2019 Toyota Highlander

UA8OF transmission went. Vehicle was making whining noise when purchased and was told was normal. Driving the car as normal when traveling through intersection when car would not drive.

NHTSA ID

11756369

Incident

Aug 7, 2026

The back passenger door (passenger side) will not unlock when using the remote or the button on the front door panels. The only way to open the door is to push the button manually on the car door. The child lock is NOT ON!!! I called the Toyota dealer in my town and they said there are no recalls and it would be $200 to do a diagnostic test on it. This is not ok. To not be able to unlock the door from the remote or the front door panel is not acceptable.

NHTSA ID

11755612

Incident

Aug 4, 2026

My 2019 Toyota Highlander has the same UA80 transmission that Toyota was required to fix under CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM ZJC, which covers 2017-2018, the transmission has the same whining noise and shifting issues. Toyota must accept responsibility for their manufacturing error where the washer tab was not bent properly, allowing a nut to loosen leading to the whining noise. I expect the NHTS to require them to cover their 2019's as well, as a consumer we are getting screwed here.

NHTSA ID

11754310

Incident

Jul 15, 2026

In April of 2026 started hearing a whining noise in the engine of my 2019 Toyota Highlander. The vehicle has 110471 miles. Have had it checked at the dealership twice and a mechanic twice. All have said the transmission is going out. I have had the transmission fluid replaced, but it did not help. Apparently, Toyota knew about this problem and still sold the car. I am unable to drive car because I am afraid it is going to break down. The dealership said they could replace the transmission for 8762.64 dollars. Toyota has since stopped making UA80 eight speed auto transmission.

NHTSA ID

11753890

Incident

Apr 8, 2026

I have a 2019 Highlander XLE AWD that had 85000 miles when the transmission started whining. It got worse pretty quickly so iI took it to a transmission shop. They rebuilt it for $6700.00. I drove it for another 9-10 thousand miles and the whine is back. I'm not sinking another $6700.00 into another transmission. I've talked to several transmission shops and I'm being told there isn't a true fix. Rebuild it and it will come back, guaranteed. What recourse do I have? The car only has 102,000 miles which is typically nothing for a Toyota. But it all started at 85000. Something needs to be done. I see programs for the 2017 and 2018 models but not the 2019. It's the same transmission. The issues crop up after the vehicle has gone out of warranty.

NHTSA ID

11752267

Incident

Apr 4, 2025

I am writing to formally document a series of unresolved mechanical issues with my vehicle, culminating in a complete transmission failure, and to request assistance in resolving this matter. The timeline of events is detailed below: *Winter 2024: I first noticed a persistent buzzing sound originating from the engine compartment. Because this symptom primarily occurred during low ambient temperatures, I initially attributed it to the cold weather. The mileage on this vehicle was around 50k miles. *Spring 2024: I contacted the dealership to report the noise. I was advised that the issue was likely related to a worn belt. Subsequent inspection, however, proved this diagnosis to be incorrect, and the root cause of the noise remained unresolved. *Fall 2024: The engine buzzing returned. Concurrently, a severe driveability issue emerged. On multiple occasions after shifting from Park to Drive, the vehicle failed to engage the gear properly, behaving as though it were in Neutral and preventing any acceleration. This would occur while driving and stopped at redlights, which posed a major safety concern as I was transporting my newborn and young child with me. * February 2025: The vehicle became entirely inoperable. Unfortunately, this failure occurred around 62k miles, AFTER my 60k mile warranty expired, (which i was unaware of). Given that these symptoms began during the winter of 2024 and were reported to the dealership early on, it is clear that the initial diagnostics failed to identify a developing and critical transmission defect. I conducted research and discovered this is a recurring issue with Toyota Highlanders, and other vehicles with the model UA80 transmission. Toyota posted a service bulletin, extending vehicles from 2017 & 2018 but have yet to address the 2019 through current models to date with reports of the same transmission issues.

NHTSA ID

11751157

Incident

Feb 10, 2025

The car is was a 2019 Toyota Highlander with approximately 125,000 miles. White Smoke started appearing in the exhaust. Quickly after that, the check engine light appeared and started blinking, meaning the engine was misfiring. We brought to the dealership, and they found that cylinder 4 of the engine was damaged (scoring on the inside of the cylinder wall). The engine was releasing metal particles in the oil. Further, the cylinder would not hold oil or coolant pressure, and was burning both oil and coolant. The only fix was to replace or rebuild the engine.

NHTSA ID

11749690

Incident

Apr 15, 2026

Hundreds of thousands of 2017–2022 gas-powered Toyota Highlanders (equipped with UA80E/UA80F 8-speed transmissions) are experiencing high-pitched whining noises, hard or erratic shifting, and sudden hesitation. This is caused by a factory defect where a retaining nut and locking tab in the counter drive gear sub-assembly were improperly installed, causing premature internal wear and gear movement

NHTSA ID

11749409

Incident

Dec 10, 2025

Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manual and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines.

Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free. This is caused by the phone Hands Free volume being too low.

The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.

Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on the paint surface that resemble hard water spots. Unlike water spots however, acid rain damage cannot be removed by regular washing procedures. Also, because acid rain can etch and soften the paint, normal buffing or polishing repair procedures should not be attempted. This can cause further damage and result in visible depressions in the paint surface. The following are the three major categories of acid rain damage: •Minor damage: requires only buffing to repair. •Moderate damage: usually requires neutralizing, color sanding, and buffing. •Severe damage: extending beyond 1/2 mil of clearcoat on a pearl, metallic, or solid color, requires neutralization, sanding, and repainting. In cases where acid rain damage is minor, neutralization and buffing with a liquid-type paint finessing product may provide an adequate repair. Only specially formulated products outlined in this bulletin should be used for that purpose. Unfortunately, other than minor damage, there is no simple method of determining the actual extent (depth) of acid penetration other than color sanding a representative affected area until there is no visible etching or depressions, followed by measuring the amount of paint removed with either a magnetic or digital-type film thickness gauge. The procedures in this bulletin are intended for use by qualified body/paint technicians and should not be attempted by inexperienced personnel. It is the dealer’s responsibility to protect and maintain the quality of the vehicle’s paint finish after receipt at the dealership prior to the first sale. Perform frequent vehicle washing, as often as daily, during high heat and humidity periods to minimize the potential for paint damage due to acid rain exposure. This is especially important in geographical areas known for high frequency and concentration of acid rain and industrial fallout.

To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.

The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint and appears as pitting or water spots. As acid rain droplets on the vehicle surface evaporate, the concentration strength of the acid increases, causing deeper and more rapid damage. This evaporation and corrosive action also occur more rapidly on dark colored cars as direct sun heat increases. It is the dealer’s responsibility to protect and maintain the quality of the vehicle’s paint finish after receipt at the dealership prior to the first sale. In areas known for high frequency and/or concentration of acid rain, frequent vehicle washing during high heat or humidity periods will minimize the potential for paint damage caused by acid rain. It is further recommended that either reverse osmosis or deionized water be used to prevent water spotting.