2017 Toyota Highlander

My 2017 Toyota Highlander, VIN [XXX], has just under 85,000 miles. I was notified at the dealership (Stevinson Toyota in Lakewood Colorado) who inspected the vehicle yesterday that the vehicle has developed a timing cover oil leak on the passenger side. After further research I learned this is caused by premature failure of the factory applied FIPG sealant at the timing cover’s T junction. This is well documented as a known, widespread defect in the V6 engine used across multiple Toyota and Lexus models between 2014 and 2019. This failure is not due to wear, neglect, or misuse. It is the result of a documented manufacturing flaw that requires full engine removal and carries an extremely high repair cost — a burden that should not fall on customers when the underlying cause is a defective sealant application at the time of manufacturing of the vehicle. I was quoted $5400. I am deeply concerned that Toyota has not issued a recall for this problem, despite its prevalence and the clear safety risks it presents. This leak is not merely a “durability issue.” It has legitimate and serious safety implications, including: •The potential for engine fire due to oil contacting hot components •Serpentine belt failure, which can cause sudden loss of power steering, alternator function, and vehicle control •Additional engine damage if the leak worsens •The possibility of the vehicle breaking down in unsafe or remote conditions Any of these outcomes pose a real safety hazard to drivers, passengers, and others on the road. Toyota’s decision not to address this known defect through a recall is extremely disappointing. I have reached out to Brand Engagement and was turned down by a gal named [XXX]. I then escalated the issue and was again turned down by a gal named [XXX]. I firmly believe Toyota should have issued a recall for this known issue costing consumers $5400 to repair a safety issue due to what is documented as a manufacturing defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I had been shopping, as I attempted to increase speed, my car wouldn't respond. I smelled something burning and I switched lanes because I needed a safe place to stop. I turned onto [XXX] in Pembroke (I think) and still had no forward (or backward) movement. The lower gears (D5 & D4 ) DID NOT show on the dashboard indicator. I called my husband and he came to me. Then we called AAA and had the car towed to Chichester Car Care. They couldn't fix my car. I then had it towed from Chichester Car Care to McGovern Toyota in Bow. NH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was driving down the road about 50 miles an hour just south of otter Valley Union, high school and Brandon Vermont when I heard an extremely loud poof/thud sound. It also caused my ears to pop. I pulled over and realized it was the front sunroof that had basically shattered. Now there is a big hole and it’s just getting bigger. I was in a clear area with no overhanging trees. There were no vehicles in front of me or passing me in the opposite direction. I was alone on the road at around 8:30 in the morning.

The engine stalled because the fuel pump is failing. We have found that many 2017 Toyota Highlanders have had the fuel pump recalled for this exact issue, yet our VIN is not included in this recall. We experienced the exact issue the recall was issued for stalling while driving. Issue on July 24, 2027: The engine stalled while driving on the highway at high speed and lost power steering, creating a major safety issue. We had our vehicle towed to a car care center. The car care center identified diagnostic codes related to low pressure fuel system pressure, engine stall history, etc. but cannot reproduce the issue. After checking multiple systems, he believes the issue is a failing fuel pump. Background: Over the past 6 months, we have had problems with the check engine light turning on. On multiple occasions, we have brought the car to get diagnosed and the reading has consistently been fuel pressure codes. Each time we get the car diagnosed, the technician could not reproduce the issues and cleared the codes without resolution.

Vehicle is a 2017 Toyota Highlander (VIN [XXX]) experiencing the UA80 8-speed transmission whine defect (T-SB-0160-18) upon acceleration. An authorized Toyota dealership test drove and officially verified the transmission failure and recommended a full replacement. However, Toyota Corporate is refusing to honor the ZJC Customer Support Program warranty extension due to an arbitrary VIN cutoff. The failing internal transmission components pose a safety risk as they can lead to harsh shifting, slipping, or a sudden loss of motive power while driving in traffic. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

bought the car in 2018 and ever since it makes a rttling noise, Toyota says it is the hybrid system engaigeing, hybrid cars are not supposed to make noise.

Vehicle had history of hard shifting from 1st drive. On January 24, 2026 we heard a ringing sound as we were driving. Approximately 10 minutes after the noise began, the Check Engine light illuminated. We drove back home and connected our code reader to find P0741, P2714 and P2757. Had the vehicle towed to my Toyota Service Center and upon inspection, was informed that the transmission had failed and would require replacement. I was informed that although it was a 2017 with the UA80E manufacturered in April 2017 - it did not qualify for free replacement under Toyota. A rebuilt unit was secured and installed on 2/11/26. Toyota authorized $2000 Goodwill Assistance and their Warranty Labor Rate. I paid the remainder of the bill. The 'new' transmission also shifts hard and just doesn't feel like it it working right.

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the spark plugs needed replaced. The spark plugs were replaced by an independent mechanic, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who retrieved diagnostic trouble codes P11F0 (Air-Fuel Ratio Imbalance) and P0305 (Misfire In Cylinder Number 5). The mechanic cleaned the fuel injectors, but the failure persisted. The contact was informed that the fuel injectors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer, Toyota of Cedar Park (5600 183A Toll Rd, Leander, TX 78641), who determined that cylinder #5 needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.

At 119500 miles a eev whining noise started. Only had all repairs done at a dealership.

There is a known issue with the transmission in my 2017 Toyota Highlander that causes premature failure. This is noted in a Toyota Customer Support Program Bulletin. The issues symptoms are the same as those my car has: a whining noise from the transmission while driving, harsh shifting, reduced power, and master warning light/check engine light illumination. I have contacted Toyota and explained this to them, but they have told me that my car's VIN number does not match the identified vehicles. I am reaching out as I believe there are vehicles with this problem that Toyota has not identified, and it could be a dangerous issue.

DESCRIPTION OF DEFECT: My 2017 Toyota Highlander experienced a complete transmission failure under normal driving conditions. The vehicle began showing symptoms including delayed shifting, hesitation when accelerating, and eventual loss of proper drivability. The issue was diagnosed by an authorized Toyota dealership, which confirmed internal transmission failure. The estimated repair cost provided by the dealer was approximately $9,000. I opened a case with Toyota Customer Experience and submitted an escalation request, but no assistance was provided and the claim was declined or ignored. MY CAR HAD A HISTORY OF REGULAR MAINTENACE DONE BY A CERTIFIED TOYOTA DEALERS My case # :XXX Due to the urgency of transportation needs and lack of manufacturer support, I have been forced to proceed with an independent transmission replacement. Which will cost me anywhere between $6,000 and $7,500 This failure occurred without warning severe enough to prevent continued safe use of the vehicle and raises serious safety concerns regarding sudden loss of power and drivability. SAFETY IMPACT: The transmission failure caused unsafe driving conditions including hesitation during acceleration and potential loss of power while in traffic, which could increase risk of collision. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: VIN: [XXX] Mileage at failure: 168000 Dealer diagnosis confirmed transmission failure Manufacturer case opened and escalated with no resolution I am submitting this complaint to document a potential systemic defect and to support ongoing safety investigation and consumer protection review. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The transmission is whining when i coast. I fear the transmission might be dying.

In January during an oil change i was advised that my Toyota had a timing cover leak which is a costly repair. At this time my car was at 148k. i researched it recently and found that it could be dangerous to drive with this leak that Toyota did not advise me about after i had several phone calls with their corporate office and dealership. And even though it is a common problem with their 2017 Highlander they would not take responsibility for fixing it. It was disappointing after getting all of the service recommendations done that i would have to pay $4500.00 for engine work for a seven year old vehicle. This cost was a hardship for me because I'm still making a car payment. I also had to replace the battery every 1.5 years. The battery warning light never came on, leaving me stuck at an intersection until the tow truck arrived. It cut off because of the start/ stop feature and that would not start again. No warning. And after about 15 minutes my hazard lights went dead. This is an ongoing issue.

On April 5, 2026, my 2017 Toyota Highlander was involved in a side‑impact (T‑bone) collision on the front & rear passenger side. I was seated in the front passenger seat. The impact was hard enough that my insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. During the crash, I struck my head, but no airbags deployed (front, side, or curtain). The vehicle is being released to Liberty Mutual Insurance. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. I am concerned that the airbag/SRS system may not have functioned properly in a crash severe enough to total the vehicle and cause a head injury to a front passenger. I am requesting that NHTSA record this incident and consider whether there may be a safety defect related to side or curtain airbag non‑deployment in this vehicle. Crash date: April 5, 2026 Approximate speed of other vehicle: [unknown] Location of impact: front passenger side (T‑bone) Result: vehicle declared total loss, head injury to front passenger, no airbag deployment.

The radar cruise control system on my 2017 Toyota Highlander is not functioning properly and creates a safety hazard. When initially setting the radar cruise control, the system works as expected. I can accelerate to a desired speed, press the “set” control, and the vehicle maintains that speed correctly. The problem occurs when I try to increase the set speed. After setting an initial speed (for example, 45 mph), I accelerate to a higher speed (such as 65 mph) and press the “set” control again to update the cruise setting. Instead of setting the new speed, the system reverts to the previously stored speed. When this happens, the vehicle rapidly decelerates and applies braking to return to the lower speed. This sudden and unexpected braking creates a dangerous situation, especially on highways, as it can put surrounding drivers at risk of a rear-end collision. I have tested this multiple times and experience the same result each time. This issue only occurs when using radar cruise control and does not occur with standard cruise control. note this has been an ongoing issue since the day I purchased my vehicle in January 2017. I notified the dealership about the issue and they stated they would open a case with Toyota

Power training went out I-70 in warren county mo where all the construction is. It put my 4 autistic kids in danger. No insurance looked at the vehicle. However a mechanic did look and diagnosed it which look over a week for. Kaizen auto in wentzville mo diagnosed it

The component that has been deemed in need of replacement is the UA80 8-speed transmission. It is available for inspection as of today's date, April 1, 2026. My and my family's safety has been put at risk of the transmission failing, especially at highway speeds. The problem was reproduced and diagnosed at both a local repair garage in Westwood, MA and the Nucar Toyota dealership in Norwood, MA. Both facilities inspected the transmission, heard a high-pitched whining noise, and determined it was irreparable and needs to be replaced. This high-pitched whining noise is a known and well-documented problem with these transmissions and needs to be included in a widespread manufacturer's recall.

Purchased a brand new 2017 Toyota Highlander XLE 9 years ago. I followed all recommended maintenance and service schedules from the manufacturer. There has always been a faint whine noise present during acceleration. In December of 2023 and about 112,000 miles the transmission began to slip in gears 3 and 4. I brought the vehicle into Balise Toyota in West Springfield, MA for diagnostic services. It was determined that my automatic transmission was failing and needed replacement. Luckily I had purchased an extended warranty through All State and the repairs were covered under warranty. The cost of this repair was upwards of $9,000, so at the time I felt extremely fortunate. That was 2 years ago but my luck would only last so much. Since the remanufacturered transmission was installed by Toyota there has always been a faint whine noise during acceleration. I summed it up to a bad serpentine belt, pulley or alternator because how could it be the new transmission that had been installed? There is only 37,000 driven miles on it and you would expect it to last much longer. Well expectations are just that, expectations. The reality is I am now back to square one because my transmission is beginning to fail yet again. I experienced the transmission slip between 3rd and 4th gears twice on my way home from work yesterday. I set up an appointment at Balise Toyota in West Springfield, MA for tomorrow 03-29-26. My question is how can an 8 1/2 year old vehicle with 150,000 miles on it be in need of a third transmission? The answer is because of defective manufacturing and engineering. There are several class action lawsuits that have been filed in as many months due to the UA80 transmission found in Toyota Highlanders 2017 - present. There are documented claims that Toyota knowingly installed defective UA80 transmissions into these vehicles.

March 5th purchased a battery from Autozone Z net Fit Match that caused cascading electrical and life -safety risk while traveling from hewitt, TX to Washington DC for our families spring break trip including 4 minor children. Component: 12-Volt Battery / Electrical System / Power Steering / Service Brakes Summary: Vehicle suffered catastrophic failure of Power Steering and Braking systems while in motion due to the installation of an incompatible lead-acid battery recommended by AutoZone’s 'Z-Net' catalog. Despite Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-TT-0523-19 (Jan 2019) stating this VIN requires an Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB/AGM) for its Stop-Start system, the retailer’s database continues to misidentify standard batteries as compatible. This mismatch causes a voltage drop that disables critical safety modules ('Limp Mode'). I have video evidence of the catalog error. This is a systemic misrepresentation affecting 2017+ Toyota Highlander safety compliance.

My husband and I were driving down the highway when the front part of our sun roof shattered.