2018 Toyota Highlander Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2018 Highlander most often write about two clusters of problems: brake-assist faults that trigger a "Brake Power Low" message with a stiff pedal, and transmission complaints that mostly appear at higher mileage. Fuel pump recalls, engine stalling or hesitation, and airbags that did not deploy in crashes also come up repeatedly in the sampled complaints.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Engine stalling or hesitation linked to fuel pump recall

   • 46 complaints (17%)
   • median 18,750 mi at 2.5 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Complaints describe rough idling, hesitation or delayed acceleration from a stop, and occasional stalling while driving; some owners tie these episodes to the low-pressure fuel pump recalls. Owners also write about waiting for recall parts, and some report the dealer could not reproduce the symptom or could not identify a cause after the recall repair. Noted from a few thousand miles up to about 80,000 miles, often shortly after a stop or at steady highway speed.

   Recall 20V012000Recall 20V6820002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check by VIN whether the fuel pump recalls (20V012000 and 20V682000) were completed, and ask for the repair paperwork. Look for a check engine light and any history of rough running or stalling at a stop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Learned of recall in jan. 2020--since then Toyota has not provided a remedy for this recall based on direct contact with Toyota, the dealership I purchased vehicle from,nthsa and media---I have very limited use of vehicle because of the chance for accidents and being stranded if vehicle shuts down,woukd like Toyota buy back vehicle”

   NHTSA complaint #11323056, filed 2020-05, 8,050 miles

   “As of this date, my 2018 Toyota Highlander has delayed acceleration, hesitation, jerking, lurching, erratic throttle responses, etc. While accelerating from a stop. This has occurred two times to date. I was able to pull to the side of the road, shut off the vehicle, restart and then the vehicle performed properly after that. My concern is what may happen when it does it again. Nothing to show in a photo.”

   NHTSA complaint #11360211, filed 2020-09, 43,100 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Low brake power / stiff brake pedal (brake assist)

   • 49 complaints (18%)
   • median 24,000 mi at 2.7 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2025

   Complaints describe a brake warning light and a "Brake Power Low" or "Brake Power Low - Stop in a safe place" message appearing while driving, with the pedal becoming firm and hard to press and braking effort rising. Some owners say they had to pump the pedal, and a few describe the vehicle continuing to roll when they braked. Dealers and independent shops variously diagnosed the brake booster, vacuum pump, master cylinder or skid control unit, and some repairs were quoted as customer pay. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 77,000 miles, with many in the 20,000-50,000 range.

   Recall 18V2110002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the brake booster vacuum pump has been inspected or replaced, and whether any recall or customer-support work was done. During a test drive, watch for a brake warning light or a "brake power low" message and note whether the pedal feels firm.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “MY 2018 Toyota Highlander XLE had a break malfunction April 15, 2022. The Brake light illuminated, low brake power flashed briefly and the pedal became stiff and unable to press for braking. I swerved to avoid rear ending the car in front of me. Brought it in to Toyota and they want $2000 to fix the break booster vacuum, and said it is not covered by warranty. My car only has 46k miles! This part is clearly faulty and Toyota should replace it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11461662, filed 2022-04, 46,000 miles

   “Slammed on the breaks and the car kept going and crashed into another car infront of me. There was at least 300 feet distance from the time I slammed on the breaks till the crash. I was going on highway about 50 MPH.”

   NHTSA complaint #11312018, filed 2020-02, 21,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission whine, shudder or failure

   • 58 complaints (21%)
   • median 95,170 mi at 7.2 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $8,500 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe a whining or grinding noise while accelerating, jerking when shifting into gear, harsh shifts, hesitation and, in some cases, loss of power or the vehicle rolling backwards on a hill. Several complaints say a shop or dealer diagnosed internal transmission failure and recommended replacement of the transmission or torque converter. A few mention an overheating message and a burning smell. Mostly reported between about 85,000 and 140,000 miles, with a few earlier cases.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the transmission fluid condition checked and listen for a whine or hum at steady speed during a test drive. Ask for service records showing whether fluid changes were done and whether any transmission-related bulletin work was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, there was an audible chime followed by the message Transmission Overheating . The vehicle started jerking and hesitating while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact pulled off the highway and allowed the transmission to cool down. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11768129, filed 2026-09, 130,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving uphill and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle decelerated and rolled backwards unexpectedly. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was inspected by a mechanic friend and diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11702527, filed 2025-12, 92,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbags did not deploy in a frontal crash

   • 15 complaints (6%)
   • median 22,000 mi at 2.3 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Several owners describe frontal or front-corner collisions in which no airbags deployed, and in some cases occupants report injury after striking the steering wheel or interior. Complaints also note that the manufacturer or dealer was not always contacted or did not inspect the vehicle. These are individual crash accounts rather than a described pattern of a specific part. Reported at mileages from roughly 15,000 to 33,000 miles, in crashes at city and highway speeds.

   What to check: Ask whether the vehicle has been in any crash and whether airbag components or sensors were inspected afterward. Check that no airbag warning light stays on after the instrument self-test at startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was involved in a motor vehicle accident on 1/28/20 where I sustained a direct, front impact collision, and the airbags failed to deploy. I was in motion on a city street, accelerating forward through a green-lit intersection when a large dodge ram truck turned in front of me causing our vehicles to collide. The impact was so heavy that it caused my body to project forward and upwards. My son's glasses flew off his face and all cups in cup holders flew across the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11302878, filed 2020-01, 22,000 miles

   “We were involved in a motor vehicle accident on 01/25/2020 where we experienced a front impact collision, and the airbags did not deploy. We were in motion in the left turning lane of a two lane road, the adverse vehicle pulled out from a parking lot on the right, crossed two lanes of traffic right into the front of our vehicle causing us to collide. The force of the collision was so hard that the engine mount on the top side has broken away from the engine, I projected forward and my glasses flew from my face. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11307214, filed 2020-02, 23,340 miles
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Sunroof or windshield glass cracking

   • 18 complaints (7%)
   • median 13,000 mi at 1.9 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the sunroof glass shattering with a loud pop while driving on smooth roads with no impact, with glass falling onto the closed sunshade. A separate complaint describes a windshield crack starting at the lower edge without any stone strike. Repairs and dealer involvement are not consistently described. Reported from about 36,000 to 165,000 miles, in ordinary driving and cool weather conditions.

   What to check: Inspect the sunroof glass and windshield edges for chips, cracks or prior replacement, and ask whether either has been replaced. Note any wind noise or water leaks around the sunroof.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “As my husband was driving with the sunroof closed (the glass and material part). He heard a loud explosion. It was the sunroof imploding. He opened the material part and glassed rained down. There was no object that fell down, to show it was hit. Also, no mark from the inside to indicate it was hit from inside the car. This took place while my husband was driving on the 794 bridge in milwaukee, wi.”

   NHTSA complaint #11341257, filed 2020-07, 36,000 miles

   “Our sunroof glass exploded suddenly while driving straight on a smooth road - no rocks or debris around and normal cool winter day ~25f. Driving 70mph on maine i295 at noontime. We had been driving for two hours prior to this event also in good weather and good road conditions. Some glass blew outwards, and many pieces fell onto the protective cover which fortunately was closed. We eventually slid the cover open to look up and discovered what happened.”

   NHTSA complaint #11396348, filed 2021-02, 59,500 miles

Buying note. Give the brake-assist system and transmission a close look on a test drive and in the service records, and confirm by VIN that both fuel pump recalls were completed. Mileage on the sampled complaints suggests the transmission reports tend to come later in life, while brake and fuel-system complaints appear at lower mileage.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.