2018 Toyota Highlander Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 72about this part
- Share
- 26%of 273 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 92,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 72 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2018 Toyota Highlander, 26% of the 273 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 92,000 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“When hit breaks hard... I hear a bang/noise from rear of my highlanger. ( dealership admit this is abnormal sound but they can't do anything about it). Transmission shift roughly, not smooth shifting. If car is in drive and im holding breaks car rear starts making banging noise n start shaking. So far my car has only 20k miles on it . Suspension is pretty stiff doesn't help while driving over post holes.”
NHTSA complaint #11202999, filed 2019-04, 15,000 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“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 miles“August 14, 2025 while coming home from work, truck started to lose power. It slowed down on the main street and then coasted to a complete stop in the middle of the road. There were no signals or alerts until it went dead. The vehicle will start, but it will not advance when put in drive. I have had the vehicle towed to my dealership to expedite diagnosing the issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11682753, filed 2025-08Related service bulletins
- 10201352Jul 6, 2021TT: Some 2014-2021 model year vehicles equipped with Dynamic Torque Control AWD system may experience a ?Noise? or ?Abnormal Operation? condition from the rear differential front…
- 10198131May 11, 2021TSB: Some 2017 ? 2018 model year Highlander and Sienna vehicles may exhibit a whine noise while driving, a harsh shift, MIL ON, or reduced power. The following Diagnostic Trouble…
- 10171406Jan 27, 2020TT: Currently under investigation. Please contact TAS if you have a vehicle that exhibits a leak from the Transmission Side Cover with no signs of damage or other conditions…
- 10169406Nov 4, 2019TT: Some 2018-2020 model year UA80/UB80 transmission equipped models may experience a leak from the Transmission Side Cover. This issue is currently under investigation. Vehicles…
- 10164347Jul 11, 2019Customer Support Program Bulletin: Toyota has received reports indicating potential symptoms, such as a whine noise from the transmission while driving, harsh shifting, reduced…
- 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…
- 10162233May 1, 2019Customer Support Program Bulletin: Toyota has received reports indicating potential symptoms, such as a whine noise from the transmission while driving, harsh shifting, reduced…
- 10159730Apr 18, 2019Customer Support Program Bulletin: Toyota has received reports indicating potential symptoms, such as a whine noise from the transmission while driving, harsh shifting, reduced…
- 10159729Apr 18, 2019Dealer Packet: Toyota has received reports about potential symptoms, such as a whine noise from the transmission while driving, harsh shifting, reduced power, and master warning…
- 10159728Apr 18, 2019Dealer Email: Toyota has received reports about potential symptoms, such as a whine noise from the transmission while driving, harsh shifting, reduced power, and master warning…
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 2018 Toyota Highlander
58 complaintsOther or unknown
46 complaintsEngine
36 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 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