2025 Toyota HIGHLANDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
4,299 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2025 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 9 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 3 | 33.3% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 22.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 1; Seat Belts: 1; Service Brakes: 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 | 0 |
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: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2025: 3; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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 11711474 · 2026-01-16 (January 16, 2026)
I am reporting a safety defect in the 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Nightshade involving the multifunction turn signal switch. The interior trim adhesive on the steering column has experienced a chemical breakdown (adhesive migration), causing the turn signal stalk to become stiff and bind. This obstruction makes it difficult to engage the turn signal and occasionally prevents the signal from "auto-canceling" after a turn. The dealership has acknowledged the adhesive failure by authorizing the replacement of the steering column covers but ref…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11711474 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11750944 · 2026-07-16 (July 16, 2026)
[XXX] was turning left onto [XXX] from [XXX]. Two lanes turn left. She was in the inside lane. The traffic light was red, and when it turned green, she started to turn. Partway through the turn, the steering became unresponsive. She couldn't get it to turn left, and she could not complete the turn, and crashed into the pole that holds the traffic signal. She traveled less than 100 ft total from the light to the pole. The accident was at 1:30 PM on a dry and clear day. The car has 8087 miles on it. There were no observed indications of wa…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11750944 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11707018 · 2025-12-25 (December 25, 2025)
Black Toyota Highlander Hybrid AWD 2025 ~15000 miles What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Without any warning, the braking action is delayed. It is a momentary loss and happens occasionally at light braking application, nowhere near hard enough to lock the wheels up The vehicle is available for inspection upon request How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? If I were been closer to another vehicle/pedestrian/obstacle, an accident could happen Has the problem be…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11707018 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11753999 · 2026-07-31 (July 31, 2026)
I was backing up the vechial accelerated the steering wheel was turning rapid & a grinding noise causing me too hit another vechial about a month before my husband was driving & the vechial accelerated going toward also we had had some issues with back camera not doing a warning signal with a object behind vechial when the accident happened my vechial has braking system that stops you if something is behind you this time it didn’t I called the dealership when accident happed which was May 21 2026 & reported it they said they had accelerations …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11753999 at NHTSA ↗