AI Damage2025 Toyota Highlander: common problems
Owners of the 2025 Toyota Highlander filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about vehicle speed control and forward collision avoidance. The maker issued 36 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 10
- involving a crash
- 2
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 36
What fails most often
- 1 Vehicle speed control 30% of all complaints
- 2 Forward collision avoidance 20% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 5 Engine and cooling 10% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 10% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 10% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 10% of all complaints
- Vehicle speed control: 3 complaints (30% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Forward collision avoidance: 2 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (20% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
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: AWD, FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 10 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 17 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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…
There were no observed indications of warning lights and no symptoms of a problem. The vehicle was towed to a salvage lot, the Insurance company inspected it and declared it a total loss. All the airbags went off.
The vehicle then rolled into traffic. The brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle was slow to respond. The dealer informed the contact that her foot was on the brake and accelerator pedals at the same time, or a sensor identified movement around the vehicle, which stopped the flow of fuel.
The contact stated that the sunroof exploded; however, the sunroof shield prevented the glass from entering the vehicle. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and inspected, but the contact did not find anything wrong at that time.
The speedometer registers speed up to 7mph over actual speed for the first 15 miles then returns to matching GPS speed. Reported to Toyota, dealer said they have seen this before but not identified a fix as of today
The windows were rolled down due to the obnoxious odor. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle was tested for leaks in the exhaust; however, no leaks were found.
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.
Passenger seat belt won't extend half of the time. We have tried with engine on or off, put it in park and in gear, door open or closed and every other trick. We have pulled the belt straight up and down and every other angle. We have adjusted the height for tall or short riders.
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 1,486 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 29% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Highlander has 229 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 10, below average.
What to check before buying
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
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 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- When certain vehicle ECUs are replaced, the ECU Security Key must be written in order for that ECU to…
When certain vehicle ECUs are replaced, the ECU Security Key must be written in order for that ECU to communicate on the vehicle network. The GTS+ Software Health Check Results screen has been enhanced to help identify…
- During the manufacturing process, tires are mounted on the vehicle as matched sets to help reduce…
During the manufacturing process, tires are mounted on the vehicle as matched sets to help reduce conditions such as pulling or drifting. If the wheels are replaced or refinished before vehicle delivery, it is…
- 2025 model year Toyota vehicles are equipped with driver side floor mat retainers to secure the floor mat…
2025 model year Toyota vehicles are equipped with driver side floor mat retainers to secure the floor mat in the correct position. In addition, some models may also utilize retainers for passenger side and rear seat…
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix…
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and…
NHTSA lists 36 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2025 Toyota Highlander?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: vehicle speed control, forward collision avoidance, service brakes. Total complaints: 10. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (20%), windows, sunroof (20%), jerking, harsh shifts (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2025 Toyota Highlander?
NHTSA lists 36 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 2025 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 2025 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 2026-11-04.