2019 Toyota Highlander Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 214about this part
- Share
- 42%of 508 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 64,500miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 214 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2019 Toyota Highlander, 42% of the 508 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 64,500 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When trying to coast to a stop at around 4 MPH the car will slam to a stop. Does not always do this but it's sometimes very hard to come to a smooth stop as the cars braking system (regenerative braking?) will kick in by itself. Can be dangerous if a car is tailing very close to me as it will seem like I'm driving unpredictably. Took the car to a dealer but they could not replicate the problem at the time. Although the problem is intermittent it is more likely to do this when the car is still warming up.”
NHTSA complaint #11300611, filed 2020-01, 4,000 miles“2019 Highlander purchased 12/2019. I guess I am lucky, mine has not stalled yet. Very poor throttle response. Taken to autio nation Toyota ft myers 3 times including having a regional rep there. He claims mine is operating within factory specs. Supposedly mine is not a part of the fuel pump issue. Not that it matters Toyota says the parts are not available. Factory rep says mine has 41 computers. What could possibly go wrong? Yeh right look at this web site and see the similar complaints across the total Toyota line including lexus. …”
NHTSA complaint #11350939, filed 2020-08, 2,800 miles“Lack of responsiveness in acceleration from a stop; sluggish response to pressing the accelerator when accelerating from a stop or while moving and attempting to pass slower moving vehicles; have nearly caused an accident more than once when turning/pulling out into traffic with plenty of space but unable to accelerate correctly. Also uneven shifting; transmission jerks when shifting gears.”
NHTSA complaint #11366807, filed 2020-10, 6,250 miles“When slowing down and then trying to accelerate again there is a hesitation from when I push the gas pedal and when the car actually accelerates. It happens from a complete stop sometimes also. Sometimes the car jerks when it does this. The passenger can feel it also”
NHTSA complaint #11364068, filed 2020-10, 4,000 miles“I bought this car new with about 11 mile on it. The transmission immediately had shifting issues as it could not decide what forward gear to go into and shifted hard and felt as if it was going into two gears at one time and after a short drive the instrument cluster warning display indicated a check engine light and warning that the transmission was overheating and acted as if the engine was starving of fuel as it surged and did not deliver power to go beyond 35 MPH. …”
NHTSA complaint #11404938, filed 2021-03, 11 milesRelated 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…
- 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…
- 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…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 7% |
| 2023 | 20 | 11% |
| 2022 | 55 | 21% |
| 2021 | 229 | 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 2019 Toyota Highlander
109 complaintsOther or unknown
83 complaintsEngine
71 complaintsElectrical system
56 complaintsBrakes
20 complaintsAir bags
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
13 complaintsBody and structure
12 complaintsForward collision avoidance
11 complaintsSteering
8 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaintsSeats
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2019 Toyota Highlander
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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