Problems · NHTSA complaints

2024 Toyota Highlander problems

Owners filed 43 complaints about the 2024 Toyota Highlander with NHTSA between Mar 2024 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is service brakes (8).

Complaints
43
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes8
  2. Fuel/propulsion system7
  3. Electrical system6
  4. Engine5
  5. Structure4
  6. Power train3
  7. Seats2
  8. Seat belts1
  9. Other/i am not sure1
  10. Tires1
  11. Back over prevention1
  12. Suspension1
  13. Vehicle speed control1
  14. Forward collision avoidance1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20247
202517
202619

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Service brakes

8 reports2 crashes
“BRAKING SYSTEM WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, ESPECIALLY WHEN APPLYING DOWNHILL, TEMPORARILY RELEASES AND ACTS AS THOUGH BRAKES ARE NOT APPLIED ANY LONGER FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF A FEW SECONDS THEN REAPPLIES. IT DOES SO THAT IT IS VERY OBVIOUS WITHIN THE CAR. THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM AND IT SEEMS THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED IN NEWER MODELS. ASKING NTHSA TO ADDRESS WITH TOYOTA AND GET IT FIXED.Technical Service Bulletin for 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Braking Issue. Some drivers reported a momentary transition from regenerative braking to hydraulic braking, particularly when driving downhill or turning with light brake pedal application. Toyota has provided a software update for the brake actuator control module to improve brake feel.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2026Service brakesODI 11733520

Fuel/propulsion system

7 reports
“I have been experiencing a gas smell issue with my Toyota Highlander near the rear of the car by gas cap area upon putting in gas and driving. The smell starts typically when it’s a hot day outside and I only usually get half a tank worth of gas. After getting gas and driving about 15-30 mins. Is when the smell of gas starts. I recently took my car it to the local Toyota dealership and they checked the purge valve, fuel canister and EVAP system. The technician did state that the fuel rail failed slightly. But overall, they stated there no codes after testing and the technician did state he smelled the gas faintly. But that since there are no codes to pinpoint an issue they cannot fix or figure out the issue. Please figure out this issue, as this is a real concern to have this issue and drive this car with myself and family in it.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 1, 2026Unknown or other, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11761388

Electrical system

6 reports1 crash1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the instrument cluster was blinking. The contact expressed that she was concerned that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The contact received the recall notices of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V744000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V595000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V595000 (Electrical System) was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and filed a claim. The failure mileage was approximately 13,357.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 23, 2025Electrical system, Back over preventionODI 11706841

Engine

5 reports1 crash
“Driving the vehicle a strong smell of fuel vapor is noticeable coming from rear driver side of vehicle by rear door and fuel cap area. This happens when car is driven for long periods of time or on hot days. I drive my car daily and it happens every day. Smell gets so bad it gets in to the cabin area. Causing me to get headaches or light headed feeling making it unsafe to drive. I have taken vehicle to the dealership but nothing was done. The only thing they said they could do is clean and disinfect my AC vents. This issue has been on going since I bought the vehicle brand new 0 miles when I purchased it. There are no warning lamps or messages that appear when the issue starts. After returning home I have to park my car out side for a few hours until the fuel smell goes away and it is safe to park in my garage. I have talked to other people who own the 2024 Highlander and they have stated they to have experienced the same issue also taking it back to the dealership but no fix for the issue. Please have Toyota find a fix for this issue it is a huge safety concern for the people and the environment for the amount of fuel vapors that this car releases.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2026Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11760159

Structure

4 reports
“The trunk will not close using any of the buttons. This is an on going issue on so many newer highlanders.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 8, 2026Electrical system, StructureODI 11742837

Power train

3 reports1 crash
“The vehicle started stalling out randomly on the highway even with it being automatic, after getting home and parking it , it would not back up or drive . Took it to Toyota dealership and they said it’s an internal failure of the transmission which is a UA80 model , it only has 92,000 miles on it they can’t figure out what caused it . There are lawsuits with this vehicle already from other people and Toyota is not fixing the issue and won’t help with mine even after they have known what it is. I took it to one shop before Toyota to get a diagnostic it shown two codes one being in the transmission but they fixed that part and the vehicle still did not drive nor back up and then Toyota got the vehicle right after and they even said that it’s internal failure . Pictures listed below is how much for the tow truck fee, the part fee that I paid that was one code that was on the diagnostic tear down list , even after fixing payments and still not working and it going to Toyota and the messages from Toyota after everything got done and them saying the internal failure also . So not only 1 but 3 business that said internal failure .”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 8, 2026Power train, EngineODI 11736517
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.