AI Damage2024 Toyota Highlander: common problems
Owners of the 2024 Toyota Highlander filed 43 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and fuel/propulsion system. The maker issued 64 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 43
- involving a crash
- 4
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 64
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 19% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 16% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 12% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 9% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- 7 Seats 5% of all complaints
- 8 Tires 2% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 8 complaints (19% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 7 complaints (16% of all).
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 30.
- Engine: 5 complaints (12% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 11.
- Structure: 4 complaints (9% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 24.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · hybrid · 4 cyl
- automatic, 8-speed
- CVT
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 43 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 1 | 30 |
| Engine | 5 | 1 | 11 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 24 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
[Symptoms] During cold-start conditions (outside temperatures below 30°F), the vehicle consistently experiences a violent jerk/shock and an audible clicking noise during the first 2nd-to-3rd gear transition. This physical impact is severe enough to be felt directly by the driver through the accelerator pedal.
>While exiting a highway my vehicle surged forward crashing into the vehicle in front of me.Engaging the brake, my car smashed into the van again. I had no control over the forward momentum of the car.
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.
The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V128000 (Seats); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while lowering the 2nd-row seat, the seats failed to remain locked in place as intended. The local dealer was contacted.
I have been experiencing a gas smell issue with my Toyota Highlander near the rear of the car by gas cap area upon putting in gas and driving. The smell starts typically when itâs a hot day outside and I only usually get half a tank worth of gas. After getting gas and driving about 15-30 mins.
The only thing they said they could do is clean and disinfect my AC vents. This issue has been on going since I bought the vehicle brand new 0 miles when I purchased it. There are no warning lamps or messages that appear when the issue starts.
The third row seat belts in the 2024 Highlander are very difficult to latch. I had to bring my Highlander to the dealership twice over the seatbelt buckles in the third row. The buckle part does not lift up high enough to grab the buckle to latch it.
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 itâs an internal failure of the transmission which is a UA80 model , it only has 92,000 miles on it they canât figure…
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,758 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 16% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Highlander has 200 complaints (29 years in the data). This year has 43, below average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some 2020 – 2026 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a water leak from the…
Some 2020 – 2026 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a water leak from the roof rack attachment clips. This may be caused by the sealant in the roof channel obstructing the proper seating…
- Some 2020 – 2024 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the…
Some 2020 – 2024 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the air conditioner does not cool due to a leak and/or corrosion in the rear underbody air conditioner tube and…
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- A new head unit software update is available for 2022 – 2025 model year Tundra, and Tundra Hybrid; 2023 –…
A new head unit software update is available for 2022 – 2025 model year Tundra, and Tundra Hybrid; 2023 – 2025 model year Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Mirai, and Sequoia Hybrid…
- Although the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle…
Although the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’…
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air…
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and…
- To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to…
To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to recover MMR data from the head unit. The following steps are instructions on how to retrieve the data from the…
- Flash reprogramming allows the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) software to be updated without replacing the ECU
Flash calibration updates for specific vehicle models/ECUs are released as field-fix procedures described in individual Service Bulletins. This bulletin details the Global Techstream+ (GTS+) ECU flash reprogramming…
- The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master…
The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered keys will be erased and can never be reused…
- OBSOLETE NOTICE February 11, 2025
This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0021-25.
- OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2025
This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0015-25.
- Some 2021 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles may require the download and installation of vehicle specific…
Some 2021 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles may require the download and installation of vehicle specific software or configuration software when the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) is replaced. GTS+ software has been…
NHTSA lists 64 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
- Highlander 2001137 sources
- Highlander 2002301 sources
- Highlander 2003258 sources
- Highlander 2004286 sources
- Highlander 2005224 sources
- Highlander 2006278 sources
- Highlander 2007124 sources
- Highlander 2008405 sources
- Highlander 2009134 sources
- Highlander 2010216 sources
- Highlander 2011181 sources
- Highlander 2012182 sources
- Highlander 2013207 sources
- Highlander 2014136 sources
- Highlander 2015193 sources
- Highlander 2016263 sources
- Highlander 2017416 sources
- Highlander 2018415 sources
- Highlander 2019628 sources
- Highlander 2020494 sources
- Highlander 2021716 sources
- Highlander 2022426 sources
- Highlander 2023319 sources
- Highlander 202547 sources
- Highlander 202630 sources
- Highlander 99994 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2024 Toyota Highlander?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, fuel/propulsion system, electrical system. Total complaints: 43. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (14%), infotainment or screen glitches (12%), jerking, harsh shifts (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2024 Toyota Highlander?
NHTSA lists 64 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2024 Toyota Highlander from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2024 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.