2022 Toyota Highlander Complaint Log

I am writing to express my concerns regarding my 2022 Highlander. As a loyal Toyota family, with this being my fourth Toyota, my husband’s second, and my parents’ fifth, we have consistently valued the Toyota brand and our dealership in Bryan, TX. Recently, I brought my Highlander with (73,000 miles) to Family Toyota in Arlington due to a whining sound during acceleration. I was informed that the transmission requires replacement, at an estimated cost of $8,291. Furthermore, the transmissions are currently on back order, which would leave me without my vehicle for several months. While I have not found any official recalls addressing this specific issue, I have noted that this is a common concern with this model, and there are several class-action lawsuits pertaining to similar transmission problems across various models. I have also sought opinions from two independent transmission repair shops, both of whom have quoted a full transmission replacement. I contacted Toyota several times on what options may be available to me. They so far have left me with no rental car assistance and offered a very small discount on their known issue. I have already incurred approximately $800 in rental car and diagnostic expenses and am unable to cover the $8,291 replacement cost. It is disheartening to have owned my Highlander for less than three years, be unable to drive it, and still owe $20,000, which is not what I associate with the Toyota standard of quality. I now can not get to work and have a $47,000 piece of junk in my driveway and not even an apology from the company I once thought was #1 in customer service and reliability.

The grill of the vehicle is too big. There is nothing to stop the condenser from being damaged. There should be a plate for airflow but also stop the damage being done to the condenser. Shouldn't have to file an insurance claim, pay out of pocket and warranty doesn't cover. Recurring problem something should be done.

Two weeks ago, I had my 2022 Toyota Highlander serviced at Romano Toyota for my state inspection and regular maintenance. The dealership passed the inspection and did not mention any problems with my vehicle. However, just two days after the maintenance, the check engine light came on unexpectedly. The vehicle began to hesitate and shift roughly, with noticeable jerking during acceleration and delayed gear engagement. This created a safety hazard, especially when merging into traffic or crossing intersections, because the SUV would not respond quickly when pressing the accelerator. A diagnostic scan revealed transmission-related trouble codes (P2714 – Pressure Control Solenoid D, and/or P2757 – Torque Converter Clutch Pressure Control Solenoid Performance). I returned to the dealer, and they confirmed the issue but could not provide an immediate fix due to parts availability. They advised continuing to drive, which I feel is unsafe. The symptoms persist, and the transmission sometimes feels like it is slipping, which could result in loss of power in high-speed situations. This issue appears similar to other UA80 8-speed automatic transmission problems reported by Toyota owners from 2017–2022. Publicly available NHTSA records show over 200 similar complaints involving hesitation, rough shifting, and transmission failure. These reports suggest a potential widespread defect that may affect vehicle safety. Given the safety risk of delayed acceleration and possible transmission failure, I believe this defect needs investigation and corrective action.

2022 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER TRANSMISSION IS MAKING A HIGH PITCH WHINING SOUND AND IS GETTING WORSE. MY WIFE DRIVES 20 MILES A DAY, 6 DAYS A WEEK AT 65 MPH TO WORK AND THE TRANSMISSION NOISE IS GETTING LOUDER. IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS AND LOCKS UP, IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO FINDLAY TOYOTA IN PRESCOTT AZ. AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS DEFINITELY FAILING BUT WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE ISSUE BECAUSE SHE WAS 2500 MILES PAST THE 60K WARRANTY.

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.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that the mounting pad on the driver's side front bumper had detached and fallen off the vehicle. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

Complaint Description: The automatic transmission in my 2022 Toyota Highlander failed completely at only 62,800 miles. Toyota Brand Engagement Center offered to cover 50% of the replacement cost, but I was informed that the transmission is on national backorder with an estimated wait time of 4–5 months. This leaves me without a safe and reliable vehicle for an extended period of time. The failure is consistent with Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0008-21 (Feb 9, 2021), which acknowledges internal component failures and abnormal noises (whine/grind) in UA80E/UA80F transmissions. A major drivetrain failure at this mileage is unacceptable and raises concerns about safety, reliability, and Toyota’s handling of known transmission defects. I am requesting NHTSA to investigate this issue as it appears to be systemic and affecting many 2021–2022 Toyota Highlander owners.

When applying the brakes at speeds less than 40 miles per hour, the car will surge forward at a point during braking process. This happens regularly but not every time brakes are applied. This is an issue as the car surges forward during braking.

Vehicle is displaying a whining noise, especially when reaching 3rd gear / 35+ mph. Per mechnical review, it is the transmission failing. Only option is to replace the transmission. Similar to an issue already reported on similar models for both 2021 and 2022 Toyota Highlanders. No current recalls exist

Car lunges forward while constant braking. Problem is not consistently repeatable and occurs at various speeds, road conditions, and weather conditions. It seems to be in the transition between regenerative braking and mechanical braking from the hybrid system. The car will coast for a brief moment while braking increasing the stopping distance and time required to come to a complete stop. We've noticed this issue since we bought the car

The component that failed is the roof rail clips that hold the roof rack to the vehicle (Toyota Service Bulletin T-SB-0040-24). The clips under the rail fail and cause water to leak into the headliner and down the A-pillars on both sides of the vehicle. It presents itself by causing water staining where the headliner meets the A-pillar cover. This issue presented itself in January of 2023, a few months after we bought the vehicle. Toyota Bountiful (Utah) tried to tell us that it is the sunroof drain lines that are clogged and required a $100 service to clear them which is an annual service. After some push back they found the problem with the roof rack clips. However, they only replaced the passenger side and neglected to repair both sides. April of 2025 the driverside failed and Toyota Bountiful once again confirmed that the driverside clips failed. This creates a danger to the front occupants of the vehicle by allowing a possible mold issue within the cabin. Secondly, it allows water into the front curtain airbags of the vehicle.

I was driving around a corner and the driver's door popped open into the ajar position (not fully open, just ajar) and safety alarms went off. Confirmed that the doors were locked at the time this happened.

This is a widespread issue of these models leaving the factory with their headlights aimed too high which is leading other drivers to flash their brights thinking the bright lights in the Highlander are on. This needs to be sent to Toyota as a safety recall!!!! It is unsafe for oncoming traffic!!!!

This is regarding an issue with a 2022 Toyota Highlander with 79,668 miles at the dealership now waiting on a new transmission. On April 15, 2025, the vehicle was taken in to the dealership with whining noise and put on a diagnostic machine. Diagnosed as transmission. Took for second opinion at independent transmission company and stated the same issue. This vehicle is 4, 668 miles over warranty and we spoke with Toyota Brand Engagement and also district manager for this area. We are asking for help in replacement of this transmission costing over $10,000. Toyota was not willing to help in any way other than saying, "Sorry". We had to pay $5000 before the dealership would even order it. Now it has been three weeks and the transmission is still not at the dealership.We continue to make payments on a vehicle that is not even in service. I am seeing numerous incidents on the internet regarding Toyota's faulty transmissions. I am asking for a recall due to the issue of the age of the vehicle and the extreme expense of replacing a faulty transmission with no help from Toyota in any regard. This vehicle has been serviced as required and even transmission fluid change out per recommendation in Nov. 2024. There were never any warning lights that came on prior to failure. We took the vehicle into the service department within a few days of whining noise.

HIGH PITCH WHINING SOUND WHEN DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AND SAYS THE TRANSAXLE AND TORQUE CONVERTER HAS TO BE REPLACED. ALL STARTED HAPPENING JUST AFTER 60000 MILES SO OUT OF WARRANTY. $8500 REPAIR BILL

LIFTGATE MALFUNCTION

During very cold tempratures 25 F and below all windows fog up. Defroster is turned on but windows remain fogged. I can turn on rear defroster (electric grid) and clears back window. All windows fog so you cannot see out. With front defroster fan on high it will after a time (starting from the bottm) clear. Side windows on drivers and passenger side will some times clear. Not back passenger windows. Taken to dealer several times. Replaced thermostat. After more complaints dealer said there was no mechanical problem.

All Toyota Highlanders with the LED projector headlights come from the factory with the lights aimed far too high.

Internal failure (dealer indicated a bearing as cause) on transmission leading to entire transmission replacement required. Happened just outside warranty. Problem confirmed by dealership. Warning signs are whining/revving noise when accelerating (starts at about 20mph).

Experiencing erratic transmission shifts and jerking. Intermittent in nature.

Sudden acceleration when applying the brakes. This has happened several times

We have noticed that when we brake the vehicle, it intermittently LURCHES FORWARD very fast while you are breaking and trying to stop! This is extremely unsafe! We need to stop and brake and not go forward. It does this unexpectedly with no notice and does not always do it consistently but we have noticed it is getting worse and worse and we are worried we will hit another car in front or even a person because the car will not stop on time. When I looked online, this is a well known issue on Toyota Highlanders, especially hybrids like ours and Toyota has done nothing to fix this dangerous problem. They have even told car owners to drive slower but I can tell you it doesn’t seem to matter if I’m going 25 mph or faster or slower- the car gives no notice and goes FASTER while you are trying to stop!!!!! Please help us Toyota Highlander owners!!!! This car gives us no warning whatsoever. It is not consistent. But when it does this it is VERY scary!

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V419000 (Tires); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the TPMS warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side wheel was deflating. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 33,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

The power liftgate does not close. This is an intermittent problem that is increasing in frequency to the point that I can hear internal components in the strut that are failing. This was reported to Toyota within the warranty period, and they claim that parts are on backorder. It has been over three months, and the problem is still not corrected. Toyota appears to be refusing to honor its warranty on this vehicle. The concern is that this failure occurs during a road trip or in an inconvenient location leaving us stranded with no ability to move the vehicle or obtain assistance.

When braking the brakes will occasionally “quit”, causing unexpected acceleration. They kick back on if I stomp hard on the brake, causing the occupants to jolt forward. It could easily cause a collision if an unexpected vehicle or pedestrian were in the way, and could cause a rear end collision were I to have someone following close behind and hard brake unexpectedly. This has been reported to the dealership but they have been unable to replicate it. It happens intermittently, primarily when braking on a slight downhill slope. The issue has been since the vehicle was new. No warning lights or alerts activate inside.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V720000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the front lower bumper cover had detached. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the front lower bumper cover separated, flew underneath the vehicle and into traffic, causing the contact to temporarily lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where the contact was informed that there was a cost for the repair of the front lower bumper prior to the recall repair. The contact declined to pay for the repair because it was a minor bump. 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, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

On or about 9/22/24 I was driving on a parkway and was alerted by a high pitched alarm in the vehicle’s dashboard that the airbag had a malfunction and that the seatbelt was not engaged. I removed my seatbelt and clipped it back in but that did not stop the alarm. The vehicle continued to beep and say the airbag was malfunctioning. I made an appointment with Toyota service for 9/26/24 and when I arrived I was told they do not do diagnostic tests on Thursdays. They proceeded to give me a new appointment for today 9/28/24, and when I arrived they once again turned me away explaining that today was not a good day for a diagnostic. They mockingly told me that my vehicle warranty was about to expire. Furthermore, the Toyota has refused to fix the recall issue, and now is refusing to even run a diagnostic test to see what the problem is with the airbags. I am afraid the airbags will fail if I am in an accident. This is a very dangerous situation. Please help me!

As my wife had the wheels turned and was pulling up to the curb stop in a parking spot the car suddenly lurched forward without putting the accelerator on and went up and over the curb. Stop and hit a pole. my thoughts are is that the engine possibly changed from hybrid to gas or vice versa and as my wife’s foot was let off on the brake to inch forward to the curb stop it suddenly lunged forward as previously stated.

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.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V720000 (Structure). The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal popping and dragging sound coming from the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and inspected the vehicle. The contact stated that the driver’s side bumper had detached, and the passenger’s side bumper was hanging down. The front bumper was popped back into place and the contact continued to drive. The contact stated that while continuing to drive the bumper fully detached and ripped the covering under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the upper and lower bumpers needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

Degenerative breaking. When breaking sometimes it jolts- seems to lose braking power. This is a safety hazard. It could cause a crash.

The clips on the roof rails are not sealed and it allows water to leak into the car through the roof. This was an issue with previous RAV4 vehicles and is continuing on with the Highlander design. The water enters the vehicle anytime it rains or the vehicle is washed.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V720000 (Structure). The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the front bumper cover detached from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The dealer referred the contact to an auto body shop for further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Loss of brake sensation when slowing down through 20-25mph. Brake pedal takes a sudden plunge and car surges forward, forcing the driver to suddenly have to push hard on the brakes in order to stop. Usually happens under moderate braking, especially when there is a slight downhill grade. Toyota dealer confirms that it happens but says there are no codes and there is nothing they can do. Toyota dealer service advisor has had it happen to him while driving. This happens regularly, as often as 2-3 times per week, and can be reproduced.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact's vehicle was involved in a crash. The contact stated that the other vehicle that crashed into the contact stated the vehicle's speed was about 75 MPH. The contact stated that when the contact's vehicle was impacted, the contact's vehicle air bags failed to deploy. The contact stated that after the crash, the ABS warning light illuminated. The contact's vehicle was occupied by the contact's husband, who was seated in the front passenger's seat. The contact's two children, ages [XXX] and [XXX] old, were seated in the rear seat. The Police and Fire departments arrived on the scene. The contact stated that medical attention was provided at the scene. The contact sustained injuries included a concussion, a sprained left ankle, and a sprained right wrist. The contact's husband sustained injuries, including a sprained right wrist and a sprained left ankle. In addition, the contact's children sustained cuts and bruises. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and later towed to an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 70,765. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH in the fast lane, the steering wheel failed to respond as needed while attempting to turn to the left or the right. Additionally, the brakes became inoperable and the vehicle decelerated. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the shoulder, and the vehicle shut off. The contact called Roadside Assistance and was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the failure was due to the engine. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 17,781.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V720000 (Structure); 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 made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V720000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. 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. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

When I brake, the SUV feels like it accelerates/surges forward rather than slowing down. I need to apply the brakes hard to then stop the vehicle. I never know when it will happen but it happens very often.

when I slow down to make a right or left turn I apply pressure to the brake pedal and my vehicle brakes feel like they are "gulping: or not holding, causing my vehicle to lurch forward slightly. This has been happening since I purchsed in July 2022. I replaced my tires last month thinking it was the tires, but the vehicle still lurches forward when braking in a turn. I will put the last time this occurred in your details below

Met with an accident in dallas north tollway due to hydro plane and hit in the median. But airbag not deployed. Four people were in the car

r 2022 Toyota Highlander was involved in a motor vehicle incident wherein the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and front airbags may not have functioned as expected.

The vehicle will accelerate suddenly when pressing the brake putting myself and others at risk for injury.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V720000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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 stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact heard a dragging sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stopped the vehicle and observed that the lower section of the front bumper had almost detached from the vehicle and was cracked due to the impact with the road. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer and was informed that the replacement of the bumper would be an out-of-pocket expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Car fire (total loss of vehicle) after hybrid malfunction. My family and I were traveling west bound on [XXX] near Crawfordsville Indiana on [XXX]. Trooper Chelsey Smith from the Indiana State Police (CAD # [XXX] ) came to the scene. Our car was traveling westbound at about 70 mph when I got a notification of "a malfunction in the electronic control of the engine, throttle, or automatic transmission has been detected. Contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected" - I acknowledged the alert and kept driving, then it showed again 30 seconds later and acknowledged again. About 30 seconds later I received a "Hybrid System Alert" stating "A malfunction in the Hybrid System has been detected. Stop in a save location and contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected". The vehicle then notified me that it was reducing power output and we went from 70 to 20 mph in a few minutes. Then while we were going about 20 mph, the vehicle notified me that its going to come to a stop and shut off its power. I engaged the brakes and before coming to a full stop, thick brown smoke came out from the hood on the drivers side. Vehicle cam to a stop and we all jumped out of the vehicle. Within 30 seconds, the car had flames coming out of hood and front drivers side quarter panel. The fire then moved through the vehicle. Fire department came about 10 min later, but worked on it for 30+ mins to put out. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V720000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not 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 stated that while his wife was driving approximately 65 MPH, the lower front bumper cover assembly detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 85,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

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.

Front Bumper is detaching I feel unsafe driving this car

Front bumper has been falling off. We are on our 4th repair now in 1.5 years. Toyota claims that we aren't part of the recall but having issue with it staying in place. They might need to extend it further.