2022 Toyota Highlander Owner Complaints

The central belt got stuck and they had to cut it off.

NHTSA ID

11776087

Incident

Nov 3, 2026

On October 22, 2026 at 7:55pm I was slowly pulling into a parking spot at our community building applying the brake when the engine started rapidly accelerating causing the car to jump over the curbing even as I continued to press on the brake pedal. I wasn’t able to stop the vehicle before it crashed into the community building wall. The engine was still racing but the vehicle being lodged in the wall and corner support kept the vehicle from going further into the building. I was finally able to shut off the engine and luckily for me the airbag system didn’t deploy.

NHTSA ID

11773397

Incident

Oct 22, 2026

Headlight system malfunction, pre-collision system malfunction, LTA malfunction, SRS airbag system malfunction and SRS malfunction lights came on after start up.

NHTSA ID

11773377

Incident

Oct 15, 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact stated that the transmission was shuddering however, the vehicle was able to be driven to the residence. The dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer associated the failure with the transmission. The manufacturer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.

NHTSA ID

11772634

Incident

Sep 23, 2026

Mileage

105,000 mi

Accident where Toyota Highlander was struck on the front driver’s side and airbags did not deploy. Driver and passenger were injured. Driver was hospitalized. Need to have car inspected before destruction.

NHTSA ID

11771756

Incident

Oct 15, 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the brakes failed to respond causing the braking distances to be extended. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had occurred on several occasions almost causing a crash. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions, but the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 8,000.

NHTSA ID

11770179

Incident

Nov 1, 2022

Mileage

8,000 mi

I am writing to formally express my dissatisfaction regarding a failure of the power liftgate on my Toyota Highlander and the fact that I was required to pay out of pocket to have it repaired. The liftgate is an important and frequently used component of the vehicle, and I did not expect it to fail under normal use. When the liftgate stopped functioning properly, I was faced with an unexpected and costly repair expense. I believe Toyota should take responsibility for this failure, particularly given the nature of the component and the circumstances surrounding the repair. I purchased my Highlander with the expectation that Toyota’s reputation for quality and reliability would be reflected in the vehicle. Having to pay for a repair resulting from a failed liftgate has been extremely disappointing and has diminished my confidence in the vehicle and the Toyota brand. I am requesting that Toyota review my situation and consider reimbursing me for the cost of the repair. I would also appreciate an explanation as to why this failure occurred and whether Toyota is aware of similar liftgate issues with this model. I am happy to provide my repair invoice, vehicle identification number, mileage, and any other documentation necessary for Toyota to investigate this matter. I hope Toyota will take this complaint seriously and work with me toward a fair resolution. I look forward to hearing from Toyota regarding reimbursement and what can be done to address this issue.

NHTSA ID

11769632

Incident

Mar 15, 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 25-30 MPH with the contact seated in the front passenger's side seat, another vehicle crashed into the passenger's side of the vehicle. The contact stated that the driver's and passenger's side front air bags and curtain air bags failed to deploy as expected. The driver and the passenger sustained injuries and were transported to the hospital by ambulance. The driver's chest struck the steering wheel, causing a mark and swelling. The contact sustained cuts to the right arm, excruciating pain on the left side of the body, bruises, pain between the shoulder blades, a concussion, a hard hit to the left rib cage, and deep tissue trauma to the front of the neck that activated temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. The contact returned to the emergency room due to severe headaches, vision and hearing issues on the left side. The contact underwent X-rays, CT scans, craniosacral therapy, and TMJ treatment. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and later towed to a collision center to be repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.

NHTSA ID

11769010

Incident

Aug 23, 2026

On September 23, 2026, at approximately 7:30 AM, I was driving the vehicle in a parking garage at an estimated speed of approximately 10 mph. While driving over a curve in the parking garage and applying the brakes to slow the vehicle and maneuver into a parking space, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own despite the brakes being applied. The vehicle struck the metal wire safety fence and then came to a stop. Prior to this incident, over the preceding 2–3 months, I had experienced intermittent problems with the transmission. Specifically, when shifting from neutral to reverse, the transmission would occasionally become temporarily stuck or fail to engage properly. It would then begin functioning after a small tap. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? : Possibly transmission How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? There was no one else in the parking garage as it was early in the morning, otherwise it could have resulted in loss of additional property and possibly injuries. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Going to consult with the dealer soon Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? insurance has been informed. Awaiting their response. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? As mentioned about 2-3 months prior there were minor transmission issues.

NHTSA ID

11768070

Incident

Sep 23, 2026

The Airbag and the windshield piller A trim was not properly repaired by Yark Toyota in [XXX] after an accident prior to selling it to the next customer on XXX. Inspection of car finding this out was on XXX INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11768053

Incident

Sep 30, 2026

LTA malfunction, SRS airbag system malfunction, pre-collision system malfunction and headlight system malfunction lights came on.

NHTSA ID

11767160

Incident

Sep 23, 2026

SRS air bag system malfunction, front camera unavailable, RSA malfunction, pre-collision system malfunction, headlight system malfunction and LTA malfunction lights came on.

NHTSA ID

11767158

Incident

Aug 22, 2026

Pre-collision system malfunction, headlight system malfunction, LTA malfunction and SRS airbag system malfunction lights came on.

NHTSA ID

11767155

Incident

Aug 21, 2026

PKSB malfunction, pre-collision system malfunction, headlight system malfunction, LTA malfunction and SRS airbag system malfunction lights came on.

NHTSA ID

11767152

Incident

Aug 21, 2026

PKSB malfunction, pre-collision system malfunction, headlight system malfunction, SRS air bag system malfunction and LTA malfunction light came on.

NHTSA ID

11767150

Incident

Jul 23, 2026

Pre-collision system malfunction and headlight system malfunction lights came on.

NHTSA ID

11767148

Incident

Jun 28, 2026

Front camera unavailable, PKSB malfunction, Pre-collision system malfunction and headlight system malfunction lights came on.

NHTSA ID

11767146

Incident

Jun 24, 2026

Cruise control malfunction light illuminated.

NHTSA ID

11767142

Incident

Jun 26, 2026

This complaint concerns the administration of an EXISTING federal safety recall, NHTSA 24V-419 / Gulf States Toyota 24R1, not a new defect. My 2022 Toyota Highlander was equipped with tires later recalled because they had an insufficient load rating. I experienced premature tire wear and, on June 8, 2024 at approximately 41,300 miles, I paid $1,225.50 out of pocket to replace all four tires. At that time I had not received any recall notice. Gulf States Toyota later required the tires on my vehicle to be replaced again under Recall 24V-419 because the vehicle was covered by the recall and the tire configuration had to be corrected. The original tires are no longer available for inspection because they were replaced. The safety issue was the insufficient tire load rating identified by the recall, which could increase the risk of tire failure. There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages before the tire wear. I submitted a reimbursement claim to Gulf States Toyota for the June 8, 2024 tire replacement. GST denied it with the statement: “Repair Did Not Remedy Recall Condition: The repairs performed on your vehicle did not remedy the specific condition outlined in the recall notice.” My concern is that GST did not substantively address my pre-notification reimbursement claim or explain why the expense does not qualify under its recall reimbursement plan. The tire replacement occurred before I received notice, and GST later replaced the tires again because it was required to perform the recall remedy. I am asking NHTSA to review Gulf States Toyota’s administration of Recall 24V-419 and its handling of pre-notification reimbursement claims under 49 CFR § 573.13. Please document this as a recall-administration/reimbursement issue associated with existing Recall 24V-419.

NHTSA ID

11765890

Incident

Jun 8, 2024

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the tailgate glass exploded due to the heat and fell inside the vehicle. The Toyota manufacturer corporate office was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer. The glass was replaced by Safelite. The approximate failure mileage was 55,656.

NHTSA ID

11765766

Incident

Sep 9, 2026

Mileage

55,656 mi

Vehicle begin making grinding noises, and stalling during accelerating and also fuel smell. Took vehicle into Toyota Waldorf, MD dealership for diagnostic. At 58,000 miles, 2022 Toyota Highlander XLE stalls to accelerate due to front differentials failing, causing large chunks of metal on the drain plug indicating internal failure. Vehicle needs transmission and front differential replaced. I have 4 children, 3 of them still small, and driving with the fuel smell would impact them greatly as 1 of my children has asthma. It's also a hazard to be on the road with this vehicle as it can stall at any moment, causing a traffic incident. The problem has been reproduced by dealer, who is refusing to approve the fix under the 60,000 mile Power Train Warranty. There were no other warning signs, no check engine light came on, no issues prior to me hearing this grinding noise and stalling.

NHTSA ID

11765724

Incident

Aug 14, 2026

Vehicle begin making grinding noises, and stalling during accelerating and also fuel smell. Took vehicle into Toyota Waldorf, MD dealership for diagnostic. At 58,000 miles, 2022 Toyota Highlander XLE stalls to accelerate due to front differentials failing, causing large chunks of metal on the drain plug indicating internal failure. Vehicle needs transmission and front differential replaced. I have 4 children, 3 of them still small, and driving with the fuel smell would impact them greatly as 1 of my children has asthma. It's also a hazard to be on the road with this vehicle as it can stall at any moment, causing a traffic incident. The problem has been reproduced by dealer, who is refusing to approve the fix under the 60,000 mile Power Train Warranty. There were no other warning signs, no check engine light came on, no issues prior to me hearing this grinding noise and stalling.

NHTSA ID

11765723

Incident

Aug 14, 2026

UNKNOWN CONCERNED THE SAFETY WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED SINCE 3/5/26. AS OF TODAY (9/13/26), THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED

NHTSA ID

11764748

Incident

Sep 16, 2026

I would like to file a complaint regarding Toyota’s known brake surge issue addressed in Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0059-23. I believe this is a serious safety issue because the unexpected braking or brake surge when stopping can potentially cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle or contribute to an accident. I contacted a Toyota dealership near me about the issue, but they were unwilling to provide any assistance. I then contacted another Toyota dealership, which informed me that they could perform the repair but would charge approximately $400. I am concerned that Toyota has identified and documented this issue through T-SB-0059-23 but does not provide the repair free of charge unless the vehicle is still within the 36,000-mile warranty period. A known safety-related defect should not necessarily become the customer’s financial responsibility simply because the vehicle has exceeded the mileage limitation of the basic warranty. I am requesting that Toyota review this matter and consider providing the repair at no cost, particularly given the safety implications of the brake surge issue and the fact that Toyota has already acknowledged the condition through its technical service bulletin.

NHTSA ID

11764432

Incident

Oct 1, 2025

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed around an S-curb, the vehicle jerked into the nearby lane. The local dealer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

NHTSA ID

11764306

Incident

Sep 11, 2026

Mileage

55,000 mi