2019 Toyota Highlander

The UA80 8-speed automatic transmission failed at 87,896 miles. Symptoms began as slipping in 1st and 2nd gears and harsh jerking when accelerating from a stop, with the engine revving while the vehicle failed to move. This is a loss of motive power that can occur without warning in traffic. On 8/31/2026 a Toyota dealer diagnosed a failed transaxle requiring complete replacement, with a whine traced to the differential inside the transmission, and quoted $11,126.81. This matches the failure mode in Toyota TSB T-SB-0160-18, which Toyota addressed for some 2017-2018 VINs under Customer Support Program ZJC. My 2019 has the same UA80 unit but falls outside that program. The replacement part is backordered with no ETA per Toyota's own case portal. The vehicle is maintained on schedule and available for inspection. Toyota declined goodwill assistance and refused to provide the denial in writing.

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.

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.

Winning on acceleration,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

My car has been making a whining noise upon acceleration. It stops whining as soon as you release the acceleration I had a mechanic look at it who verified transmission failure.

My Toyota Highlander 2019 began to produce a whining noise that orginates in the transmission at about 89000 miles. An independent mechanic examined the vehicle and deteremined that the noise is well documented. After conducting research, I found that the issue is caused by improper assembly and the only repair is a complete replacement of the transmission. I also discovered that there is a recall on the 2017-2019 Toyota Highlander due to the 8 speed transmission which is also used in my vehicle. The idea that the 2019-2022 Toyota Highlanders are NOT included in this recall is completely unreasonable. These vehicles utilize the same 8-speed transmission and the whining noise tends to surface after 60, 000 miles - about four to five years based on useage. The whining noise began without warning or symptoms. The vehicle drove without issues and we intended on driving this vehicle into retirement considering the reputation Toyota had on building reliable vehicles. I will never purchase or recommend the purchase of a Toyota vehicle! The idea that repeated transmission failures, without an univeral recall for all years affected, shows that the comsumer is not respected. I would enjoy understanding the logic and data that enabled Toyota to limit the recall to just three production year when the 8-speed transmission spanned six years of production (2017-2022). I am now forced to look into replacing the transmission with potentionally another faulty, improperly assembled 8-speed transmission.

The rear air conditioning refrigerant lines on a 2019 Toyota Highlander SE failed due to excessive rust/corrosion, causing the A/C system to leak refrigerant and stop holding a charge. The failure affected the rear A/C lines that run to the rear of the vehicle. The problem was first diagnosed by an independent repair shop and then confirmed by a Toyota dealer. The Toyota dealer documented that the rear A/C lines were leaking due to excessive rust/corrosion. The dealer recommended replacing the rear A/C lines/cooling lines as a set, evacuating and recharging the A/C system, adding dye, and checking system operation. The repair was completed by the Toyota dealer but not covered or reimbursed. The vehicle/component was inspected by an independent service center and by a Toyota dealer. Toyota corporate customer support was also informed of the dealer diagnosis. The failed component may no longer be available for inspection because the repair has been completed, but repair records, dealer diagnosis, invoice, and related documentation are available. Safety concern: The A/C system failure can affect occupant safety and visibility because air conditioning is used for windshield defogging/defrosting and cabin humidity control. Loss of A/C can reduce the ability to clear the windshield in humid or rainy conditions. It can also create a risk to rear passengers, including children, during hot weather because the rear A/C system is no longer functioning as designed. The failure also involved leaking refrigerant from corroded lines. Toyota will not accept that this is a premature and dangerous parts failure. There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages before the failure. The symptom was that the A/C stopped cooling and would not hold refrigerant. The cause was later confirmed, by Toyota, as leaking rear A/C lines due to excessive rust/corrosion. Toyota has refused goodwill repair even after NUMEROUS persons have reported the same issue online.

8 speed transmission faulty