2019 Toyota Highlander

2019 Toyota Highlander recalls (3)

• FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

• FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

• EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

  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."

  Remedy: 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.

2019 Toyota Highlander safety ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP ratings.

2019 Toyota Highlander owner complaints (15)

• POWER TRAIN

  The component that malfunctioned is the vehicle’s automatic transmission. The transmission developed a progressively worsening humming/whining noise during acceleration. The transmission is no longer available for inspection because the vehicle has been taken to an independent transmission repair shop for diagnosis and repair. The problem creates a safety concern because the transmission developed significant internal wear or damage and could potentially worsen or fail while the vehicle is being driven. A transmission failure could result in loss of power or unexpected changes in vehicle operation, increasing the risk of an accident, particularly while accelerating or merging into traffic. The problem was reproduced and confirmed by a Toyota dealership. The dealership diagnosed the noise as coming from the transmission and determined that the transmission requires replacement. The dealership recommended replacing the transmission rather than repairing the specific internal component causing the noise. The vehicle was inspected by the Toyota dealership. It is now at an independent transmission repair shop for repair. No police or insurance inspection was involved. There were no warning lights or warning messages on the dashboard before the problem. The first symptom was an unusual whining noise from the transmission area. The noise later changed into a more noticeable humming sound that increases with acceleration and vehicle speed. The vehicle continued to operate, but the abnormal transmission noise persisted and progressively became more concerning.

• POWER TRAIN

  My 2019 Toyota Highlander AWD vehicle started making a whining noise around 85,000 miles. This high pitched whining sound occurred while accelerating and became louder and louder with time. I researched the issue and found out that the same issue had occurred on 2018 Highlanders and Toyota issued a Customer Service Bulletin T-SB-0160-18, which addressed the repair and replacement of these UA80 transmissions regardless if the warranty had expired or not. After visiting my local Toyota dealer, they confirmed that the high pitch whine was the final drive noise with the UA80 transmission and the exact same issue as the 2018 Highlander. If left unchecked, my transmission would eventually fail. Since my 2019 Highlander is not part of any recall, and at the moment, not part of the Customer Service Bulletin T-SB-0160-18, I was left to take care of the repair on my own. I contacted Toyota Corporate and requested financial assistance on the the approximate $7,000 charge to replace my transmission. Toyota told me that my car was not under warranty, but they could pay for my 50% of my cost to replace my transmission. I had to pay $3,535 (half of the total cost) to repair my transmission. Since this issue is a manufactured flaw with the assembly of the transmission, I believe the entire repair should be covered 100% by Toyota; therefore, a recall should be issued or the 2019 Highlanders should also be included in the Customer Service Bulletin T-SB-0160-18.

• POWER TRAIN

  Winning on acceleration,

• UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  UA8OF transmission went. Vehicle was making whining noise when purchased and was told was normal. Driving the car as normal when traveling through intersection when car would not drive.

• UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  The back passenger door (passenger side) will not unlock when using the remote or the button on the front door panels. The only way to open the door is to push the button manually on the car door. The child lock is NOT ON!!! I called the Toyota dealer in my town and they said there are no recalls and it would be $200 to do a diagnostic test on it. This is not ok. To not be able to unlock the door from the remote or the front door panel is not acceptable.

• POWER TRAIN

  My 2019 Toyota Highlander has the same UA80 transmission that Toyota was required to fix under CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM ZJC, which covers 2017-2018, the transmission has the same whining noise and shifting issues. Toyota must accept responsibility for their manufacturing error where the washer tab was not bent properly, allowing a nut to loosen leading to the whining noise. I expect the NHTS to require them to cover their 2019's as well, as a consumer we are getting screwed here.

• POWER TRAIN

  In April of 2026 started hearing a whining noise in the engine of my 2019 Toyota Highlander. The vehicle has 110471 miles. Have had it checked at the dealership twice and a mechanic twice. All have said the transmission is going out. I have had the transmission fluid replaced, but it did not help. Apparently, Toyota knew about this problem and still sold the car. I am unable to drive car because I am afraid it is going to break down. The dealership said they could replace the transmission for 8762.64 dollars. Toyota has since stopped making UA80 eight speed auto transmission.

• POWER TRAIN

  I have a 2019 Highlander XLE AWD that had 85000 miles when the transmission started whining. It got worse pretty quickly so iI took it to a transmission shop. They rebuilt it for $6700.00. I drove it for another 9-10 thousand miles and the whine is back. I'm not sinking another $6700.00 into another transmission. I've talked to several transmission shops and I'm being told there isn't a true fix. Rebuild it and it will come back, guaranteed. What recourse do I have? The car only has 102,000 miles which is typically nothing for a Toyota. But it all started at 85000. Something needs to be done. I see programs for the 2017 and 2018 models but not the 2019. It's the same transmission. The issues crop up after the vehicle has gone out of warranty.

• ENGINE

  I am writing to formally document a series of unresolved mechanical issues with my vehicle, culminating in a complete transmission failure, and to request assistance in resolving this matter. The timeline of events is detailed below: *Winter 2024: I first noticed a persistent buzzing sound originating from the engine compartment. Because this symptom primarily occurred during low ambient temperatures, I initially attributed it to the cold weather. The mileage on this vehicle was around 50k miles. *Spring 2024: I contacted the dealership to report the noise. I was advised that the issue was likely related to a worn belt. Subsequent inspection, however, proved this diagnosis to be incorrect, and the root cause of the noise remained unresolved. *Fall 2024: The engine buzzing returned. Concurrently, a severe driveability issue emerged. On multiple occasions after shifting from Park to Drive, the vehicle failed to engage the gear properly, behaving as though it were in Neutral and preventing any acceleration. This would occur while driving and stopped at redlights, which posed a major safety concern as I was transporting my newborn and young child with me. * February 2025: The vehicle became entirely inoperable. Unfortunately, this failure occurred around 62k miles, AFTER my 60k mile warranty expired, (which i was unaware of). Given that these symptoms began during the winter of 2024 and were reported to the dealership early on, it is clear that the initial diagnostics failed to identify a developing and critical transmission defect. I conducted research and discovered this is a recurring issue with Toyota Highlanders, and other vehicles with the model UA80 transmission. Toyota posted a service bulletin, extending vehicles from 2017 & 2018 but have yet to address the 2019 through current models to date with reports of the same transmission issues.

• ENGINE

  The car is was a 2019 Toyota Highlander with approximately 125,000 miles. White Smoke started appearing in the exhaust. Quickly after that, the check engine light appeared and started blinking, meaning the engine was misfiring. We brought to the dealership, and they found that cylinder 4 of the engine was damaged (scoring on the inside of the cylinder wall). The engine was releasing metal particles in the oil. Further, the cylinder would not hold oil or coolant pressure, and was burning both oil and coolant. The only fix was to replace or rebuild the engine.

• POWER TRAIN

  Hundreds of thousands of 2017–2022 gas-powered Toyota Highlanders (equipped with UA80E/UA80F 8-speed transmissions) are experiencing high-pitched whining noises, hard or erratic shifting, and sudden hesitation. This is caused by a factory defect where a retaining nut and locking tab in the counter drive gear sub-assembly were improperly installed, causing premature internal wear and gear movement

• POWER TRAIN

  I have the high pitch whine coming from transmission. It is a known issue with Toyota but they refuse to look into it since my VIN falls outside their recall list. This is the same transmission as previous years and has the exact same issues. This is a safety issue that needs to be addressed immediately.

• VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  Whining sound can be heard while accelerating the vehicle. Maintenance crew is reporting an issue with transmission. UA80F 8 speed transmission on V6 engine in Toyota Highlander has this failure noise. Given that the transmission can fail anytime. It is dangerous to operate the vehicle. No action is taken from Toyota yet.

• UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  Since October 2025 I have had intermittent issues where the car battery suddenly loses power when driving. I have had to pull over on highway medians and shoulders. A few seconds before it loses power, multiple dash alerts go off: pre-collision malfunction, hybrid system malfunction, check engine. It has been seen now by multiple mechanics including Toyota dealership. It is now on its third battery. Replaced yesterday and lost power on highway today. Please investigate this issue.

• UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  The dealership recommended transmission fluid exchange services for my 2019 Highlander SE after the recommended mileage for this service. I wasn’t able to get this service completed because of timing, however later on the service was completed and after three weeks the vehicle started jerking upon acceleration. Took the Benchley back to the mechanic to diagnose the problem. Per the diagnostic test the issue was determined by this code transmission P0745-7F | Pressure Control Solenoid "A" Actuator Stuck Off - Pending DTC.