Toyota HIGHLANDER transmission problems
923 complaint narratives mention transmission terms.
Key facts
5,652 owner complaints analyzed
51 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 3,025 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Transmission and shifting evidence
923 of 5,652 complaints match this topic (16.3%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10011054 · 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)
I BOUGHT MY 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN AUGUST 2001..........AT 15 MONTHS/50,000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION STARTED LEAKING AND WHEN IT STARTED SLIPPING TOYOTA RAPIDLY REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION. A LEAK WAS DETERMINED WITHIN WEEKS OF THE REPLACEMENT AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER SEAL (TCS) HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPON REPLACING THE TCS THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS FOUND TO BE DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. HAS THE HIGHLANDER REQUIRED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS?*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10098738 · 2004-11-12 (November 12, 2004)
2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, V6 ENGINE, AUTO TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A DEFINITE HESITATION/LAG/DELAY IN SHIFTING AND ACCELERATION. THIS CONDITION HAPPENS ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME AND CREATES A REAL SAFETY CONCERN. MODERATE ACCELERATION WILL PRODUCE THIS CONDITION. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS CONDITION BUT IS DOING NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10098738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163031 · 2006-07-21 (July 21, 2006)
I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, 85000 MILES. 3 WEEKS AGO THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. I HAD A TRANSMISSION SHOP REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION AND WHEN TAKING IT APART, THEY FOUND 4 PLANETARY GEARS THAT HAD SUSTAINED RANDOM BREAKING AND CHIPPING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A QUALITY ISSUE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA AT CORPORATE AND DEALERSHIP LEVELS AND REQUESTED I BE INFORMED OF ANY SECRET WARRANTIES THAT EXIST TO COVER THIS EXPENSE. I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A RESPONSE.
Owner-reported narrative. 84,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163031 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10326579 · 2010-04-20 (April 20, 2010)
2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER PURCHASED NEW. ABOUT ONCE A YEAR IT ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. REPORTED PROBLEM TO TOYOTA DEALER IN 2002 OR 2003 - HAVE RECEIPT. WE CAN STOP THE CAR WITH FIRM PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE. IN MOST CASES WHEN WE PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE AT HIGH RPM. I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL INCIDENTS, BUT BELIEVE THAT IN SOME CASES WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE ENGINE DOWN BY KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUTTING THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE. OTHER TIMES I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN I RESTART THE CAR IT IS FINE. MOST RECENT OC…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326579 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10489588 · 2012-12-24 (December 24, 2012)
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF OUR 2001TOYOTA 3.0 HIGHLANDER. I ALSO OWN A 2008 TOYOTA TUNDRA PICKUP AND A 2008 LEXUS ES 350. OUR HIGHLANDER HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONAL VEHICLE. I HAVE PERFORMED ALL THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE ON OUR VEHICLES SINCE THEIR PURCHASE, OIL CHANGES, FLUIDS LEVELS, SERPENTINE AND POWER STEERING BELTS REPLACEMENTS, TIRE ROTATION, AIR AND FUEL FILTERS REPLACEMENT, WIPERS, STRUTS, AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. THE ONLY SERVICE THAT WAS PERFORMED BY TECHNICIANS WAS COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION OIL SERVICE. ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012 WHIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 232,698 miles reported. Look up ODI 10489588 at NHTSA ↗