Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 32 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 32, in the owner's own words
Vehicle intermittently fails to accelerate when accelerator pedal is depressed after stopping. Vehicle may move extremely slowly for several seconds and then suddenly regain power. This has occurred while entering/intersecting traffic and has resulted in near-collision situations. Dealer cannot duplicate the problem.
I've had consistent issues with the vehicle accelerating and shifting. These include sluggish acceleration, loss of power and sputtering when we've come to a complete stop and starting to move again. We've almost been hit by other vehicles at least over 20 times because the vehicle has failed to accelerate when pulling into a roadway. The car hesitates during acceleration regardless of how much I push the gas. Once it starts to go, it feels as though the car can't shift from 1st to 2nd gear, The RPMs get extremely high while the car is going 25-40 mph and remain there for a few seconds up to ~20 seconds. I am fearful of getting t-boned when my car hesitates while turning at an intersection, going through an intersection or pulling out from a parking lot. I have been stuck in several intersections when traffic was coming toward me, but thankfully those cars had patience and avoided us. I've also found that this issue always happens when the hybrid battery shows that it only has a charge of 3 bars. It seems that the engine, transmission and hybrid battery don't know how to communicate when the battery charge gets that low. This has been happening since Dec 2023 when I bought the vehicle and the dealer has never been able to duplicate or find any error code, they are refusing to fix a known issue when many others are experiencing the same issue. There are Toyota Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) out there regarding this problem but my dealer told me they won't do anything as it could label my vehicle a lemon. This is creating an unnecessary safety risk for me and my family.
While driving my 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid AWD at highway speed with only 16,755 miles on the vehicle, multiple warning messages suddenly appeared, including warnings related to the engine, hybrid system, AWD system, and other vehicle functions. The vehicle instructed me to pull over immediately and significantly reduced power output, making it difficult to maintain highway speed and safely maneuver through traffic. I was able to reach the shoulder and had the vehicle towed to a Toyota dealership. The dealer diagnosed a punctured radiator caused by a rock or similar road debris that allegedly passed through the front grille and struck the radiator. The dealer confirmed that coolant loss from the puncture triggered the vehicle's protective reduced-power mode. This failure created a significant safety risk. A sudden loss of power while traveling at highway speed increases the risk of rear-end collisions and other accidents, particularly in heavy traffic where drivers may not expect a vehicle to rapidly decelerate. There were no warning lights, messages, leaks, drivability concerns, or other symptoms before the incident. All warnings appeared suddenly at the time of failure. Toyota has declined warranty coverage, classifying the damage as a road hazard. However, I believe this may indicate a design defect. I have identified numerous reports from other GH owners describing nearly identical failures involving rocks penetrating the radiator through the front grille, often at relatively low mileage. These reports suggest the radiator may be inadequately protected from ordinary roadway debris. My concern is not simply radiator damage, but that a small piece of road debris encountered during normal driving can disable a critical component and cause the vehicle to enter a severe reduced-power mode at highway speed. I request that NHTSA investigate whether the front grille and radiator protection design of the Grand Highlander creates an unreasonable safety risk
Vehicle: 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max The vehicle intermittently experiences a severe hesitation and shudder during acceleration from approximately 0-40 mph. The condition occurs only under specific circumstances: -The vehicle has been parked long enough for the engine, transmission, and related systems to cool to ambient air temperature. -The vehicle is started and driven shortly thereafter. -Engine oil and transmission temperatures are below approximately 160°F. -The air conditioning system is operating at maximum cooling with Eco Air Mode enabled. -The hybrid battery indicator displays approximately three bars of charge. When these precise conditions are present, the vehicle may hesitate, shudder, and fail to respond normally to accelerator pedal input during acceleration. Even with the accelerator pedal fully depressed, repeatedly, there is a noticeable delay in power delivery and vehicle acceleration. This creates a situation where the vehicle does not accelerate as expected when entering traffic or attempting to increase speed. The vehicle has previously received Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0017-24; however, the condition continues to occur intermittently. No warning lights, diagnostic messages, or system faults are displayed when the event occurs. The condition typically occurs only once during the initial drive cycle after a cold start and has not been observed after the vehicle reaches normal operating temperature. The issue is most common in the warmer months and has never been encountered at freezing or below temperatures.
While traveling at highway speed on I-75 northbound, the vehicle experienced a complete and total loss of electrical power. and propulsion. The following conditions were present simultaneously: - Complete loss of propulsion - Inability to shift transmission to neutral — vehicle could not be moved out of the active traffic lane - Complete loss of hazard lights — no ability to warn approaching traffic - Vehicle remained stranded in active highway traffic for approximately 15 minutes - Electrical power spontaneously restored after approximately 15 minutes - Vehicle was then driven off the interstate under its own power That was a life-threatening event. My wife and I could have been struck from behind by highway traffic with no warning lights, no ability to move the vehicle, and no way to signal distress. DEALER VISIT 1 — SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2026 Dealer: Sarasota Toyota, Sarasota, Florida Complaint presented: Complete electrical shutdown on I-75 the previous day as described above Action taken by dealer: Performed recall repair for black screen issue Outcome: Vehicle returned to customer same day Post-repair symptom: Low voltage warning appeared on drive home from Sarasota Toyota Saturday afternoon Note: Dealer did not perform full electrical diagnostic. Dealer did not flag battery failure. Dealer did not retain vehicle for further investigation despite being informed of complete highway electrical shutdown the previous day. DEALER VISIT 2 — MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2026 Dealer: Germain Toyota of Naples, Naples, Florida Complaint presented: Complete electrical failure on I-75, low voltage warning after Sarasota repair, battery failure Findings: Battery confirmed dead. Alternator confirmed functioning normally. Dealer assessment: Condition described as unusual. Case escalated to Toyota Field Technical Specialist. Current status: Vehicle retained at Germain Toyota of Naples. Rental vehicle provided to customer.
The vehicle hesitates and does not accelerate immediately from a complete stop. This occurs more frequently when the car is on a slight incline. The delay in acceleration creates a safety concern, especially when attempting to merge into traffic or pull out onto a roadway. I have reported this issue to the dealership multiple times, but they have not taken action because they have been unable to reproduce the problem.
Reported issues of lag in acceleration and harsh shifting into reverse, the vehicle has been brought to the dealership multiple times stemming from shortly after previous, there are no warnings lights on. I requested the dealership provide in writing if the deemed the vehicle safe for operation. They would not do so. I requested a loaner while my vehicle is being reviewed for repurchase and was denied. When my repurchase claim was denied, I requested a reconsideration and again a loaner.
My car suddenly shook violently while at complete stop at a stop light. Also, the brake feels weird at times when slowing down.
All lights and warning system alerts suddenly came on. Hybrid System Malfunction. Once towed to dealership; stone came through large gap in front grill and put a hole in internal radiator. Not covered under warranty. Design flaw appears to be a problem in front grill.
My car accelerated very fast as I was attempting to pull into a parking spot. At first attempt brake did not work. Was able to avoid an accident. No sensors went off. Best described as an out of control amusement ride.
Toyota T-SB-0082-24 / Rotational Clicking Noise From Front Drive Shaft Assembly ( CV JOINT) CV joint defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, especially if it fails while you are driving. An unreasonable risk is one where the potential for harm is much greater than the potential benefit of taking the risk. Driving with a compromised CV joint fits this definition because it can lead to a complete loss of vehicle control, which can result in a serious accident.
Description of Issue: I have experienced repeated incidents where the accelerator pedal becomes unresponsive (“dead pedal”) after coming to a stop. When pressing the pedal to accelerate, the vehicle does not respond at all for several seconds. Then, without warning, it suddenly surges forward with excessive acceleration once the power engages. This problem happens intermittently throughout a drive each day, often enough to be concerning. It occurs after being stopped at an intersection or in traffic. No warning lights or error messages appear before or during the issue. The delay followed by a sudden surge is dangerous, as I expect the car to move when I press the pedal, but it hesitates instead. When the vehicle finally responds, it accelerates quickly, which could cause me to lose control or collide with another vehicle. Safety Concern: This malfunction creates a significant safety risk. It puts myself, passengers, and other drivers in danger when the vehicle fails to accelerate as expected in high-risk scenarios such as crossing intersections, merging into traffic, or making left turns. The hesitation can leave the vehicle exposed in traffic, and the sudden lurch forward can cause unintended movement or rear-end collisions. Status: The problem has occurred multiple times under similar conditions and is ongoing. It has not yet been inspected or confirmed by a dealer or service center, but I have an apt Aug 24th. However, the malfunction is real, reproducible, and presents a serious hazard that could lead to an accident if not corrected. Many others with the same vehicle have expressed the same concern as well on forums and reported no fix after dealership appointments.
I've had consistent issues with the vehicle accelerating and shifting. These include sluggish acceleration, loss of power, sputtering, and limp mode. We've almost been hit by other vehicles almost 10 times because the vehicle has failed to accelerate when pulling into a roadway. The vehicle will start to accelerate slowly, then stop, then 5-10 seconds later will surge forward will the engine revs very high and is delayed shifting into 2nd gear. I've told my Toyota dealership about this numerous times but they keep telling me that there's no issue but there clearly is being that many others are experiencing the same exact problems. There's never been a warning lamp or message when this happens. This is a huge safety issue and my family is extremely lucky that we haven't been involved in a serious accident.
AC condenser has a leak and AC cooling not working-blowing hot air, making vehicle very hot inside. Toyota claiming from road debris damage, front grill not protecting condenser unit enough to allow this not to happen and will not cover under warranty. Seems like a manufacturer grill design problem not consumer. Toyota has no fix to the problem to protect condenser unit from this happening over and over again.
Description of Issue: We have experienced multiple episodes of violent shaking in our 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander while stopped at red lights or in intersections. Both my wife and I have had this happen independently, around two to three times each. Most incidents occurred while our young children were in the vehicle. The most recent incident occurred today, when my wife experienced it twice in a row while stopped at an intersection. Our children were not in the vehicle during today’s event. Component or system involved: UNKNOWN at this time. We suspect a major mechanical or drivetrain-related failure. The entire vehicle shakes violently and feels unstable. We are willing to make the vehicle available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: The severity of the shaking is extreme and it feels as though the car may explode or fall apart. We have had to put the car in park, shut it off immediately, and in some cases, exit the vehicle in the middle of intersections or while stopped at a red light. This places everyone in the vehicle at serious risk, especially our children, and could result in a crash or secondary accident due to the abrupt stop and unexpected behavior in active traffic. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center? The issue has not yet been reproduced by the dealership. We brought the vehicle to Toyota of Escondido after a previous incident. They inspected it but stated they could not find anything wrong. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by others? The vehicle was only inspected by the dealership (Toyota of Escondido). It has not been reviewed by any other parties such as law enforcement or insurance representatives. Warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the issue: There were no warning lights, error messages, or abnormal behavior prior to the onset of the violent shaking. The issue occurred suddenly each time, without warning.
It has a hard time shifting at times when the car has just been started
Over 1.5 years of owning my new 2024 grand Highlander platinum hybrid pro max I have had multiple incidents (6 documented now with toyota) where after coming to a complete stop I go to accelerate and the car shutters,sputters,lunges, and even looses power or goes into “limp mode”. I have been almost hit several times now by oncoming traffic because my grand Highlander completely loses power. It will not accelerate. After 5 seconds I typically hear loud groaning noises followed by two loud bangs and two violent lurches forward before my car finally regains power. No warning lights popped up on my dash any of the times my car has lost power. My dealership keeps telling me “no problem found” and that I am the only one with this issue. This is false. There are many complaints online and finally after I did not give up the dealership pulled a comprehensive RoB scan/report on my car and found multiple transmission failure codes on the transmission system/TCM. One “lack of acceleration code” was even dated two weeks before I bought my brand new grand Highlander with toyota. I received my grand Highlander with 6 miles on it. I was the first owner. My PDI “pre-delivery inspection date was one week after this transmission failure code”. When I presented this to toyota reps who finally met with me at the dealership they had nothing to say. Toyota knows about this problem and they do not know how to fix it. It is a serious safety issue and I refuse to allow someone to get hurt because Toyota will not be honest and relay this known issue. After the dealership and toyota reps told me I was the only one with this issue toyota officially released a service bulletin in March 2025 for a TCM flash reset/update to address sluggish acceleration, loss of power, and limp mode with the transmissions TCM when the hybrid systems battery is at 33% or less. My dealership installed the TCM update about 1.5 months ago and unfortunately my car has had two more instances since with loss of power.
When making a left or right turn in this vehicle, there is a distinct knocking or clicking sound coming from under the drivers foot area. Dealer reviewed CV axel and suspension and says everything looks fine. However, I have driven enough cars to know that a persistent knocking sound while turning is not normal. This appears to be an issue with multiple 2024 Grand Highlander owners.
Intermittently, my vehicle will hesitate to accelerate or will move only marginally (disproportionately to the depressing of the gas pedal) from a complete stop. When it occurs, it often does so for a number of seconds. This has been incredibly dangerous given I live off a busy street and I cannot trust that when I press the gas pedal to accelerate to turn onto the street, that my vehicle will be caught in oncoming traffic and hit.
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander. The contact was unable to fill the fuel tank completely. The contact stated that the fuel tank had a 17-gallon capacity; however, the contact was only able to get more than 10 gallons into the tank. Additionally, the contact stated that the Auto START/STOP feature was not functioning as needed. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 16,455.
At 2300 miles we got hybrid malfunction on the dashboard, we called Toyota and had the car towed to the dealer. Based on what dealer mentioned and showed picture - there were fragments in 2 cylinders and the 3rd cylinder basically dis-integrated.
Since December 18, 2024 I have had this happen 5 times. I come to a complete stop and have my foot on the brake. The car will then hop four-five times (like the sensation of shifting in manual with a cluch and you don’t shift correctly and the car will hop). I am not sure why this is happening. I took it to the dealer and they haven’t experienced the issue. This doesn’t happen at every full stop either.
I call the dealer the say they already have remedy but they requested the parts to the manufacturer and they don't know when they will received the order I call the manufacturer they don't know either, Now my car is in the dealer because it was out of oil and is a brand new car, I need help the Toyota and the dealer are not respecting my safety I'm scar to have an accident and my airbags won't works
I have had 2 intermittent issues since I bought this vehicle brand new. 1) Hard, Jerky shifting from 1-2 or 2-3 gear 2) Huge safety issue regarding loss of power and inability to accelerate from a stop even though the car is on and in drive. This has happened to me multiple times and is very intermittent so it is hard to replicate. This has happened when I am attempted to accelerate from a complete stop and the car begins to move but then does not accelerate at all. Almost as if the powertrain shut off even though it was moving under its own power a fraction of a second ago. This has happened to me multiple times with my entire family in the car as we attempted to enter intersections leaving the car powerless with oncoming traffic. Thankfully we were not hit by another car but could have been.
Several times per week, when I go to accelerate after being at a complete stop, my vehicle hesitates and does not pick up power. It very slowly accelerates and feels as if it’s going to stall, then suddenly revs up and accelerates, but revs up higher than it should before finally getting to the appropriate speed/rpm. This is very unsafe as I cannot pull out into traffic, even if I should have time, because I don’t know if it is going to accelerate or not. One of these days I am going to get T-boned! I took it to the dealership and they did a software update that was supposed to fix the issue, but it did not. The issue still happens several times per week. There are no warning lights on the dash. The dealership did not run a diagnostic because they told me I would have to pay for it if no codes came up. I’m not willing to do that, as I feel since the vehicle is under warranty and having issues, the diagnostic should not be my responsibility to pay for. I cannot say a specific date when it occurred (below) because it occurs often.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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