14 complaints reported

2011 Toyota Highlander Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
14
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jun 2024

Our car had a major oil leak from the engine Oil Cooler Pipe Manifold at the bottom of the engine (front). My research has concluded that this has been a known issue with various Toyota models with the 2GR-FE engine, however Toyota has not issued a recall and the local dealership has never mentioned it during services. The NHTSA has known about this issue, however it appears that little to no action has been taken with the vehicle manufacturer or public. The issue concerns a leak that is waiting to happen on all engines with the original Oil Cooler Pipe as it is designed with rubber pipes that degrade over time and even a pin hole oil leak will cause virtually all the engine oil to drain from the engine onto the pavement below and underside of the vehicle including brake components. It is not a matter of “if” but “when” it will happen, and the consequences can leave people stranded with a damaged engine and undriveable vehicle. Severe injury and deaths can and will result due to the ongoing lack of action by the NHTSA and vehicle manufacturer. As an aside, the cost to repair is in the thousands of dollars, unless the owner is fortunate like myself who was able to replace the Oil Cooler Pipe at my own time and cost with the vehicle out of service and significant clean up required. I still don’t know the long-term effects of our engine being almost drained of oil and because of this may now sell the car which was not in our plan. I have added a photo of the original inadequately designed Oil Cooler Pipe and the replacement version purchased from Toyota. Also, the dealership were not interested in doing anything for us. I demand that the NHTSA takes action which is long overdue. Please take this issue seriously

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2024
Nov 2023

Pin hole in oil line causing excessive oil leak. Loose oil very quickly. Could cause permanent damage to engine. Had old line replaced by mechanic with a metal line only inspected by my mechanic and there was mention of past recall by my mechanic but it does not show this on your sight. There was no warning lights at all. A coworker noticed excessive oil on the ground when I left work and called me immediately to check oil. Very little left in engine and I could see it coming from under car. Incident happen on 1-9-2023 Had car towed to mechanic to avoid damage to engine. My issue was there a recall at some point ? If other Toyotas are having this issue need to be addressed before cars blow there engines from no oil ! Since no warning lights came on I would have no idea I was losing oil this fast just driving down the road! I only knew because my coworker saw massive spill on concrete at work .

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 9999 TBD TBD, Manufacturer: ODI Demo Co
Incident: Sep 2023
Apr 2023

the intake VVT-i gear on 2AR-FE equipped Rav-4s and other Toyota models Has failed after 113k miles. The vehicle is at risk of causing self inflicted damage due to this common issue many toyota owners are facing 2008-2013 highlanders. The part has not been inspected but was diagnosed by a mechanic based on their past experience with these vehicles and sound. No warnings or dash lights just a terrible metallic rattle upon cold start. This started around 2k miles ago.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2023
Mar 2023

As my family was driving down Interstate 85 in Atlanta going around 80 MPH a dash notification came on that said "Low Oil Pressure pull over" the notification came on then went away then came back on (car never ran hot). Thankfully we were near an exit so we pulled off and into the first parking lot we could find. There was a huge puddle of oil under the car and smoke coming from the engine. We got our Highlander towed back to our nearest Toyota dealership to our home to be inspected. It was discovered our Engine Oil Cooler Pipe had failed resulting in all of the oil in our car being released from the car. If we hadn't been able to pull over so fast most likely my engine would have seized up and caused a wreck in the middle of the interstate. After doing research on this issue I discover there was a Warranty Enhancement Program done by Toyota on this very part valid through 2021 or 150,000 miles. I have 163,000 miles on my car. I tried to explain to Toyota that like majority of people my car was not driven for 2 years due to covid so they should at the very least expand the warranty. The dealership also told me they couldn't have replaces the part until it failed which from what I can tell of the hundreds of other Toyotas experiencing this same issue there are no warning signs prior to the part failing, you discover it failed by it releasing all your oil while driving at a high rate of speed.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Mar 2023
Apr 2022

While driving on the parkway, an oil pressure warning light came on and said to turn off the car. The car immediately started making noise so we pulled onto the shoulder and turned the car off. We were with our 3 children stuck on the side of the very busy road and had to wait for a tow truck. After having it towed our mechanic said it is a known problem with our car. The rubber oil line hose ruptured and we lost all of our oil immediately. The engine could have seized at any moment while driving. Toyota knows of this issue and has since changed it to a metal system but never did a formal recall for this issue. We are currently waiting for it to be fixed so I don't have a bill yet. This seems like something dangerous that could be avoided with a recall. Toyota will not fix this issue.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Apr 2022
Feb 2022

A major and catastrophic oil leak occurred while the car was being driven by my wife on a major thruway during early morning rush hour traffic. The low oil pressure light came on and she was able to maneuver to a parking lot and shut the vehicle off. If the engine had seized due to oil starvation, she may have been involved in a serious accident or seeping oil may have potentially ignited causing a vehicle fire.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Feb 2022
May 2021

The contact owns a 2011 TOYOTA Highlander. The contact stated while adding engine oil, the oil would leak from front section of engine. The contact stated that the oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was in the process of being diagnosed. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 161,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: May 2021
Mar 2021

ENGINE OIL COOLER HOSE BURSTED AND LEAKED OIL EVERYWHERE ON THE HIGHWAY, ENGINE OVERHEATED..WAS ALERTED BY THE SYSTEM AS LOW PRESSURE ENGINE OIL WARNING. ROOM TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. NEED TO RECALL THIS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Mar 2021
Nov 2020

ENGINE OIL COOLER HOSE "LEAKING". TOYOTA DID ISSUE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT WAS NEVER CHECKED DURING REGULAR DEALER SERVICING AS PART OF THE HOSES. CONDITION IS ON THE 3.5L TOYOTA/LEXUS ENGINE AND CAN BE SEEN IN THIS VIDEO:HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=67S7Y90OTIY NEW PART NUMBER IS 15767-31020 WITH GASKETS 15185-0P010 AND 11496-31010.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2020
Mar 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A GRINDING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NORTH BROOK TOYOTA (1530 FRONTAGE RD, NORTH BROOK, IL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RUBBER OIL HOSE WAS DAMAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2019
May 2018

THE OIL COOLER HOSE LEAKED...LOST ALL OIL AND OIL PRESSURE IN LESS THAN A FEW MINUTES...LUCKY THE ENGINE DIDN;T BLOW. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS AS IT APPEARS IT HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: May 2018
Nov 2013

CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE ME AN EMAIL ADDRESS WHERE I CAN SEND A DETAILED REPORT OF ISSUE. TOO LARGE FOR SPACE PROVIDED. THANK YOU *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Dec 2010
Jan 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2012
Aug 2011

FORD F150 SUPERCREW 4X4 - FUEL TANK STRAP BROKE. TANK JUST HANGING. LUCKILY NOTICED IT AND HAVE ORDERED NEW STRAPS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Sep 2011

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Toyota Highlander has 14 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.