2017 Toyota Highlander Driver assistance Problems

The radar cruise control system on my 2017 Toyota Highlander is not functioning properly and creates a safety hazard. When initially setting the radar cruise control, the system works as expected. I can accelerate to a desired speed, press the “set” control, and the vehicle maintains that speed correctly. The problem occurs when I try to increase the set speed. After setting an initial speed (for example, 45 mph), I accelerate to a higher speed (such as 65 mph) and press the “set” control again to update the cruise setting. Instead of setting the new speed, the system reverts to the previously stored speed. When this happens, the vehicle rapidly decelerates and applies braking to return to the lower speed. This sudden and unexpected braking creates a dangerous situation, especially on highways, as it can put surrounding drivers at risk of a rear-end collision. I have tested this multiple times and experience the same result each time. This issue only occurs when using radar cruise control and does not occur with standard cruise control. note this has been an ongoing issue since the day I purchased my vehicle in January 2017. I notified the dealership about the issue and they stated they would open a case with Toyota

NHTSA ID

11730932

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

-- What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? This report is regarding a premature transmission failure in our 2017 Toyota Highlander equipped with the UA80F 8-speed automatic transmission. Our highlander is currently stuck at High Tech Automotive in Wenatchee, WA 150+ miles from home after experiencing a transmission failure on the highway. -- How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? During the transmission failure while driving on the highway the Check Engine Light came on as well as ABS light and vehicle went into a limp mode. The transmission failure and subsequent limp mode rapidly decreased our speed while traveling on the highway and forced us to limp the vehicle at low speeds across traffic putting ourselves and others traveling on the highway at risk. This vehicle has been well maintained and serviced in accordance with Toyota’s recommended maintenance schedule. Despite this, the transmission failed unexpectedly during a recent family road trip to Wenatchee, WA, leaving us stranded far from home. -- Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the vehicle was towed to High Tech Automotive in Wenatchee WA (where it is currently stranded). The diagnostics report there confirmed proper transmission fluid level and a failed transmission with burnt transmission fluid. -- Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Not yet. A request for assistance was sent to Toyota today. -- Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warning lamps, or messages. We've had the vehicle maintained and there was a whirring sound which we had inspected at Dougs Auto Tune and Repair thinking it could be the timing chain or alternator but there was no indication of transmission issues.

NHTSA ID

11708965

Incident

Dec 22, 2025

While driving all of these lights started to flash.

NHTSA ID

11544723

Incident

Apr 1, 2023

My car would randomly shut off at red lights, one time I was on a hill & thought I was going to roll back into the car in front of me. After restarting it would turn on. The radio would randomly shut off. We eventually replaced the battery. On a Fri.(Dec 17th) my car would not start, so my Husband drove the kids & I to school, upon my return the car started. He told me the wheel locks & I need to move it. Then on Mon. (Dec 20th) driving my daughter to preschool school…I have video from home camera showing your system will not let me attach a video) …my car stalling as I reversed out of the driveway. I loose all control, then you hear that I pulled the emergency break & stop just before two cars pass by. I then restart the car, it goes, I drive 3 houses down I pressed the break to make a left turn onto a side street, my car accelerated & smashed into a telephone pole on the drivers side. You can hear the crash on my home camera. The impact was so hard, it bent my a frame, my airbags did not deploy, my drivers side door would not open. I shifted the pole & cracked the frozen dirt ground around it as seen in the pics. I can provide a copy of the body work repairs. We paid our $1k deductible. The car jpeg image icon does is not show like the other pics attached, so I attached a screen shot as well. We have other pictures & video’s of damage to provide upon request

NHTSA ID

11543659

Incident

Dec 20, 2021

Unkown

NHTSA ID

11454684

Incident

Feb 24, 2022

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I PRESSED THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE SCREEN STARTED TO FLASH AND MAKING CLICKING NOISE. WARNING MESSAGES INCLUDE: CHECK AWD SYSTEM, LANE DEPARTURE ALERT MALFUNCTION VISIT YOUR DEALER AND BRAKING POWER LOW.

NHTSA ID

11374506

Incident

Nov 13, 2020

ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AT 30,000, 40,000 AND 42,000 MILES WHEN DRIVING AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEEDS (AROUND 70 MPH) WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE HAS SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING SWITCHED TO A LOW POWER LIMP HOME MODE RESULTING IN RAPID DECELERATION IN THE MIDST OF HIGH SPEED HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. MULTIPLE WARNINGS APPEARED ON THE DASH INCLUDING LOW POWER MODE, CHECK AWD SYSTEM, AND SEE YOUR DEALER. SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING IT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN NORMALLY AGAIN. AFTER ALL THREE INCIDENTS THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. ALL 3 TIMES THE COMPUTER HAD STORED CODES FOR RANDOM MULTIPLE MISFIRES ALONG WITH A FEW OTHERS. ALL THREE TIMES THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE CODES DID NOT POINT TO A SPECIFIC FAULTY PART THAT THEY COULD REPLACE, SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. AT MY INSISTENCE THAT SOMETHING BE DONE AFTER THE THIRD INCIDENT THE DEALER OPENED A CASE WITH THE TOYOTA TAS SYSTEM TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE IN DIAGNOSES. THE ONLY RESULT OF THIS WAS TO SWITCH SOME OF THE COIL PACK POSITIONS TO SEE IF THE MISFIRES FOLLOWED THE COIL PACK. THE END RESULT IS THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT FAILS AGAIN, PUTTING MYSELF AND OTHERS AT RISK. I ALSO OPENED A CASE WITH THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER, THEY CONFIRMED THIS WAS ALL TOYOTA WOULD DO AT THIS POINT.

NHTSA ID

11360380

Incident

Sep 4, 2020

Mileage

42,000 mi

1 WEEK AGO, 7-26-20, MY CAR STALLED SLIGHTLY AND THEN AN ENGINE ICON APPEARED. A MESSAGE APPEARED FOR ME TO VISIT MY DEALER. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. THE LIGHT WENT OFF AS I ARRIVED THERE. I HAD TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I WAS TOLD TO MAKE SURE I WAS USING A GOOD GRADE OF GAS. LATER IN THE WEEK I GOT GAS AT A SHELL STATION. THE CAR WOULDN'T CRANK AT THE PUMP. IT KEPT TRYING TO TURN OVER. I GOT A MESSAGE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND PUSH IGNITION. THEN IT SAID LOW BRAKE PRESSURE. I SAT THERE A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN. I FINALLY GOT IT TO STAY ON. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE AROUND FINE FOR A WHILE WITH NO PROBLEM. THEN I TRIED TO GO BACK OUT AND IT WOULDN'T CRANK. IT WAS FULL OF GOOD GAS. THE ENGINE ICON CAME BACK ON. THEN THE MESSAGE ABOUT BEING HARDER TO STEER CAME UP. IT KEPT SAYING DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND PUSH IGNITION. I TRIED A FEW MORE TIMES AND GOT THE MESSAGE ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE SMART KEY SYSTEM. I CHECKED THE RECALLS FOR 2017 HIGHLANDERS AND NOTICED THERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IN MARCH 2020.

NHTSA ID

11342785

Incident

Jul 26, 2020

Mileage

40,000 mi

I TURNED MY CAR TO PARK IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT. I BELIEVE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, IT HAPPENED SO FAST, I AM NOT SURE. . ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN! IT SCARED THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME! SUDDENLY THE CAR JUMPED THROUGH A WOODEN FENCE AND OFF A FIVE FOOT DROP OFF TO THE STREET BELOW. I WAS LUCKY THERE WAS A PILE OF GRAVEL TO STOP ME. I PUT IT INTO PARK.THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF. I WAS NOT HURT. BUT I AM VERY STRESSED BY THE INCIDENT. IT WILL BE A MONTH BEFORE IT IS FIXED.

NHTSA ID

11281468

Incident

Nov 10, 2019

Mileage

25,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY SPED FORWARD, DROVE OVER A MEDIAN, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE OR PROCESS A REQUEST FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPURCHASED. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHICH OPTION TO TAKE. DARCARS TOYOTA FREDERICK (5293 BUCKEYSTOWN PIKE, FREDERICK, MD 21704, (301) 696-6300) WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,680. *BF MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED.*JB

NHTSA ID

11267105

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

Mileage

14,680 mi

CRUISE CONTROL ON SPEED AT 45 MPH, LIFTED CRUISE LEVER 5 TIMES TO POSTED 50 MPH SPEED GOING ONTO INTERSTATE APRON/BRIDGE. LIFTED THE CRUISE CONT LEVER AND HELD TO ACCELERATE TO POSTED SPEED OF 60. RELEASED LEVER AT 60 MPH, BUT NOTICED CAR STILL ACCELERATING. PULLED ON LEVER TO CANCEL WHEN CAR WAS AT 75 MPH. CAR HAS 19,850 MILES

NHTSA ID

11245764

Incident

Aug 20, 2019

Mileage

19,850 mi

MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK. THE SUV LUNGED FORWARD OVER CURBING AND INTO BUILDING. THEN WENT VIOLENTLY INTO REVERSE AND INTO A UNCONTROLLABLE SPIN. THEN THE SUV WENT VIOLENTLY INTO DRIVE AND JUMPING OVER A CURBING AND INTO A DITCH AND WAS SITTING ON TOP OF A NATURAL GAS LINE. DURING THIS WHOLE TIME I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE AND PUSHING THE IGNITION SWITCH TRYING TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THIS WAS DONE IN A PARKING LOT AS I WAS TRYING TO PARK. *DT *TR

NHTSA ID

11242500

Incident

Aug 2, 2019

Mileage

37,516 mi

ON SUNDAY OCT 21 2018, THE DRIVER HAD JUST LEFT THE OLIN REST AREA IN NORTH CAROLINA, HEADING NORTHBOUND ON RT 77. AFTER DRIVING FOR A LITTLE BIT THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATION UNINTENTIONALLY BY ITSELF. AND THE CAR STARTED TO ZIG ZAG ACROSS THE HIGHWAY LANES WITHOUT THE DRIVER TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER TRIED TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE BUT IT WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. THE CAR THEN GRAZED AN HIGHWAY GUARDRAIL AND IT PARTIALLY RIPPED OFF THE REAR LEFT SIDE AND REAR BUMPER. THE DRIVER KEPT PRESSING THE BRAKE WITHOUT EFFECT WHILE SWERVING ACROSS THE LANES. THEN SUDDENLY THE BRAKES STARTED TO WORK AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER. THE DRIVER PUT IT INTO PARK BUT THE ENGINE KEPT REVVING AT HIGH RPM UNTIL THE DRIVER TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I THINK THE CAR HAD A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENT DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL. IN ADDITION, I THINK THE ZIG ZAG WAS DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC TRACTION/ STABILITY CONTROL, SENDING EXCESSIVE POWER TO A WHEEL ON A PARTICULAR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT DIDN'T NEED IT.

NHTSA ID

11149666

Incident

Oct 21, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE BLIND SPOT DETECTOR MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM FAILED TO REGISTER A SEMI-TRUCK AS SHE ENTERED INTO THE LEFT LANE PREMATURELY. BUD CLARY TOYOTA OF YAKIMA IN UNION GAP, WASHINGTON WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: 171-221-11129. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. *TT UPDATED 10/5/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11102431

Incident

Sep 1, 2017

Mileage

2,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING UP THE I-5 GRAPEVINE AT 72 MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO UNDER 20 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE DASH SAID AWD SYSTEM DISENGAGED OR ERROR OR SOME SIMILAR MESSAGE AND TO TAKE TO THE DEALER. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO ACCELERATE TO GET OFF THE ROAD. I PULLED OFF, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, AND IT STARTED RUNNING AGAIN. I'M LUCKY I WAS NOT REAR ENDED.

NHTSA ID

11057498

Incident

Dec 22, 2017

Mileage

7,000 mi

ACCELERATE SPEED OVER 80MPG CAR JUST SHUTSDOWN THOUGH STEERING STILL MANAGEABLE OR WORKING GAS PEDAL DONT WORK NO MORE HAVE TO CRUISE THE CAR FROM 1 LANE ALL THE WAY TO THE VERY RIGHT LANE LUCKILY EXIT RAMP JUST THERE AND HAVE TO EXIT. TURN OFF CAR THEM RESTARTT CAR WORKS AGAIN NORMAL. SENT TO DEALER KEYES TOYOTA VAN NUYS NOW WILL BE 3 WEEKS STILL NO NEWS AS THE GUY STOPS CALLING US GIVE ME UPDATE AFTER 1ST WEEK. TRIED TO CALL FRIDAY OF 2ND WEEK BUT WAS PUT ON HOLD FOREVER.

NHTSA ID

11022544

Incident

Aug 28, 2017

Mileage

8,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER TO APPX 5MPH AND CHECK ENGINE, CHECK ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, VISIT DEALER, LIGHTS APPEARED ON DASH, VEHICLE WAS ON HIGHWAY DRIVING AT APPX 50MPH AT TIME OF INCIDENT , DEALER REPROGAMMED ECM, AND RETURNED CAR TO OWNER AND NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN

NHTSA ID

11005233

Incident

Jul 8, 2017

Mileage

1,200 mi

THE DYNAMIC RADAR CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY AND CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH THE FEATURE ON AND A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU EXITS TO THE RIGHT, THE HIGHLANDER WILL SLOW AND BRAKE AGGRESSIVELY AS IF IT'S STILL FOLLOWING THE SLOWING EXITING VEHICLE THAT IS NOW IN ANOTHER LANE AND LEAVING THE HIGHWAY. THE SETTING OF THE VEHICLE TO VEHICLE DISTANCE AND PRE-COLLISION SETTING HAVE LITTLE AFFECT ON THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM CAN EASILY BE DUPLICATED EVERY TIME. THE DEALER SAYS IT'S NORMAL OPERATION. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED BY A LARGE TRUCK WHEN MY HIGHLANDER UNEXPECTEDLY AND AGGRESSIVELY BRAKED AND SLOWED FOR NO REASON AS IT CONTINUED TRACKING THE EXITING VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, WHICH IS WHY I NO LONGER USE DYNAMIC RADAR CRUISE CONTROL. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER WITH TOYOTA BEFORE SOME IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

10992791

Incident

Apr 2, 2017

Mileage

4,400 mi

2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SE AWD ("VEHICLE"). ON JANUARY 26, 2017 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:15 P.M., PACIFIC TIME, I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE 10 FREEWAY NEAR THE LA BREA AVENUE EXIT. IT WAS DARK BUT CLEAR WITH LIGHT TO MEDIUM TRAFFIC. WHILE I WAS DRIVING AROUND 80 MPH AND MERGING TOWARD AN INNER LANE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY - ON ITS OWN - SLOWED TO AROUND 30 OR 40 MPH. CONCOMITANTLY, THE VEHICLE'S MESSAGING SYSTEM (BETWEEN THE TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER) BEGAN BLINKING AND ALERTING ME THAT THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM WAS EXPERIENCING FAILURE AND THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED IMMEDIATE SERVICING. A SMALL ORANGE TRIANGULAR INDICATOR WITH AN EMBEDDED EXCLAMATION POINT FLASHED AS WELL. I ENGAGED THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND THEN MANIPULATED THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTO VARIOUS POSITIONS WHILE FULLY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30 OR 40 MPH. FACED WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING REAR ENDED, I DISENGAGED THE HAZARD LIGHTS, SIGNALED TO THE RIGHT, AND EVENTUALLY MADE IT OFF THE FREEWAY. THE FOLLOWING DAY, JANUARY 27, 2017, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I BELIEVE IT IS STILL BEING DIAGNOSED . THE LONGER THE DIAGNOSIS TAKES, THE MORE I AM CONCERNED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT DETERMINED THE REMEDY FOR THIS ISSUE. GIVEN TOYOTA'S HISTORY, I AM ALSO CONCERNED THEY MAY RETURN THE VEHICLE TO ME WITHOUT DETERMINING CONCLUSIVELY HOW THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AND WITHOUT FIXING THE ISSUE SO THAT IT WILL NOT POSE A THREAT TO MY PASSENGERS, INCLUDING MY OWN FAMILY, AND THE PUBLIC. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS MY DUTY TO REPORT THIS TO THE NHTSA AND TO SEEK THE NHTSA'S GUIDANCE ABOUT STEPS I CAN TAKE TO ENSURE THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT HAND ME BACK THE VEHICLE, WHICH MAY BE A DEATHTRAP. I DON'T USE SUCH INFLAMMATORY WORDS LIGHTLY, BUT THE MORE I CONTEMPLATE, THE MORE I FEEL THAT THIS WAS A POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING EVENT.

NHTSA ID

10949488

Incident

Jan 26, 2017

Mileage

1,200 mi