2013 Toyota Highlander Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 11about this part
- Share
- 5%of 207 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 16,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2013 Toyota Highlander, 5% of the 207 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 16,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I purchased a new 2013 Toyota Highlander limited in november 2013. A few days later, upon accelerating from a stop into a left turn, the engine cut off for a few seconds while entering traffic. This happened a couple more times before the first checkup, at which time I informed the service technician, problem was noted on service sheet, but when service was completed, they said they could find no problem. The hesitation continued, quite randomly, and seemed to happen in left turn, accelerating situations. …”
NHTSA complaint #10608016, filed 2014-07, 300 miles“I am asking that the NHTSA investigate the 2013 Highlander limited for the ability to turn off the car while in drive after parking. We purchased our car new form the dealer, and ever since we have been able to turn the car off the vehicle after parking but in drive which has LED to the car unintentionally rolling downhill on several times. On two occasions it has LED to the car not restarting. We have asked our local dealer and service people, at Toyota of seattle, about this several times and have been told, albeit with inconstant reasoning, that the car was designed to have this capability. …”
NHTSA complaint #11090274, filed 2018-04, 50,000 miles“Purchased 2013 Toyota Highlander 11/24/12; transmission has malfunctioned approximately 16 times since date of purchase. When reducing speed to approximately 30 to10 m.p.h. And then try to accelerate, the transmission appears to go into neutral; the drive stick remains in drive! When this happens, I shift drive stick to neutral and then back to drive and then transmission continues to work fine. I don't think you have to extend your imagination too far to realize the possibility of serious injury or death when making a turn or trying to pass someone! …”
NHTSA complaint #10608513, filed 2014-07, 3,500 miles“I bought a 2013 Toyota Highlander in october 2012 and never noticed any problem until early in 2014. When I try to accelerate on a small incline, the accelerator would not respond. It acted as if I am not pressing the gas pedal. I am not talking about going to the mountains but just a small incline when I drive home from work everyday. I took it into the dealer in march 2014 and they responded same as other people on this website, no errors on the diagnostic machine and no posting from Toyota. They advised me to put in premium fuel and I did but that did not make a difference. …”
NHTSA complaint #10576486, filed 2014-04, 1,500 miles“As I begin driving and come to stop it tends to rev up and then drops back to normal. It feels like vehicle revs up a little while you are trying to stop it by pressing the brake pedal.it feels like vehicle does not want to stop and you have the feelings to press the brake even harder.”
NHTSA complaint #11384624, filed 2020-12, 103,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10164330Jul 1, 2019TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections…
- 10134401Apr 13, 2016TSB: This bulletin includes basic procedures for inspecting and adjusting World Standard (WS) Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) level at normal vehicle operating temperature…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 7% |
| 2023 | 20 | 11% |
| 2022 | 55 | 21% |
| 2021 | 228 | 43% |
| 2020 | 126 | 39% |
| 2019 | 214 | 42% |
| 2018 | 72 | 26% |
| 2017 | 77 | 28% |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% |
| 2015 | 7 | 4% |
| 2014 | 9 | 7% |
| 2013 | 11 | 5% |
| 2012 | 7 | 4% |
| 2011 | 16 | 9% |
| 2010 | 6 | 3% |
| 2009 | 7 | 5% |
| 2008 | 18 | 4% |
| 2007 | 8 | 6% |
| 2006 | 22 | 8% |
| 2005 | 51 | 23% |
| 2004 | 58 | 20% |
| 2003 | 13 | 5% |
| 2002 | 14 | 5% |
| 2001 | 13 | 9% |
Other parts of the 2013 Toyota Highlander
46 complaintsEngine
32 complaintsVehicle speed control
31 complaintsElectrical system
26 complaintsOther or unknown
23 complaintsBody and structure
18 complaintsAir bags
17 complaintsBrakes
17 complaintsFuel system
15 complaintsSeats
10 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaintsExterior lighting
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2013 Toyota Highlander
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology