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Jul 10, 2023
I have a 2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and about two years after driving the car, I get a loud, very high-pitched/high-frequency screeching sound when getting in the vehicle coming from the speakers. It lasts about 10 seconds. It's so loud it hurts our ears. Upon contacting Toyota, they declined to repair the issue, and I discovered several other users have the same issue. It's loud and excruciating and doesn't happen constantly, but it gets more frequent. complains from other owners: https://www.toyotanation.com/threads/2019-highlander-platinum-painful-ear-screech-sound-from-speakers-when-starting-car.1734165/page-3 This is the noise made:
Service brakes, Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Jul 9, 2023
While I am driving my Toyota Highlander XLE 2019 in a parking lot to park my car, I stopped to yield to people crossing and I slowed down and applied brake , but my car stopped and unable to restart as car display showing an error - Braking Power Low I unable to star the car and ended up towing to Toyota Dealer ship in Plano,TX I am still waiting for Dealer to check on and advise on the issue I feel this is huge safety issue as car can stop in middle of traffic or on busy highway with out any warning and can cause a serious accident I am really pissed off at Toyota quality
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 13, 2023
Vehicle check engine turned on to check AWD system after about 2 days when filling with gas the engine wouldn't start and had Low brake power message on dashboard. Checked code and got P0171 and P0174 which mean engine's air/fuel mixture becomes too lean for the Engine Control Module (ECM) to correct within its normal operating range there are many posts and threads about same issue on highlanders as old as 2017 please look into this issue that could potentially cause a hazard. will take vehicle in for inspection 06/13/23 at Toyota of Naperville
Air bags, Jun 2, 2023, crash
The contact owned a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, she crashed into a large commercial vehicle. As a result, her vehicle went underneath the large vehicle and her air bags failed to deploy upon impact. The contact hit her head on the windshield as she later sought treatment at her urgent care facility for injuries to her head, back, neck and right knee. The other driver sustained no injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and an investigation was able to retain the vehicle's black box; the cause of the air bag failure remained under investigation. The vehicle was deemed a total loss due to the extensive front-end damage. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Fuel system, Other, May 19, 2023
2019 Toyota Highlander- Consumer is asking for any help that can be offered in reference to recalls. Legal Notice-Class Action Settlement, recall notice, online recall search documents, invoice for repair, mechanic repair contract, pictures of accident, accident report, and collision summary supplement of record attached.
Power train, Apr 7, 2023
2019 Highlander has whining noise when accelerating so we brought it into the dealership. They stated it needs a new transmission assembly - $11,741.41. This is unacceptable for a four year old vehicle. I have contacted Toyota directly, they stated there is nothing they can do for us because we are over the 60,000 warranty.
Electrical system, Mar 24, 2023
Random Battery Drain. Driver and passengers can be put in danger if car doesn’t start and vehicle is in an unsafe location. AAA replaced battery with a new one but the random battery drain problem continues to occur. No warning signs prior to dead battery. First appeared end of 2020/beginning of 2021. Internet search returns complaints for same problem from 2017 to present.
Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 19, 2023
I went out into my garage 3:30 in the morning and heard a motor running very faintly tried tracking down the noise finally located under the car at the rear. It was the fuel pump running. I went in. got my key started the vehicle let it run about a half a minute shut it off. The noise was gone. I’m worried about this pump running for hours or possibly days then catching the car on fire the garage and the house I know there have been issues. With fuel pumps in these Toyotas, but I haven’t found this particular problem online. Possibly there may be a problem with the fuel pump relay?
Service brakes, Mar 11, 2023
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY AND BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY. Yes, both parts will be available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Brakes either lock up or won't stop short without skidding. The vehicle's hybrid system also shuts down. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Dealership only at this point. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Before the brakes locked up, warning lamp said Hybrid System Stopped. BSM not available.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Feb 8, 2023
There is a “squeak” type noise that sounds like fluid or air is being forced through a crack when the brakes are applied. It is intermittent as brakes remain applied, however it happens every time the brakes are applied and lasts until they are released. The local Toyota dealer diagnosed it as a failed brake master cylinder. After repair, the same noise continues. The dealers “master technician” was able to hear and reproduce the noise, but claim that it is from pressure building to help breaking. The young “master technician” stated that he works feel safe in the vehicle, but they don’t know why it’s making that sound. The sound began 1 year after I purchased the vehicle (I bought it v used in 2022). Warning lamps flashed very briefly indicating something about brakes, although it was difficult to read, as it happened very quickly and has not happened since.
Visibility, Feb 3, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH and while the sunroof was closed, the sunroof glass exploded. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not yet taken to an independent mechanic or local dealer for diagnosis or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Jan 3, 2023
The door locks will not unlock or lock. Had to replace two so far and now the other side is doing the same. Pre collision, Lane departure, cruise control and traction have malfunction. Unknown as to why at this moment.
Other or unspecified, Dec 20, 2022
While driving on the freeway less than 10 miles from my home, my sunroof exploded and broke into pieces. I was driving on a section of freeway where there was nothing above me and there were no other cars near me. There was a loud noise and then the air was rushing into my car.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 12, 2022
This is a 2019 hybrid Highlander and the vehicle continually stalls or won’t start and we get a warning message that the hybrid system has stopped working and to put car in Park and restart. While this is happening regularly during startup, fortunately this has only happened once with the vehicle in Drive but represents a serious safety concern for us! We were being assigned to Germany and reported the issue to our local Toyota dealer who couldn’t duplicate the problem and said that the Toyota engineers said it couldn’t happen. Since arriving in Germany, the problem during startup has occurred on almost a daily basis. Last occurrence was this evening, 12 Dec 22.
Other or unspecified, Nov 14, 2022
Sunroof glass. Driving down the highway, the sunroof glass exploded and shattered. A very loud explosion noise. Vehicle is currently at the dealer for repair. Broken glass falling on driver and passenger. Further inspection shows glass protruding upward as if it was broken from the inside. Online research has shown many other Highlanders with the same problem. Dealer blamed on a rock, so why is the glass protruding outward instead of inward. No warning lights.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 4, 2022
The windshield has developed a rapidly lengthening crack from the bottom to the top at the center of the glass. There is no evidence of an impact anywhere along this crack.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 29, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was jumpstarted and operated as designed. The contact stated that on another occasion, after refueling the vehicle and driving, the vehicle jerked, lost motive power, and stalled without warning. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Seat belts, Sep 26, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the 2nd row passenger’s side seat belt had started to fray at the top and near the buckle halfway through. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who stated that the seat belts needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.
Power train, Sep 19, 2022
My car was manufactured in 10/2018. My car is experiencing whine noise from the transmission while driving, harsh shifting and reduced power. This issue also appeared on previous year models from 2017-2018 and was taken care under bulletin "T-SB-0160-18". However, I called Toyota and they don't want to fix my vehicle under that bulletin even though the issue my car faces is the same. I checked online and many Toyota Highlander Owners face the same issue. I can be contacted on [XXX] or [XXX] Thanks, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Seats, Sep 2, 2022
My rear drivers side seat was not properly bolted down. I have been hearing a squeak for the past few years, that only went away when my child was sitting in the seat. We thought it was the car seat squeaking, but recently removed it since our child had grown big enough to no longer need it. I finally inspected the seat and noticed that the seat was moving when I put pressure on it. I took off the covers to the bolts on the front and noticed that I could literally remove them with my had. There was about a 1/16 to 1/8 inch of play in the seat. This is scary that my child has been riding in the unsafe seat for who knows how long. I do have videos of how loose they were, I could spin the washer freely.
Engine, Aug 25, 2022, crash
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while his wife was driving in a parking lot at approximately 2 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without the contact's wife having depressed the accelerator pedal. The vehicle crashed into a railing in the garage. The contact stated his wife had not noticed any warning lights. The vehicle had minor damage to the front grill and bumper there were scrapes and dents on the driver's side front fender and also to the passenger side front fender. The vehicle was drivable. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer, the vehicle had not been diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 21, 2022
I have had my vehicle for a little over 3 years, with about 35K miles on it. At first, I realized my vehicle jerked a bit, but I dismissed it because it never stopped. However, I did notice that my battery was dying quickly. I was changed once by the dealership because they said the battery was defective. After they changed that battery, the next battery also went bad. While driving with my children and mother, my vehicle began sputtering and a message that said, "Check Engine Reduced engine power" came on along with "Traction Control turned off" and my engine light. My vehicle barely accelerated as I was trying to cross the intersection thankfully I managed to get out of the way of oncoming vehicles. Somehow, the vehicle ran smoothly after I turned it off and turned it back. After that issue, I then experienced an error message in reference to the Start/Stop system along with the check engine light. That issue also cleared when I turned my vehicle on and off. I then experienced another power loss issue, at which time I traveled to my local Toyota dealership but they were unable to help me then due to a battery issue. The issue then cleared itself somehow again; however, the issue came back the next day. I managed to get my vehicle to the side of the roadway at which time the vehicle stalled. I tried starting the vehicle again; however, it would not turn over. After being on the roadside for about 2 to 3 hours, I tried starting my vehicle again, and it drove fine until I reached the dealership. My vehicle was placed on a machine where they received the code for a fuel rail issue along with a misfire. I was then advised that this issue is not covered under warranty. I was also told that the problem would cost me over 4K for the part which does not include labor. I have been doing my research since and I now find that there is a recall on my vehicle.
Electrical system, Aug 1, 2022, crash
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while reversing out of a driveway, the vehicle began to jerk without warning. Once the contact reached the base of her driveway, the vehicle accelerated backward into a neighbor's tree. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact called the ambulance where her daughter was transported to a hospital after she suffered a gash to the back of her head due to the accident. The contact and her daughter's friend both suffered whiplash as a result of the accident. A police report was filed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back into her driveway where it remained in her possession. The contact called the dealer to check for recalls and was informed that there were zero recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer had yet to be notified about the failure. The vehicle had to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 28, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floor; however, the vehicle failed to respond. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact turned off the vehicle to reduce forward motion and stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that a similar failure recurred, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 27,500.
Fuel/propulsion system, May 31, 2022
Temporary Loss off Power: After driving about 100 miles we stopped for a 15 minute break. Afterwards I started the car and to my surprise the engine was running but I had no power. I was able to coast down a slight grade to avoid other vehicles in the parking lot. I stopped the car, put it in Park (P), put it back in Drive (D) and was able to drive as before. We purchased this vehicle in September of 2018. It has slightly over 14K miles. This has happened at least once before.