2024 Toyota HIGHLANDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
42 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
13,357 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2024 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 42 complaints (31.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 23.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 11.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 9.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.4% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 |
Unknown Or Other: 13; Service Brakes: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Electrical System: 6; Engine: 5; Power Train: 3; Structure:Body: 2; Back Over Prevention: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 39 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 17 |
| 2026 | 18 |
2024: 7; 2025: 17; 2026: 18
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 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 11592160 · 2024-06-03 (June 3, 2024)
I was in the drive thru at a fast food restaurant and after I placed my order I was about 5 cars from the pay window. As I went forward where there was a curve I stopped and then when the car in front of me moved forward to the pay window I let up on the brake and accelated slowly. When I put my foot on the brake pedal it went to the floor and the car would not stop. I served to the right of the car in front of me ( I did not hit it) and rolled to the parking space to the right. The car hit the curb and bounced up a little and hit the sign a…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11592160 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11641681 · 2025-02-10 (February 10, 2025)
I was driving on road going speed limit during the day, came around a curve, vehicle was stopped, slammed on brakes and turned wheel but still hit rear of vehicle. No collision warning or auto brakes engaged.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11641681 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11618473 · 2024-10-07 (October 7, 2024)
I purchased a brand new 2024 Toyota Highlander Limited on [XXX]. On September 12th, we were going on our first road trip with our [XXX] son to Wilmington, NC (~209 miles from where we live). I bought this car as it was bigger and with a newborn wanted to feel safe. Approximately 15 miles out, as I was gassing the car on the highway, the speed limit was slowly dropping. After I released the gas, there was a slight jolt and then I was able to safely pull over on the side of the highway. To say I felt unsafe with cars flying by going 70 mph and th…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11618473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11659903 · 2025-05-09 (May 9, 2025)
My car was parked in the driveway with the engine running. The engine was then turned off from outside the vehicle using the start/stop button. Once the engine stopped, the car moved backward down the sloped driveway and struck a pickup truck that was parallel parked on the street. I then entered the vehicle and attempted to shift into drive, but a warning appeared indicating the hybrid system was off and instructing me to put the car in park. Multiple attempts were made to drive the car forward, but instead, it was driving in reverse. The car…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11659903 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11607256 · 2024-08-08 (August 8, 2024)
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the vehicle's cabin coming from the rear of the vehicle near the fuel tank. No warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vent valve remained open causing fuel to leak from the fuel tank and as a result the fuel cap needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however the failure persisted. The failure was intermittent. The contact stated that the odor was extremely strong, causing the drive…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11607256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11656172 · 2025-04-22 (April 22, 2025)
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? THE CAR SMELLS OF GASOLINE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. THE SMELL TRAVELS IN THE CAR AND MAKES ME SMELL LIKE GAS AND ALSO THROUGH THE AIRV ENTS WHEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE. I DO NOT OVERFILL THE GAS TANK. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? WE ARE INHALING GASOLINE SMELLS ALL THE TIME AND IT IS UNSAFE Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? NO THE DEALER AND THE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11656172 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11695503 · 2025-10-24 (October 24, 2025)
On or about Oct, 3rd, 2025 , my vehicle experienced the 'Check Engine' light and all the warning lights lit up, the hybrid system failed to engage, the vehicle would say “park somewhere safe /take to dealer” . I immediately took the vehicle to the authorized Toyota dealership, Wonderies Toyota Alhambra , for diagnosis. They said they could not find anything, reset the sensors, and told us to come back if the problem persisted, and one hour later the system lights lit up again. We returned the same day and the dealership informed me that the …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11695503 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11706841 · 2025-12-23 (December 23, 2025)
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the instrument cluster was blinking. The contact expressed that she was concerned that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The contact received the recall notices of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V744000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V595000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V595000 (Electrical System) was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repai…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,357 miles reported. Look up ODI 11706841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11736517 · 2026-05-08 (May 8, 2026)
The vehicle started stalling out randomly on the highway even with it being automatic, after getting home and parking it , it would not back up or drive . Took it to Toyota dealership and they said it’s an internal failure of the transmission which is a UA80 model , it only has 92,000 miles on it they can’t figure out what caused it . There are lawsuits with this vehicle already from other people and Toyota is not fixing the issue and won’t help with mine even after they have known what it is. I took it to one shop before Toyota to get a diagno…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11736517 at NHTSA ↗