2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Powertrain (other) Problems

After a complete stop at a stop sign there is hesitation/stalling when trying to accelerate. Sometimes the hesitation is several seconds and then the engine kicks in and lurches forward. Couple times this has been a safety issue as it happens when I’m trying to pull out on a busy road. The delay/hesitation has caused me to almost get hit a few times. There are no lights or warning messages when this happens. It happens a multiple times a week especially during hot weather when AC is on full (LO temp setting and maximum fan) and is usually during the first few minutes of operation usually at the same stop signs on my route to pickup my kids after the car has been sitting unused overnight. I also notice that the hybrid battery indicator is usually always at 3 bars. Dealership hasn’t been able to reproduce as it's a very specific scenario (not driving/in garage overnight and short drive). Instead they went and applied T-SB-0040-25 but this hesitation is still happening after the software update. This needs to be handled like a safety issue/recall worthy with a complete fix! Not just some drivability issue that only gets applied if we ask about specific T-SBs.

NHTSA ID

11752130

Incident

Jul 4, 2026

On occasion the car will not accelerate from a dead stop like it should. I think it’s turbo lag. There have been a few times I thought I was going be broadsided pulling out into traffic when normal acceleration would have been safe but with a dead pedal for a few seconds it was terrifying. I’ve brought this up to two different dealers and they say without being able to experience it there’s nothing they can do. Someone going to die because of this.

NHTSA ID

11750898

Incident

Aug 21, 2025

After coming to a complete stop at a stop sign or stop light, then trying to go, the vehicle will stall. It will not go when given gas. The first time it happened, I was at a busy intersection with oncoming traffic coming towards me with the pedal to the floor, nothing would happen for 5-10 seconds. It was terrifying. Thank god the car coming towards us went around in time. It then happened again in my neighborhood a week later. Thankfully that time I wasn’t in traffic. I have noted that it seems to happen when very hot outside (Florida July summer) and air is on full blast. Also seems to be happening only during the first trip of the day, within the first 5-10 minutes of said trip. The dealership has not been able to recreate this to see for themselves. I think it would have to be with them overnight and they start it/drive it for the first time that day. It has now happened a total of 3 times since I’ve been driving it (2.5 months). I have 3 children and very worried I will get t-boned one day when it stalls next. I love my car so much so it’s heartbreaking that I have to drive it in fear. No lights/warnings/messages when this happens.

NHTSA ID

11750573

Incident

Jun 17, 2026

The electronic parking brake on my 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander intermittently fails to auto-release when shifting from Park to Reverse or Drive. Curiously, the system does respond to the gear shifter when returning to Park, as the brake will then engage or release as expected once cycled. This indicates a failure specifically in the transition out of the Park position. This intermittent delay or refusal to release prevents the vehicle from moving when expected, creating a potential safety hazard in traffic or during time-sensitive maneuvers. No dashboard warnings are present, and the issue occurs even when the driver's seat belt is buckled and the foot brake is fully depressed.

NHTSA ID

11737288

Incident

May 6, 2026

Transmission slipping, holding high RPM, Jerky shifts, back seat not locking at times, infotainment freezing up

NHTSA ID

11725136

Incident

Mar 2, 2026

Dear National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, I am submitting this complaint to formally report a serious safety issue involving the left front axle of my Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid XLE. The vehicle was first diagnosed by my local Toyota dealer on January 14, 2026, at which time the left front axle issue was identified. I contacted **Toyota Motor Corporation**, and I was initially informed that the required replacement part would arrive on February 6, 2026. After that date passed, I was told the part would arrive in early March. I have now been told it will not arrive until late March. Based on these repeated delays, I am concerned that “late March” could easily become late April or even later, with no firm commitment or guaranteed repair date. I have contacted Toyota dealership multiple times and made several phone calls seeking assistance, updates, or a definitive timeline. Unfortunately, no one has been able to provide a clear solution, firm delivery date, or alternative support while the part remains on back order. Due to the axle issue, I do not feel safe operating the vehicle, as I believe it presents a significant safety risk. This vehicle is essential for my work and daily financial responsibilities. Because I do not feel it is safe to drive, I am unable to use the car to earn my day-to-day income and meet my financial obligations. As a result, I am currently losing wages, and the prolonged delay is causing financial hardship and significant inconvenience. Given the safety implications and the ongoing lack of resolution, I respectfully request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration review this matter. I would appreciate guidance on the appropriate next steps, including whether this issue warrants further investigation, inspection, or potential recall action. I also seek clarification regarding what protections or remedies may be available to consumers when critical safety components are unavailable for extended periods.

NHTSA ID

11718221

Incident

Jan 14, 2026

The car was running perfect, 9 months after I bought this car, before 20,000 miles Front Left Axle become defective, and therefore, the dealer promised to reemplaced it, but I am still waiting from the dealer. It is a big risk to runs the car like that.

NHTSA ID

11716177

Incident

Dec 18, 2025

At a complete stop my car started shaking violently back and forth. It felt like we were in an earthquake. It has happened before but not as violently and not as long. No warning lights or anything. It has had problems with lurching and stuttering since we bought it. The dealership said they fixed it once (the stuttering) but it’s still happening. They cannot duplicate it and it’s not throwing any codes.

NHTSA ID

11715336

Incident

Jan 22, 2026

While accelerating from low speeds and turning, the car exhibits a rotational clicking noise from one or both front drive shaft assemblies. Seems to be the identical issue noted in the 2024 Grand Highlander that was presumably fixed during later production lots (T-SB-0082-24). That issue was seemingly solved with driveshaft replacement. The dealer said they “could not duplicate” the issue; however, it happens often while I am driving the vehicle and others have reported it to the same dealer as well. It seems to be an existing related safety issue that the dealer, and potentially the manufacturer, are ignoring until we get past the warranty.

NHTSA ID

11706794

Incident

Dec 1, 2025

Shortly after powering on the GHHM vehicle, driving a short distance, coming to a stop and depressing the accelerator the vehicle does not accelerate as though no power is getting to the drive train. This does not often happen but has always happened when the EV battery level is 3 bars or less and the vehicle is in its Normal mode (as opposed to Sport or ECO). This acceleration failure event lasts for a few seconds. No warning indicators are displayed prior to, during or after this happens. The dealer checked the vehicle on 30AUG2025, was not able to reproduce, but applied a firmware update TSB-0040-25, which has not solved the problem. Took it back to dealer on 14OCT2025, but the dealer was again not able to reproduce the problem. It poses a safety risk when attempting to cross intersections or entering round-abouts and the vehicle can only move at a coasting speed instead of the expected normal acceleration.

NHTSA ID

11700965

Incident

Oct 12, 2025

Poor acceleration from 0 to 40. Vehicle will start shuttering at a dead stop. The engine has shut off once with this issue. It happened around 4800 miles.

NHTSA ID

11695992

Incident

Sep 15, 2025

I have experienced intermittent transmission issues. Specifically, the car often fails to shift gracefully from first gear, resulting in rough or hard shifts that are jarring and unsafe, particularly during acceleration or in stop-and-go traffic. On multiple occasions, the vehicle has refused to shift correctly, requiring me to pull over, turn the car completely off, and restart it to restore proper shifting functionality. This issue is not only inconvenient but also poses a significant safety risk, especially when merging into traffic or navigating busy roads. For a vehicle marketed as a reliable and family-friendly SUV, these transmission problems are unacceptable. The transmission issues have significantly undermined my confidence in the vehicle’s safety and reliability, particularly as I rely on it for family transportation. The need to pull over and restart the car to address shifting problems is not only inconvenient but also dangerous in certain driving conditions. Furthermore, the reports of similar issues among other owners indicate that these problems may persist without proper intervention from Toyota.

NHTSA ID

11683022

Incident

Jul 25, 2025

The vehicle was in PARK and the IGN was in the ON/RUN position and the air conditioning was on. There was no one in the driver's seat but there was an occupant sitting buckled in the front passenger seat. The passenger heard a sound (possibly the ICE turning on) and he felt the vehicle move forward about five inches. He became worried about his safety and pressed the IGN button in order to turn the vehicle off. It could have pushed itself into other cars in the parking lot or pedestrians. A report was made to the local police department on the same day. This occurred in a retail parking lot. Video footage cannot be obtained as a police officer or insurance company must request it. I have not seen a check engine light nor any message prompts and it has not been inspected by a dealership.

NHTSA ID

11672869

Incident

Jul 1, 2025

I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious safety hazard and design flaw with the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid. While driving on a two-lane highway, our vehicle suddenly lost power and warning lights appeared on the dashboard. We were forced to exit the highway immediately (we were less than 0.5 miles to an exit). Shortly after pulling onto the off-ramp, the vehicle entered limp mode, significantly limiting its ability to function - all assist systems deactivated amd the car has a significant decrease in power. We were able to drive approximately half a mile to a nearby gas station, where we called for a tow. This situation left us vulnerable on a busy roadway, placing both us and other drivers at risk. The Toyota dealership diagnosed the issue as damage to the hybrid inverter radiator, allegedly caused by a rock or piece of debris entering through the front grille. We were told this was not covered under warranty, and to make matters worse, the necessary part is currently on backorder for three weeks to three months—leaving the vehicle undriveable. A significant concern is the design of the front grille, which has large, open gaps that allow ordinary road debris to enter the engine compartment. This leaves critical components like the hybrid inverter radiator exposed and vulnerable, even under standard driving conditions. After researching, I discovered numerous similar reports from other Toyota hybrid owners—including those with Grand Highlanders, Highlander Hybrids, RAV4 Hybrids, and Prius models—who have experienced the exact same issue. In nearly every case, drivers were told it was due to external damage and denied warranty coverage. This presents a clear and growing safety issue: 1. Sudden power loss on a highway or arterial road increases the risk of collision. 2. A critical hybrid system component is inadequately

NHTSA ID

11668786

Incident

Jun 22, 2025