2005 Toyota Highlander Owner Complaints

My 2025 Acura MDX (under 10,000 miles) has failed to restart after the automatic idle stop engaged at stoplights and drive-thru lines at least 7 separate times. When I release the brake, the engine often remains off and the vehicle will not move, leaving me stopped in traffic. I have not yet required a jump start, but on several occasions the vehicle came very close to not restarting at all. This most recently occurred at a sandwich shop drive-thru. These incidents occurred in normal drive mode and in normal weather conditions. No abnormal driving conditions were present when the failures happened. Other owners online report the same problem, with some needing to carry jumper cables. I believe this is a serious safety risk because the vehicle can stall unexpectedly in intersections and traffic when the auto stop-start system activates. I am now concerned about relying on this vehicle in traffic because I cannot trust it to restart when stopped.

NHTSA ID

11716569

Incident

Feb 8, 2026

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2005 Toyota Highlander. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase of the vehicle. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 123,000. It was later discovered upon checking Carfax that the mileage was 254,000.

NHTSA ID

11698883

Incident

Nov 12, 2025

Mileage

254,000 mi

All at once the windows, moon roof, blinkers, reverse lights, running lights and brake lights stopped working - also the automatic headlight function stopped working and we must turn on and off the headlights or risk draining the battery. It's interesting to note that the flashers work, but the blinkers do not. The wipers, radio, cruise control, etc. are all fine. It appears all fuses associated with these items are intact - I don't know how to check the viability of the relays, but have been told it could be a relay and or a ground wire. I've purchased a new multifunction blinker headlight replacement switch AND a master window replacement switch to see if this will resolve the issue - but the fact that it happened all at the same time concerns me that it could be electrical or wiring. All the wires under the dash are intact.

NHTSA ID

11688025

Incident

Aug 20, 2025

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while the vehicle was on a lift at the independent mechanic, it was discovered that the rear subframe was rusted. The contact was informed that the subframe needed to be replaced. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11679953

Incident

Apr 11, 2003

Mileage

150,000 mi

Passager seat burnt up from the heated seats

NHTSA ID

11632074

Incident

Dec 23, 2024

The contact owned a 2005 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle accelerated and crashed into a fence. The air bags did not deploy. At the time of the crash, the vehicle was 20 MPH. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact sustained a face injury where he lost several teeth and also had back pain. Medical treatment was needed for the injury, went to the hospital and got an x-ray and some dental work done A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,435.

NHTSA ID

11538494

Incident

Nov 22, 2020

Mileage

108,435 mi

Driver's seat belt locked up so I was unable to wear it, I hit a deer tried to swerve to miss it, and my car was shaking uncontrollably.

NHTSA ID

11442491

Incident

Dec 1, 2021

I was driving home and a deer ran infront of me. I tried to put my seat belt on before but it locked, so I tried to get home to my 3yr old safely without it.

NHTSA ID

11442490

Incident

Dec 1, 2021

The contact owns a Mifold Original Grab-and-Go Booster Seat, Model Number: MF01/US, Manufactured Date: May 3, 2019. The contact stated that her daughter had unbuckled the seat belt but was unable to unlatch the seat belt from the buckle. The seat belt was extremely tight and would not loosen from the child restraint. Since her daughter remained stuck in the child restraint, the contact had to cut the seat belt to remove her child from the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The seat belt was not replaced. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11432918

Incident

Sep 14, 2021

MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER LOOKS TO BE LEAKING NEAR THE BRAKE BOOSTER. I KNOW THAT IT WAS REPLACED BY TOYOTA DEALER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V499000. HOWEVER I DO NOT REMEMBER THE YEAR. I WAS DRIVING ON LOCAL STREETS, WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE NEXT TIME I TRIED TO STEP ON THE PEDAL IT WAS WORKING OK. BUT THEN THE 3RD TIME I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WAS GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AGAIN. THIS WAS A SHOCKED SINCE IT GOT ME TO WORK 9 HOURS EARLIER WITH NO ISSUE. I GOT HOME AND CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AND LOOKED TO BE AT THE CORRECT LEVEL. I DID NOT DRIVE UNTIL NEXT DAY TO TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL LEAK INSIDE THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. IT STILL IS IN THE SHOP, HOWEVER I REMEMBERED THAT IT WAS "SWAPPED OUT" WITH A NEW ONE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V499000. COULD IT BE POSSIBLE THAT THE RECALLED FOR THE NEW PART IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I CAN GET REPLACED AGAIN UNDER THE RECALL, OR HAVE TO PAY THE $550 FOR NEW PART AND LABOR. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11378322

Incident

Dec 4, 2020

Mileage

185,000 mi

SHORT IN MASTER WINDOW SWITCH

NHTSA ID

11171122

Incident

Jan 20, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

REAR BREAK LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT WITH FUSE BLOWING. NO REAR LIGHTS AT ALL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I KEEP REPLACING THE 10A FUSE BUT CAN'T FIND CAUSE OF FAILURE. VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY. CAUSE OF LIGHTS SUDDENLY GOING OUT IS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11171040

Incident

Jan 18, 2019

Mileage

266,000 mi

INVOLVED IN THEE CAR T-BONE COLLISION THAT CAUSED SEVERAL INJURIES TO UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITIES. THE AIR-BAG FAILED TO INFLATE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION ON A RURAL ROAD AND TURNING LEFT.

NHTSA ID

11083391

Incident

Nov 7, 2013

Mileage

94,000 mi

BRAKE FLUID HAS TO BE REFILLED EVERY 500 MILES. THERE MUST BE A LEAK SOMEWHERE IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. ONCE WE ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BRAKE NEARLY FAILED DUE TO ABSENCE OF BRAKE FLUID

NHTSA ID

11073387

Incident

Feb 12, 2018

Mileage

163,000 mi

ENGINE SLUDGE

NHTSA ID

11064712

Incident

Dec 31, 2017

Mileage

137,000 mi

ON 7/23/2011 I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP IN MY VEHICLE. I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CAR TRAVELING 70MPH+ AND PUSHED INTO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT OFF, BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID

11039870

Incident

Jul 23, 2011

Mileage

84,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROVE IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CARMAN FORD LINCOLN (193 S DUPONT HWY, NEW CASTLE, DE 19720 AT (302) 323-2300) WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS REPAIRED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE STABILITY CONTROL AND PARKING BRAKE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, AND THE RADIO AND CLOCK STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRICE TOYOTA (168 N DUPONT HWY, NEW CASTLE, DE 19720 (302) 322-8600) WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT OTHER FAILURES MAY OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,271.

NHTSA ID

11035924

Incident

Sep 22, 2017

Mileage

119,271 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO PROPERLY FUNCTION FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW INTERMITTENTLY AND THE REAR WINDOWS FAILED TO ELECTRONICALLY CLOSE AND OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO (TEXAS TOYOTA OF GRAPEVINE, 701 E STATE HWY 114, GRAPEVINE, TX 76051, (817) 329-5949) FOR INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. IN ADDITION, THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHEN THE DEALER MAY PROVIDE THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM AN ELECTRICAL RECALL TO SERVICE THE POWER MASTER WINDOW SWITCH FAILURE FOR THE WINDOWS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11031470

Incident

Mar 9, 2015

TRANSAXLE VENT IS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID ONTO EXHAUST, POTENTIAL OF CATASTRAPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO TOTAL SUDDEN LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLIUD. LEAK IS CAUSE BY A DEFECTIVE SEAL

NHTSA ID

10993300

Incident

Jun 5, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL.

NHTSA ID

10985012

Incident

May 10, 2017

MY HIGHLANDER HAS 120,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY GAVE OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT STARTED BY DOWNSHIFTING SUDDENLY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THEN I LOST ALL FORWARD POWER AND HAD TO COAST TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. I AM NOW STUCK PAYING A $3500+ REPAIR BILL DESPITE KEEPING UP ON REGULAR MAINTENANCE ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURERS MAINTENANCE GUIDE. AFTER TALKING WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS, I FOUND OUT THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE TRANSMISSIONS USED BY THE RAV4S AND HIGHLANDERS, BUT TOYOTA HAS ONLY ISSUED RECALLS FOR THE RAV4S? VERY DISAPPOINTING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10929644

Incident

Nov 28, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

ANTI-SKID COMPUTER HAS GONE BAD, ACTIVATING SKID CONTROL CONSTANTLY ( CUTTING POWER AND APPLYING BRAKES ) ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING IN WARM DRY WEATHER. MANY TIMES YOU CAN NOT EVEN PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC SAFELY, IT CUTS POWER ONCE YOU START TO MOVE. VERY DANGEROUS. AFTER EXTENSIVE TESTING BY BOTH INDEPENDENTS AND THE DEALER, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE COMPUTER (ANTI-SKID ECU) HAS A DEFECT. KNOWN ISSUE. KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUES THE CAR AT $8500 (PRIVATE SALE) AND THIS REPAIR WILL BE OVER $2500. VEHICLE HAS 51,000 MILES ON IT. BELONGS TO MY ELDERLY MOTHER, WHO IS ON A FIXED INCOME. DRIVING THE CAR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. COME TO A STOP (LIGHT, CROSS ROADS,ETC). THEN GO, IT ACTIVATES AND CUTS ALL POWER TO THE DRIVE TRAIN. YOU ARE JUST SITTING THERE, AND CAN NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE. IF YOU ARE MERGING, OR CROSSING TRAFFIC, YOU ARE NOW IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

10913891

Incident

Oct 3, 2016

Mileage

51,000 mi

BOUGHT THE CAR AND NOT EVEN A WEEK AFTER OWNING IT I HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER THEY REPLACED THE TRANS AND UPDATED THE COMPUTER. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSIST, THERE IS A HUGE HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SLOWING TO AN ALMOST STOP AND RE ACCELERATING. THE RPM'S REV UP BUT THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND SOMETIMES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN GOING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE A NEW TRANS IN MY CAR, FLUID LEVELS ARE PERFECT THE COMPUTER HAS BEEN UPDATED AND STILL HAVING HUGE ISSUES WITH MY TRANS. THIS IS DANGEROUS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

10895755

Incident

Jul 7, 2016

Mileage

119,000 mi

WHEN I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005 IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING WHERE I WORK, BACKING UP, THE ENGINE IDDLE WENT EXTREMELY HIGH AND I TRIED TO STOP, BUT I COULD NOT DO IT BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES LOCKED. I TRIED TO PUT THE GEAR IN NEUTRAL, BUT INSTEAD, IT WENT STRAIGH TO DRIVE, SO IT CAUSES MAJOR DAMAGES TO 2 VEHICLES BEHIND MINE, AND OTHER 3 IN FRONT OF MINE TOO. ALSO MY VEHICLE DESTROYED A MAIL BOX AND A TREE, BUT I COULD NOT STOP UNTIL MY HIGHLANDER STOPPED BY ITSELF TOTALLY DESTROYED. I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH SOME TRAUMA.

NHTSA ID

10895208

Incident

Aug 5, 2016

Mileage

50 mi

NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY AND STEERING DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME WE MADE A TURN TO EITHER THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. WE THEN TOOK OUR 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE ADVISED US THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FLEX COUPLING WAS LOSE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO POTENTIAL BALL BARRIERING LOSE. CLICKING SOUND WENT AWAY ONCE STEERING WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS ALSO A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE STEERING.

NHTSA ID

10825920

Incident

Feb 3, 2016

Mileage

120,619 mi