2022 Toyota Highlander
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 257 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 25 Highlander model years with reports.
Of the 2022 reports, 16 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 13 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Seats, mid/rear assembly, reclinerMar 5, 2026
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.
A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 9, 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.
Campaign 26V128000 on NHTSA.gov
TiresJun 18, 2024
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."
Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 24V452000 on NHTSA.gov
TiresJun 6, 2024
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."
Tires with an insufficient load rating may be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 24V419000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, body, bumpersOct 26, 2023
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.
A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 23V720000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsMay 6, 2022
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2022 4Runner, Tacoma, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification labels may not be permanent and can fade, becoming illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
An illegible label may allow the vehicle to be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
GST will notify owners by mail, including a replacement load carrying capacity modification label for their vehicle and detailed replacement instructions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 22R1.
Campaign 22V310000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: forward collision avoidance
21 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Air bags, Forward collision avoidance, Sep 26, 2026
SRS air bag system malfunction, front camera unavailable, RSA malfunction, pre-collision system malfunction, headlight system malfunction and LTA malfunction lights came on.
Exterior lighting, Air bags, Forward collision avoidance, Sep 26, 2026
PKSB malfunction, pre-collision system malfunction, headlight system malfunction, SRS air bag system malfunction and LTA malfunction light came on.
Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Sep 26, 2026
Pre-collision system malfunction and headlight system malfunction lights came on.
Electrical system, Back over prevention, Forward collision avoidance, Sep 26, 2026
Front camera unavailable, PKSB malfunction, Pre-collision system malfunction and headlight system malfunction lights came on.
Forward collision avoidance, Sep 26, 2026
Cruise control malfunction light illuminated.
Exterior lighting, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, May 1, 2026
Headlight system malfunction, Pre-collision system malfunction and LTA malfunction
Exterior lighting, Air bags, Forward collision avoidance, May 1, 2026
PKSB malfunction, LTA system malfunction, SRS system malfunction, Per-Collision system malfunction, Headlight system malfunction and Front camera unavailable.
Air bags, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 19, 2026
During start up SRS airbag system malfunction, front camera unavailable, pre-collision system malfunction and LTA malfunction lights and warnings came on.
Other or unspecified, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 19, 2026
During start up LTA malfunction, Pre-Collision system malfunction and Headlight system malfunction lights and warning indicators came on.
Other or unspecified, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 19, 2026
During start up Headlight system malfunction and Pre-Collision system failure lights and waring came on.
Air bags, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Jan 27, 2026
Parked in sun and the SRS system malfunctioned, after power reset the system reset ok, LTA malfunction, headlight system malfunction Pre-collision malfunction.
Air bags, Back over prevention, Forward collision avoidance, Jan 27, 2026
Parked in sun and the SRS system malfunctioned, after power reset the system reset ok. Front camera malfunction, RSA malfunction & Pre-collision malfunction.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Oct 15, 2025
I reported twice to Tustin Toyota that my car seemed to have a strange braking issue. It felt like the car lurched/lunged forward as I was braking. Every time I brought it into service, I verbally mentioned it to the technician checking my vehicle in. I was repeatedly told there was no issue. Turns out there is an active bulletin (T-SB-0059-23) that came out but now my vehicle is out of warranty and they won't fix it unless I pay out of pocket. Why was the dealership not aware. Why is this not a recall for all affected years regardless of warranty? There have been multiple reports online with people have the same issue.
Power train, Forward collision avoidance, Sep 17, 2025
I own a 2022 Toyota Highlander XLE (UA80E transmission, ~66k mi). The vehicle exhibits a severe transmission defect: uncommanded braking/drag at 35–40 mph and sudden loss of power when accelerating from a stop, making merging/crossing intersections dangerous. Two Toyota dealers (Bryan Toyota and Plano Toyota) reproduced the issue, documented the vehicle as unsafe to drive, and recommended full transmission replacement. The failed unit is preserved at the dealer for inspection. (Toyota Corporate Case #250917001779.) This mirrors long-standing defects within Toyota’s UA80 family that Toyota itself has documented: • Customer Support Program ZJC / POL19-04 (4/18/2019)—UA80 whine, harsh shifts, reduced power 2019 MC-10159730-9999 . • T-SB-0160-18 Rev1 (12/17/2018)—UA80 whine/harsh shift/MIL/reduced power 2018 MC-10198131-9999 . • T-SB-0001-18 Rev2 (1/8/2018)—ECM/UA80 mismatch causing harsh shifts 2018 MC-10185780-9999 . • T-SB-0008-21 (2/9/2021)—UA80E/F failures in 2021 Highlander (whine/grind, pinion shaft) 2021 MC-10188917-9999 . The same safety-critical behavior now recurs in my 2022 model. I request NHTSA investigate this as an ongoing UA80 transmission safety defect trend and consider recall/coverage for affected vehicles.
Air bags, Forward collision avoidance, Aug 30, 2024, crash
My father in law drove my highlander car and got into an accident on 8/27/2024. Front of the car was damaged but did not deploy the airbags. And as far I know it is equipped with automatic braking system but the damaged looks really bad.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 17, 2024
On March 16, 2024 this vehicle experienced a complete brake system failure. This is a very serious braking issue and the vehicle has had several braking incidents leading up to the complete failure. Toyota Motor Corp has dismissed the issue each time as there have been no codes or warning lights prior to this incident. We filed a complaint concerning this braking issue on June 12, 2023, Ref#11526496 Since that first report there have been several other incidents where the brake pedal went soft and depressed to the floor as the vehicle accelerated forward. Since the complete system failure occurred on a Saturday, as of this writing, it has not yet been reported to the service department. We filed a complaint with Toyota Motor Corp stating that this is a very serious safety concern that could lead to injury or death and they dismissed it.
Air bags, Forward collision avoidance, Jan 4, 2024, crash
Was in a frontal collision air bags failed to deploy and forward collision system did not work. Received error messages from both systems that they failed
Power train, Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Oct 25, 2023
The highlander has been having starting issue where the dash reads that the hybrid system is not functioning and won’t turn over. There is a consumer report program instead of a recall. This is deceiving. This morning the TPMS was reading that all tired were at 32 pounds of air when in fact the right front passenger was complete flat to the rim. Clearly the computer was malfunctioning with not just one aspect of the car but multiple. The local dealership isn’t helpful in that they charge $185 for diagnostic tests.
Air bags, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Jun 29, 2023, crash
On June 26 2023 the vehicle didn't stop automatically when another car was in view in the intersection, the automatic breaking system didn't work and the air bags didn't deploy,
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Jan 2, 2023, crash
My mother was killed on 5/27/22 by her brand new 2022 Highlander Platnum with about 2000 miles on it. There wasn’t anyone inside her car at the time of her wrongful death. No person’s car should kill it’s owner in her own driveway at anytime especially when the car was empty. The Police report has not been completed by the local Police department yet. The day before the accident she took her car to her dealership Hansel Toyota Petaluma at 9am where she bought her car only a few weeks earlier bc her front bumper had fallen off on the freeway to ask them to put her bumper back on but Hansel Toyota of Petaluma refused her reasonable request. What they told my parents was to go file a claim with her auto insurance carrier. So they did. The next day my mother was run over and killed by her own car. Why did Hansel Toyota refuse to fix my mother’s front bumper that day? Isn’t that their job? Isn’t that their legal responsibility? Doesn’t the front bumper affect the safety the vehicle? So why did Hansel Toyota of Petaluma refuse service when the car’s warranty was in effect? We feel my mother was wrongly killed by a machine that malfunctioned. Her front bumper was dragging on the ground for a few miles on the freeway when it abruptly fell off and hence exposed a metal part of the car. This unfortunate event should never have happened. Our mother would still be alive today had it not been for other peoples irresponsible behavior. We believe the missing bumper played a role in her death. We also believe her car malfunctioned that led to her wrongful death.
Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Nov 11, 2022
While driving on the highway the entire dashboard warning system came on all the ADAS and messages saying braking failure to loss of control. This vehicle is not even three months old and is a platinum AWD vehicle fully loaded version. Toyota Dealership never mentions or stated this vehicle had any issues, even today they seem not to know what caused the vehicle to underperform. This is dangerous and this vehicle going at 65 MPH and unable to stop is a real danger to the occupants and others. They say its safe to drive, I disagree for the safety of all indivduals on the roadways.