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U.S. public vehicle records

2023 Toyota HIGHLANDER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

177 owner complaints analyzed

9 distinct recall campaigns

31,813 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2023 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 39 of 177 complaints (22.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1910.7%
Transmission and shifting95.1%
Steering behavior52.8%
Electrical and battery issues42.3%
Fuel system concerns21.1%
Engine operation10.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Unknown Or Other
39
Engine
27
Power Train
20
Service Brakes
17
Fuel/Propulsion System
16
Structure
15
Seats
13
Structure:Body
13
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Unknown Or Other39
Engine27
Power Train20
Service Brakes17
Fuel/Propulsion System16
Structure15
Seats13
Structure:Body13

Unknown Or Other: 39; Engine: 27; Power Train: 20; Service Brakes: 17; Fuel/Propulsion System: 16; Structure: 15; Seats: 13; Structure:Body: 13

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
6
25,000 to 49,999
8
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0006
25,000 to 49,9998
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 157 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2023
35
2024
58
2025
32
2026
52
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
202335
202458
202532
202652

2023: 35; 2024: 58; 2025: 32; 2026: 52

Pattern summary

Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11507296 · 2023-02-14 (February 14, 2023)

The vehicle brakes stop working suddenly requiring lift the pedal and slam the brakes to make it work correctly. I almost have a bad accident for this problem. I did my research and learned this is a problem that Toyota need to fix. The situation was very scary.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11507296 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11539369 · 2023-08-18 (August 18, 2023)

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and the engine misfired. The secondary collision, braking system malfunction, brake ligation malfunction, and throttle control system advanced warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was sludge in the engine. The oil was changed, and the warning lights reset. Additionally, the contact was informed that…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11539369 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11544680 · 2023-09-15 (September 15, 2023)

The vehicle hesitates and stutters upon light to moderate acceleration. This can happen either from a dead stop or while moving in traffic. The concern was present when vehicle was purchased new in Feb 2023. Initially the dealership thought the symptoms were related to the transmission learning algorithm, but this was later determined not to be the case and the dealership was able to reproduce the drivability concern. The dealership was also advised that running 91 octane fuel eliminated the symptoms, however the engine is designed to run on 8…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11544680 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11614241 · 2024-09-12 (September 12, 2024)

Vehicle is sluggish and will not accelerate from a dead stop for several seconds. The gas pedal often has to be pushed much farther down than usual so then when the vehicle actually starts moving it lurches. It often seem like it can't find the proper gear so it will buck and stutter while driving. The shifting is not smooth at all and you never know how the vehicle will respond making for a very unpredictable driving experience. This all started shortly after reaching the 2000 mile mark. The cruise control has issues reaching and maintaini…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11614241 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11553206 · 2023-11-02 (November 2, 2023)

Engine intermittently has no power on take off and causes an unsafe condition to turning into traffic where car will just not go until after flooring it and a 3-5 second delay!! Engine also looses power and bucks or misses while accelerating through gears. This has caused multiple near miss incidents when turning into or across traffic. Also have issues with the steering assist that it yanks the wheel intermittantly. This cause me to loose control on the wet interstate in a turn when it yanked the wheel to the right while banking left at 65mph…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11553206 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11580757 · 2024-04-02 (April 2, 2024)

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was excessively difficult to steer. The power steering malfunction and pre-collision warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with power steering and rack and pinion failure. The contact was informed that the power steering rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The parts were ordered to complete the repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of …

Owner-reported narrative. 49,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 11580757 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11710334 · 2026-01-12 (January 12, 2026)

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V595000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while the vehicle was running, the instrument panel was black and failed to display critical safety information as intended. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufactu…

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11710334 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11712958 · 2026-01-23 (January 23, 2026)

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V595000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the instrument panel failed to display critical safety information as intended. No warning light was illuminated. 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 fail…

Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11712958 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11744469 · 2026-06-16 (June 16, 2026)

This 2023 Toyota Highlander XLE AWD has a recurring gasoline/fuel odor that began while the vehicle was still within the basic warranty period. The concern was reported to Toyota/dealer multiple times. At first, the odor was intermittent and difficult to duplicate, but the problem continued after repeated dealer visits. The fuel smell was later duplicated/confirmed while the dealer was open, before approximately 60,000 miles, but the vehicle was still not properly repaired. The odor has continued and recently occurred multiple days in a row. T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11744469 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11753830 · 2026-07-30 (July 30, 2026)

Vehicle has strong gas smell and has gas vapor streaming out from under rear driver side wheel well and gas cap area.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11753830 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11536225 · 2023-08-03 (August 3, 2023)

Almost since purchase this vehicle has emitted a shudder when driving. The loss of power has affected ability to evade when making turns, acceleration on highways, and has caused safety concerns while driving with children in the vehicle-this is a brand new vehicle purchased with approximately 7 miles on the odometer. Vehicle has been in the shop at least 3 times, 4 with today's visit. ToyotaNation forum shows that there are MANY vehicles with this issue and that Toyota Master Technicians are aware of the issues.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11536225 at NHTSA ↗