1. Toyota Highlander
  2. Problems
  3. Engine

Toyota Highlander Engine Problems

232
Owner complaint records in our dataset
19
Years with records
2001–2019
Stored years

Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.

Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.

Among these 232 stored complaint records:

  • 6 indicate a crash
  • 2 indicate injury
  • 8 indicate fire

Complaints by year

What appears in the records

  • check engine · 17 records
  • engine light · 11 records
  • failure mileage · 11 records
  • head bolts · 8 records
  • light came · 8 records
  • cooler pipe · 7 records

Mileage in stored records

BandRecords
100–150k mi75
1–30k mi63
60–100k mi49
30–60k mi17
150–400k mi13

Complaint evidence

Latest stored owner-submitted records. Open a year for the full list.

  • February 17, 2020 · 2,300 miles

    Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System

    When accelerating from a stop, the car abruptly lost power and it felt like the engine was going to stall out completely, but then the car started accelerating again. This happened three time today. In two cases i was needing to accelerate briskly as i was either crossing, or entering onto, a busy street with fast traffic. In two cases (in both cases i was making a right turn from a stop) the red exclamation point…

    ODI 11309669

    2019 records in this system

  • February 3, 2020 · 117,000 miles

    Electrical System · Engine

    Car has over 117,000 miles and is excessively consuming oil. There is no sign of leaks anywhere. I do not get any warning anywhere about low oil, all i see is a small message that sometimes blinks indicating 'oil pressure'. Oil is not lasting 1000 miles. I thought maybe the oil was not properly filled but after a second oil change, same happened, oil empty with less than 1000 miles after an oil change. Car has been…

    ODI 11307417

    2012 records in this system

  • January 16, 2020 · 16,500 miles

    Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System

    Fuel pump stops working while driving on highway at high speeds, vehicle rides rough intermittently then shuts down. Vehicle will not start up again.

    ODI 11299706

    2019 records in this system

  • January 14, 2020 · 300 miles

    Engine

    My 2019 highlander (se v6 with only 490 miles) started having high idle rpm issues at about 300 miles. At stop signs/red lights you really have to keep your foot on the brake pedal. The vehicle lurches forward when releasing the brake pedal. Let off the brake, the vehicle takes off (same thing in reverse) making driving it unsafe and dangerous. Pulling into our garage is not fun. I should note that this high rpm…

    ODI 11300668

    2019 records in this system

  • January 4, 2020 · 12,880 miles

    Engine · Power Train · Service Brakes

    Slowly (3-5mph) moving toward exit ramp from hospital parking lot. Tried to brake before turning right onto ramp, but service brake didn't respond -- felt like i was just pounding the floor. Vehicle continued to coast. I turned it onto exit ramp. During coast down ramp the multi-function display showed "low brake power" or "brake power low". Vehicle speed remained relatively constant. I shifted into r (reverse),…

    ODI 11297298

    2018 records in this system

  • December 27, 2019 · 90,403 miles

    Engine

    My vehicle experienced a loss of oil pressure and massive oil loss while being driven due to the failure of the oil cooler line while driving on pa 291 in philadelphia. It had to be towed. This is apparently a common problem for the highlander and the lexus rx350.

    ODI 11296830

    2010 records in this system

  • December 5, 2019 · 18,000 miles

    Electronic Stability Control · Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System

    First incident occurred in dec 2019 and then again in jan 2020. While driving engine lost power and vehicle began lurching forward and back uncontrollably. After pulling over engine shut down. Thankfully we did not cause an accident. Check engine light came on, also said reduced engine power and traction control off. First time dealer said it was bad gas. Second time they tested fuel pump and it was producing…

    ODI 11301691

    2019 records in this system

  • December 5, 2019 · 130,000 miles

    Engine

    On my way home on saturday night, about 2 to 3 streets from my house, my dash started to say low fuel. I continued to drive home because i was so close. I get home and jumped out of the vehicle to listen to my car and everything sounded good. I shut the car off. On monday morning, i walked out and noticed all the oil in the car had leaked out of the car onto my driveway. I immediately called toyota and they said…

    ODI 11287671

    2008 records in this system