2022 Toyota Highlander Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2022 Toyota Highlander, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)4718.2%
- Body & structure4216.3%
- Brakes3513.6%
- Driver assistance3112.0%
- Airbags228.5%
- Electrical166.2%
- Visibility155.8%
- Interior & seats124.7%
- Engine103.9%
- Fuel system83.1%
- Exterior lighting83.1%
- Seat belts41.6%
- Tires & wheels41.6%
- Other / unspecified31.2%
- Steering10.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
loud noise when accelerating. noise is gone when let go of gas pedal. noise like internal gears from transmission
2022 Toyota Highlander 8 speed transmission started making noise at highway speed. Vehicle has 61,000 miles on it. Also has erratic shifting. Toyota dealer said it needs a new transmission. Just out of warranty so Toyota only agreed to pay 25% of the bill.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
In the past 3 days, the trunk of the vehicle has opened on its own even though it was locked. This has also happened 3 additional times in the past since I have taken it to the Toyota service center in Fairlawn, NJ. I am concerned because yesterday, I was at a supermarket and was inside for about 15 minutes and when I came out, the back was opened. This has not happened while I was driving but I was fortunate that nothing was taken from the vehicle.
The fender liner detached and was getting caught up in the tire, I had to pull it out and then it was dragging on the ground. It was hard to turn because it was getting under the tire. Finally, one was pulling into my driveway and I felt a bump. I thought I’d ran over something, it was the fender liner underneath the truck. These liners are made of terrible materials. I never had a problem with one until this truck.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
Component or system that malfunctioned: The braking system on my 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, specifically the transition between regenerative braking and hydraulic friction braking, appears to malfunction intermittently. During braking, the vehicle sometimes lurches or surges forward instead of slowing smoothly, especially at low speeds or when braking downhill. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. How safety was put at risk: The unexpected forward surge while braking increases stopping distance and creates uncertainty about braking performance, particularly in traffic or parking situations. This creates a risk of rear-end or low-speed collisions and reduces my confidence in the braking system. Problem reproduced or confirmed by dealer or service center: The vehicle was inspected by a Toyota dealership, and a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) software update intended to address braking behavior was performed at approximately 50,000 miles. However, the braking problem continues unchanged after the repair. I had to pay the dealer to perform this TSB update. The dealer was initially reluctant to apply the TSB and did not associate my braking complaint with the known issue. I had to research the TSB myself and request that it be applied. The invoice notes that the dealer reproduced the issue. Vehicle or component inspected by manufacturer or others: The vehicle has been inspected by a Toyota dealership service department. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives, as no accident has occurred. Warning lamps or prior symptoms: No warning lights or messages appear when the problem occurs. The issue happens intermittently without warning and has occurred since the vehicle was new. The condition appears to be getting progressively worse. The issue seems more likely to occur when braking while the hybrid battery is near or at full charge, suggesting a possible problem in the transition between regenerative and friction braking.
When I am slowing down and coming to a stop, my car will surge forward. It feels like my brakes stop working for a second and that I pressed the accelerator. It has happened on flat road, hills and turns.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Headlight system malfunction, Pre-collision system malfunction and LTA malfunction
PKSB malfunction, LTA system malfunction, SRS system malfunction, Per-Collision system malfunction, Headlight system malfunction and Front camera unavailable.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
Was in collision - front impact- vehicle was a total loss, airbags did not deploy for driver or passenger side
PKSB malfunction, LTA system malfunction, SRS system malfunction, Per-Collision system malfunction, Headlight system malfunction and Front camera unavailable.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The only door that will lock or unlock using the fab key or the master lock button on the drivers armrest is the drivers side rear door. My vehicle is not able to be locked unless I do it manually and can not be unlocked unless i use the rear drivers side door. This has been reproduced by the dealership. There were no warning lamps or messages and no other symptoms. This has been going on for a month. I am being told by the dealership service department that 3 actuators failed at the same time. My lift gate also malfunctioned this year. Dealership diagnosed it with needing new struts. Not sure if this is related. Lift gate would not open or open only a small amount. This was using the inside button and the outside one as well.
Motorized struts to lift and close the rear lift gate have failed. The struts do work to open the lift gate but they do not work to close it. Manually closing the lift gate is extremely difficult because of the electric motors inside of the struts. A known problem by Toyota as they have issued a TSB. Toyota’s solution is to replace the struts at a cost of $1200. My concern about this being a safety issue: Closing the lift gate after accessing the spare tire is extremely difficult. If my wife would inadvertently open the lift gate, which does work, after leaving the grocery store to put all of the groceries in the back, she would not have the strength to manually close it. Obviously, the vehicle cannot be driven with the open tail gate. This is not any different than if any of the doors could not be closed due to defective hinges. The premature failure of motorized struts is a fairly common problem with Highlanders. ToyotaNation, which is a Toyota sponsored forum for owners to communicate with other owners about issues/problems, contains numerous posts about the failure of motorized struts on the rear lift gate. Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
Rear window on the tailgate spontaneously cracked and broke into small pieces. No warning and no one touched the glass. The glass crumbled into small pieces.
During very cold tempratures 25 F and below all windows fog up. Defroster is turned on but windows remain fogged. I can turn on rear defroster (electric grid) and clears back window. All windows fog so you cannot see out. With front defroster fan on high it will after a time (starting from the bottm) clear. Side windows on drivers and passenger side will some times clear. Not back passenger windows. Taken to dealer several times. Replaced thermostat. After more complaints dealer said there was no mechanical problem.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V128000 (Seats); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were unavailable. The contact stated that the second-row seats could not be occupied due to the unrepaired recall. The manufacturer was contacted and a case was filed, but the contact was informed that the parts remained unavailable. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NTHSA Campaign Number: 26V128000 (Seats); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experience a failure.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Goodwill Repair for my 2022 Highlander transmission whine, referencing TSB T-SB-0008-21。”
The grill of the vehicle is too big. There is nothing to stop the condenser from being damaged. There should be a plate for airflow but also stop the damage being done to the condenser. Shouldn't have to file an insurance claim, pay out of pocket and warranty doesn't cover. Recurring problem something should be done.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I had been driving my 2022 Toyota Highlander XLE with 46k miles that I just got for about two weeks, so about 10 days out of the 14 i actually drove it from home to work and back home. Within those 10 days driving the SUV, 8 mornings and one afternoon the highlander engine had issues accelerating and shifting gears. Basically when pulling out on to a highway from a side street coming down a hill when pressing the gas to enter the highway and flow of traffic the engine stuttered from zero to 20mph causing the entire SUV to jerk repeatedly and the gears would have issues shifting from first to second. I had to let my foot off the gas pedal then press again repeatedly as the SUV kept jerking trying to accelerate forward stuck no more than 20 mph for 30 seconds then started to even out and climb up after a minute. I have caught this on video twice. This has caused me to hold up traffic on the highway behind me with no where to pull off because my particular side street comes out from a gulch cliff side. No check engine lights came on each time. I took it to an auto shop that did a minor test drive and suggested it go directly to Servco Toyota as it should have powertrain warranty on it still and they believed it was a fuel pump issue. The issue did not happen with this auto shop but I showed them the video. I scheduled an appt at Toyota and it is with them now. They did 2 test drive but could not replicate the issue and could not see any codes coming up. I opted to leave the vehicle with them to do more test drives where the issue has happened as I do not feel safe driving it and the manager also said they did not feel safe having their techs drive it so the manager will do it. Without check engine light/code they are saying they cannot check the fuel pump or do anything else but will try to do more test drives to replicate the issue. I have seen numerous Reddit, facebook group posts, and a petition about this same issue but no official recall or word from Toyota.
I am writing to express my concerns regarding my 2022 Highlander. As a loyal Toyota family, with this being my fourth Toyota, my husband’s second, and my parents’ fifth, we have consistently valued the Toyota brand and our dealership in Bryan, TX. Recently, I brought my Highlander with (73,000 miles) to Family Toyota in Arlington due to a whining sound during acceleration. I was informed that the transmission requires replacement, at an estimated cost of $8,291. Furthermore, the transmissions are currently on back order, which would leave me without my vehicle for several months. While I have not found any official recalls addressing this specific issue, I have noted that this is a common concern with this model, and there are several class-action lawsuits pertaining to similar transmission problems across various models. I have also sought opinions from two independent transmission repair shops, both of whom have quoted a full transmission replacement. I contacted Toyota several times on what options may be available to me. They so far have left me with no rental car assistance and offered a very small discount on their known issue. I have already incurred approximately $800 in rental car and diagnostic expenses and am unable to cover the $8,291 replacement cost. It is disheartening to have owned my Highlander for less than three years, be unable to drive it, and still owe $20,000, which is not what I associate with the Toyota standard of quality. I now can not get to work and have a $47,000 piece of junk in my driveway and not even an apology from the company I once thought was #1 in customer service and reliability.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
The headlights on this vehicle are not properly aimed and or poorly designed causing excessive glare to oncoming traffic. Even during broad daylight I could see the light scattered all around the headlight assembly appearing as though the high beams were shining directly at me. E Also excessively bright sparkly headlights like these are distracting impairing my situational awareness.
Headlight system malfunction, Pre-collision system malfunction and LTA malfunction
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns an Evenflo Car Seat, Model Number: 368124708, Model Type: Revolve 360 Slim, Manufactured Date: July 11, 2024. The car seat was being used in a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25C010000 (Child Seat). The contact stated that the head rest foam was exposed on the left and right sides of the headrest and that the child was picking out the foam as described in the recall. The manufacturer was contacted and provided pictures of the failure. The contact was advised by a representative from the manufacturer that a repair kit would be sent in the mail to repair the car seat. The contact received the repair kit and found an 8-inch-long by 3/12-inch-wide strip of tape. The contact stated that the repair kit was inadequate to complete the repair on the head rest. The contact had not attempted to call the manufacturer back about the repair kit.
The 3rd row seat belt buckle is imbedded too deep in the seat. This makes it very difficult for a child to buckle themselves and in several attempts the parent or another adult was required to insert the seat belt into the locking device. What is more concerning is the difficulty a child has when trying to release the seat belt. While this may be an annoyance that requires adult intervention it is of particular concern when a child, in an emergency is required to release the seat belt.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V419000 (Tires); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the TPMS warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side wheel was deflating. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 33,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: Alenza Sport A/S, Tire Size: 235/55/R20, DOT Number: 1W28AALA12522. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22T021000 (Tires) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. Several unknown dealers were contacted and confirmed that the parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and the contact was advised to take the vehicle to a third-party service center. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander equipped with a Kuat Transfer V2 Bike Rack. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the contact noticed that the bicycle was lowering from the rear windshield. The contact inspected the bike rack attached to the vehicle and noticed that the shorter tray where the second wheel had turned in a vertical direction had caused the bike's wheel to drop. Additionally, the bike rack's second tray did not have any screws to secure the tray in an horizontal position. The contact also noticed that the second tray was significantly shorter than the first tray, resulting in less space for the bike tire to rest appropriately. The contact was unable to secure the second tray after several attempts. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided the contact with a new second tray. No further information was provided. The vehicle mileage was 15,000.
Inside ped cheep off and child hurt arm not safe we have this car seat for less than few months
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
This type of steering wheel cover on the steering wheel will wear out by 50,000 miles poor engineered
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .