Car Defect Radar
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 22, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

245 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
63

Most reports here involve transmission slipping. Of these, 3 mention a crash, 2 mention an injury.

transmission slipping 28premature wear 15
A recent report: While accelerating, the vehicle produces a loud whining noise from the transmission area underneath the vehicle. I took the vehicle to Modern Toyota in [XXX] on XXX at 103,287 miles. The dealer…
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While accelerating, the vehicle produces a loud whining noise from the transmission area underneath the vehicle. I took the vehicle to Modern Toyota in [XXX] on XXX at 103,287 miles. The dealer diagnosed the condition and their invoice states the vehicle "needs the transmission replaced due to a gear whine." The estimated repair cost is approximately $10,498. This vehicle is equipped with the UA80E 8-speed automatic transmission. Toyota documented this same condition in Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0008-21, which describes a whine or grind noise from the transmission caused by the front carrier assembly pinion shafts, and prescribes transaxle replacement as the repair. My vehicle exhibits the identical symptom and requires the identical repair. The vehicle is the original purchase, bought new on XXX. The failure occurred outside the 60,000-mile powertrain warranty limit, leaving the full repair cost to the owner. This appears to be a widespread defect affecting UA80-equipped Toyota vehicles across multiple model years, and I am reporting it so it is on record. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764141 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
21

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

software faults 11loss of braking 2
A recent report: The headlights on this vehicle are not properly aimed and or poorly designed causing excessive glare to oncoming traffic. Even during broad daylight I could see the light scattered all around the…
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The headlights on this vehicle are not properly aimed and or poorly designed causing excessive glare to oncoming traffic. Even during broad daylight I could see the light scattered all around the headlight assembly appearing as though the high beams were shining directly at me. E Also excessively bright sparkly headlights like these are distracting impairing my situational awareness.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11755225 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Worth reading
32

Most reports here involve loss of braking. Of these, 3 mention a crash.

loss of braking 16unintended acceleration 10premature wear 2
A recent report: I would like to file a complaint regarding Toyota’s known brake surge issue addressed in Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0059-23. I believe this is a serious safety issue because the unexpected…
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I would like to file a complaint regarding Toyota’s known brake surge issue addressed in Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0059-23. I believe this is a serious safety issue because the unexpected braking or brake surge when stopping can potentially cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle or contribute to an accident. I contacted a Toyota dealership near me about the issue, but they were unwilling to provide any assistance. I then contacted another Toyota dealership, which informed me that they could perform the repair but would charge approximately $400. I am concerned that Toyota has identified and documented this issue through T-SB-0059-23 but does not provide the repair free of charge unless the vehicle is still within the 36,000-mile warranty period. A known safety-related defect should not necessarily become the customer’s financial responsibility simply because the vehicle has exceeded the mileage limitation of the basic warranty. I am requesting that Toyota review this matter and consider providing the repair at no cost, particularly given the safety implications of the brake surge issue and the fact that Toyota has already acknowledged the condition through its technical service bulletin.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764432 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Minor
9

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 1premature wear 1
A recent report: The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed around an S-curb, the vehicle jerked into the nearby lane. The local dealer was contacted. The…
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The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed around an S-curb, the vehicle jerked into the nearby lane. The local dealer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764306 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
23

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 7 mention a crash, 11 mention an injury.

software faults 7airbags not deploying 7
A recent report: My mother was involved in a motor vehicle collision while properly restrained by her seat belt. During the collision, the vehicle sustained a significant impact; however, the airbags did not deploy…
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My mother was involved in a motor vehicle collision while properly restrained by her seat belt. During the collision, the vehicle sustained a significant impact; however, the airbags did not deploy. Following the accident, my mother went to the ER with significant bruising and injuries consistent with the force of the collision and seat-belt restraint. She has a fractured sternum, cardiac contusion and bad bruising. We are concerned that the airbags did not deploy and would like the airbag/restraint system investigated to determine whether it functioned as designed during the crash. We are reporting this incident to NHTSA so that the airbag non-deployment can be documented and reviewed as a potential vehicle safety issue.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11757826 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Read closely
69

Most reports here involve premature wear. Of these, 2 mention a crash.

premature wear 3fluid leaks 3
A recent report: Wind shield seemed to crack spontaneously and it continued to grow over several days until the crack went from one edge to another.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764200 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
28

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 28
A recent report: UNKNOWN CONCERNED THE SAFETY WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED SINCE 3/5/26. AS OF TODAY (9/13/26), THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764748 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 245 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2021 and 2026, roughly 51 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.