2019 Toyota Highlander Steering Problems

Issue 1: I reported transmission issued to the dealership/service center where I purchased the car. They assured me its just the electronic transmission trying to find the right gear while driving. Continued to complaint about the jerks and shifting. Dealer warranty expired, then they agreed that I needed a new transmission. Fortunately I had an outside extended warranty otherwise they'd probably would have waited until that ended too. Status post the transmission, tuning, sensor replacements, spark plug replacement, and TPMS replacements all in one service. Prior to my warranty expiring, AWD, engine light and hard transmission shifts began with the new transmission. Returned repeatedly from April to November with no resolution. However, they did have me pay to replace sensors I had replaced in April several times and obtain a new battery. Issue 2: After "new" batter the car's electrical issues worsened resulting in a power failure while driving at 75 miles an hour and losing complete control of the vehicle. The power failure shut down the electronic shifter, power steering, All Wheel Drive, Traction control in raining conditions and ultimately the power assisted brakes. returned the vehicle to the service department for additional "testing" after taking a video of the fault messages were the car electrical systems shut down to auto start stop function warning light. I'm a skill driver and was able to avoid crashing during the incidents. The photos are from the latest day I dropped the vehicle off for review I took a video of the vehicle powering down for their records. They are now stating since they can't figure it out maybe I should pay them to replace the electrical wiring harnesses throughout the vehicle; a cost which exceeds the vehicle's worth to me. I'm convinced now more than ever they knew there was an electrical issue with the vehicle but waited me out and if I would have crashed and died all the blame would have been on me.

NHTSA ID

11702125

Incident

Oct 1, 2025

Poser steering failed momentarily. I was at the drive-thru window of CVS and was afraid my mirror would hit the pole when I pulled forward. I tried to turn while backing up slowly from a full stop. The car momentarily resisted my attempt to turn the wheel. There was no safety risk at the time. I have not had the problem investigated. The problem quickly corrected (within 2 seconds(?), o I did not notice or look for any warning lamp or message. I have read of steering failure on highways in the 2019 Highlander and am concerned that this is a harbinger.

NHTSA ID

11571966

Incident

Feb 14, 2024

Vehicle constantly drift to the left which make it very unsafe because the driver is in a continuous correction mode to remain in one lane - can inspect anytime, alignment and tire rotation has been complied with at least 8 times within the last 3 months by Toyota Dealer and Firestone conclusion alignment is OK sometimes with minor correction. I'm constantly holding pressure on the steering to the right and left to remain in my lane doesn't matter about the road. The problem is worst on multi - lanes in the same direction with tractor trailers passing due to air current.

NHTSA ID

11448048

Incident

Oct 1, 2021

Erratic steering - Steering response is unpredictable when changing lanes, especially at highway speeds. Stall out on hard acceleration - such as accelerating from an entrance ramp onto an interstate. Glare on navigation screen - creates hazard when shading screen by hand to see it while driving.

NHTSA ID

11441211

Incident

Nov 1, 2020

While entering a business park's parking lot, my vehicle suddenly and immediately stopped all forward movement. I was thrown against the steering wheel, injuring the right side of my chest and scraping the skin off my right forearm which was covered with the sleeve of my shirt. I was dazed, had no idea what happened, and thought that I had hit something but yet no airbags had deployed. When the vehicle stopped it was near a light post which I assumed I had hit. Upon exiting the vehicle I noticed the front tire was blown and the wheel was sitting on the ground at an odd angle. Walking around the vehicle showed no other body damage other that a few small strips of yellow paint from the base of the light post. When the tow truck driver was placing the chains to load it onto the flatbed, he called my attention to the fact that the drivers side control arm had failed. See the attached pictures for further detail. I am very grateful that I was not in traffic on a major highway as this would have been a horrific accident. Pictures show the control arm had a crack with exposed rust on edges of a fracture in the control arm. This vehicle has only been serviced at Toyota authorized dealerships and has undergone their multipoint inspections during these visits that include the front and rear suspension. I will not feel comfortable driving this vehicle again!

NHTSA ID

11435470

Incident

Oct 1, 2021

2019 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER XLE. AT 1230 MILES EPS FAILURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA UNIVERSE IN NEW JERSEY. RECALIBRATED THE COMPUTER. THE NEXT DAY THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY GARAGE. WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE THE WARNING DISPLAYED AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. *TR

NHTSA ID

11321373

Incident

Apr 11, 2020

Mileage

1,230 mi

TL* THE CONTACT LEASES A 2019 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PAGE TOYOTA (21262 TELEGRAPH RD, SOUTHFIELD, MI 48033, (248) 352-8580) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1910282286. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000.

NHTSA ID

11277376

Incident

Oct 17, 2019

Mileage

4,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HAD A SLIGHT LAG WHEN I APPLIED GAS THEN STARTED BEEPING AND PROVIDED THE WARNINGS: CHECK ENGINE, HYBRID SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, CHECK AWD SYSTEM. I TURNED THE CAR OFF MULTIPLE TIMES, THE ERRORS WERE STILL ON THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I STARTED THE CAR TO TAKE IT TO THE SERVICE APPT. WHEN I GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP I TURNED THE CAR OFF TO CHECK IT IN, WHEN I CAME BACK THE ERROR WAS GONE. THEY CHECKED OUT THE CAR THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THOUGHT IT WAS JUST 'AMBIENT CONDITIONS'. TWO WEEKS LATER, I WAS DRIVING AND I HAD THE SAME LAG IN POWER THEN THE SAME ALARMS AND STARTED DRIVING TOWARD THE DEALERSHIP (ABOUT 3 MILES AWAY) AND THE HYBRID SYSTEM AND POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD LEAVING ME WITH NO POWER. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON AND THE ERRORS WERE STILL THERE AND IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN ANOTHER HALF MILE DOWN THE ROAD. IT IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS 10,800 MILES AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES. I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY DURING ALL THESE EVENTS.

NHTSA ID

11244038

Incident

Aug 14, 2019

Mileage

10,800 mi