2018 Toyota Highlander Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 35about this part
- Share
- 13%of 270 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 14,800miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 35 complaints about the engine of the 2018 Toyota Highlander, 13% of the 270 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 14,800 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“Apon acceslaration , car hesitate for a few second, RPM goes to 5000 until vehicle slowly start to move. Feels likew ther is no proper synch between enging and transmission. Dangerous when passing or avoiding a vehicle ahead of you. The same issue while using the cruse control, it jumps from a few rpms to 5k + that always I have to brake to avid ramming a car ahead of me. Brakes get sof that I have to pump it a few times. Mileage is 1780 miles.”
NHTSA complaint #11210159, filed 2019-05, 14,800 miles“I own a 2018 Toyota Highlander, me and my family including my 4 year old son were taking a drive up to nevada city. We live in california and when we got on the road and tried to come to a stop on the highway and the steering wheel and brakes started to shake. We decided to pull over and as we pulled over the car stalled, we put the car in park and tried to turn it on with no luck left it off for a couple minutes and still no luck an error came on that said low breaking power. …”
NHTSA complaint #11326062, filed 2020-05, 37,000 miles“I noticed a hesitation with the vehicle when I pressed the gas pedal. On one incident on I-288 I pressed the gas to pass a car and it hesitated and the RPM jumpted to 51/2. Finally the car engaged so I could pass. I thought it was going to blow up. On the way home on I-295 it repeated again only this time the RPM jumped to 4. This was on 3/20 and the dealer still has the vehicle and can't figure out the problem. The service manager did drive it with me and felt the hesitation.”
NHTSA complaint #11190851, filed 2019-03, 10,999 miles“Slowly (3-5mph) moving toward exit ramp from hospital parking lot. Tried to brake before turning right onto ramp, but service brake didn't respond -- felt like I was just pounding the floor. Vehicle continued to coast. I turned it onto exit ramp. During coast down ramp the multi-function display showed low brake power or brake power low . Vehicle speed remained relatively constant. I shifted into r (reverse), think that no harm would come to transmission at that speed, but nothing happened; coast remained constant. …”
NHTSA complaint #11297298, filed 2020-01, 12,880 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11005119Jun 19, 2024This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
- 11005061Jun 19, 2024This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
- 10210370Mar 8, 2022TT: Some 2017-2022 Highlander, and 2017-2020 Sienna vehicles may experience an engine oil leak condition from the No.2 Oil pan. This issue is currently under investigation…
- 10179702Aug 7, 2020TT: The Toyota Quality group is looking to better understand our customers expectation regarding vehicle drivability. Specifically, we are looking at vehicle surge/hesitation…
- 10179606Aug 7, 2020TT: The Toyota Quality group is looking to better understand our customers expectation regarding vehicle drivability. Specifically, we are looking at vehicle surge/hesitation…
- 10177592Jun 12, 2020TT: The Toyota Quality group is looking to better understand our customers expectation regarding vehicle drivability. Specifically, we are looking at vehicle surge/hesitation…
- 10177575Jun 1, 2020TT: The Toyota Quality group is looking to better understand our customers expectation regarding vehicle drivability. Specifically, we are looking at vehicle surge/hesitation…
- 10172372Jan 30, 2020Technical Instructions: TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN 19TC04 OIL COOLER PIPE CERTAIN 2017 ? 2019 HIGHLANDER HV
- 10172371Jan 30, 2020Dealer Message: Parts Hotwire. In an effort to assist dealers in performing campaign 19TC04 on a customer?s first visit, Toyota is deploying stock of part number 04009-40131…
- 10172370Jan 30, 2020Dealer Daily Message: **Dealer Letter and Technical Instructions Available on TIS** Certain 2017 ? 2019 Model Year Highlander HV ? Special Service Campaign 19TC04 Dealer Letter…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 12% |
| 2023 | 28 | 15% |
| 2022 | 11 | 4% |
| 2021 | 47 | 9% |
| 2020 | 17 | 5% |
| 2019 | 71 | 14% |
| 2018 | 35 | 13% |
| 2017 | 47 | 17% |
| 2016 | 9 | 8% |
| 2015 | 10 | 5% |
| 2014 | 3 | 2% |
| 2013 | 32 | 15% |
| 2012 | 17 | 9% |
| 2011 | 17 | 9% |
| 2010 | 12 | 6% |
| 2009 | 23 | 17% |
| 2008 | 58 | 14% |
| 2007 | 7 | 6% |
| 2006 | 19 | 7% |
| 2005 | 6 | 3% |
| 2004 | 16 | 6% |
| 2003 | 41 | 16% |
| 2002 | 7 | 2% |
| 2001 | 2 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2018 Toyota Highlander
69 complaintsBrakes
58 complaintsOther or unknown
45 complaintsFuel system
36 complaintsElectrical system
24 complaintsAir bags
19 complaintsBody and structure
12 complaintsSteering
10 complaintsForward collision avoidance
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
9 complaintsSuspension
6 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2018 Toyota Highlander
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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