2019 Toyota Highlander Engine

Initially had issues with acceleration with RPM’s going high with car moving very slowly. Five days after that started, car broke down 3 times in one trip & would not drive or go in reverse. Per dealership, the car needs a new transmission even though it’s only a 2019 with 110,000 miles.

Bought car in April 2025. Has 80,000 miles. Transmission failed.

In early January 2026 there was rough/delayed shifting, whining noises, and fluid leaks. Probably linked to the faulty UA80E/F transmission type. The check engine light came on 1/15/26, I took it into a local repair shop. The mechanic flushed and changed the transmission fluid, replaced all of the spark plugs and the serpentine belt. I picked it up on 1/16/26. There was still shuddering, strange sounds (whining/grinding), and hesitation. On 1/20/26 I drove it and the rough/delayed shifting, whining noises, hesitation and burning smell started happening. The car completely broke down on the freeway and wouldn't drive at all. I had to slowly pull over to the shoulder of the freeway and have the car towed to the repair shop. They inspected it and said I need a new transmission, and it cannot be fixed. I believe the next steps are to have it towed to the toyota dealership to have it looked at.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the contact heard abnormal buzzing sounds coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the failure could not able to be replicated. The contact stated that a day or two days later, while stopped at an intersection, and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and restarted; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with head gasket failure, resulting in damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,000.

Started noticing a whining noise when accelerating. This appears to be drive shaft/transmission issue. Was quoted 7k to remove and replace. This should be an active recall for this issue what is Toyota doing?

Whining sound when when pushing the gas to accelerate. When you let go of the gas it stops.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH the vehicle began to loose automotive power and stalled. During the incident, several warning messages were activated which included the check engine light and the ABS warning. While inspecting the vehicle smoke and fire began to stream from under the engine hood and moments later the frontend of the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed and later towed away. A police report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 96,200.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed as a failure with the crankshaft sensor. The contact was informed that the crankshaft sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. The VIN was not available.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while his wife was driving in a parking lot at approximately 2 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without the contact's wife having depressed the accelerator pedal. The vehicle crashed into a railing in the garage. The contact stated his wife had not noticed any warning lights. The vehicle had minor damage to the front grill and bumper there were scrapes and dents on the driver's side front fender and also to the passenger side front fender. The vehicle was drivable. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer, the vehicle had not been diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Battery constantly keeps dying. I have already bought two new batteries. I have been stranded because my car would not start. For no reason and never know when it will happen but battery will drain and not crank

TWICE MY VEHICLE HAS DIED IN TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON SURFACE STREETS AND NOT A FREEWAY. BOTH TIMES I HAD TO PHYSICALLY PUSH IT INTO A PARKING LOT.

I RECEIVED A RECALL ALERT EARLY IN THE YEAR. THERE IS NOT YET A FIX FOR THE LOW-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR ONLY A FEW MILES SINCE THE NOTICE AND THE DESCRIPTION OF THE POSSIBLE FAILURE. I DRIVE I-68 IN MARYLAND, MUCH OF IT WITH 3 LANES AND ALL UP AND DOWN MOUNTAINS. A FAILURE ON THIS HIGHWAY WOULD BE VERY SERIOUS, QUITE LIKELY FATAL. A FAILURE WOULD MEAN THAT THE CAR WOULD STALL AND NOT RESTART. SPEED LIMIT IS 70MPH--LIFE-THREATENING IF THE CAR WERE TO BE IN THE CENTER LANE GOING UPHILL. THE CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE DRIFTED BACKWARD DOWNHILL TO REMOVE IT FROM THE ROADWAY. THIS IS THE END OF APRIL. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLY LONG TIME TO BE WITHOUT SAFE USE OF THE CAR. I EXPECT MONETARY COMPENSATION AS WELL AS EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR LOST MONTHS OF INCONVENIENCE, FEAR AND LOST USAGE OF THE VEHICLE. WE WERE OFFERED AN ALTERNATE SMALLER CAR WHICH WOULD BE INADEQUATE FOR OUR NEEDS. ACCEPTING THE SUBSTITUTE WOULD REQUIRE THAT WE TURN OUR CAR OVER TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WOULD SIT ON A LOT EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. IF THE DEALER WOULD PROVIDE A SATISFACTORY SUBSTITUTE, OUR STIPULATION WOULD BE THAT THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER REMAIN AT OUR HOME WHERE IT IS GARAGED.

MY 2019 HIGHLANDER (SE V6 WITH ONLY 490 MILES) STARTED HAVING HIGH IDLE RPM ISSUES AT ABOUT 300 MILES. AT STOP SIGNS/RED LIGHTS YOU REALLY HAVE TO KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL. LET OFF THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE TAKES OFF (SAME THING IN REVERSE) MAKING DRIVING IT UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS. PULLING INTO OUR GARAGE IS NOT FUN. I SHOULD NOTE THAT THIS HIGH RPM ISSUE HAPPENS WHETHER THE START STOP IS ACTIVATED OR NOT ACTIVATED. TO MAKE MATTERS WORST, DRIVING ON SNOW COVERED ROADS IS A REAL PROBLEM WHEN BRAKING AT RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS AND SLOWING TO MAKE TURNS. MOST OF MY DRIVING IS ON CITY STREETS. I WILL BE TAKING THE SUV TO MY TOYOTA DEALER IN ENDICOTT, NY TO GET THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE RESOLVED BEFORE I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE HIGHLANDER WAS BUILT 11/19 AND I HAVE OWNED IT FOR A FEW WEEKS. I HOPE OTHER TOYOTA HIGHLANDER OWNERS DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT MAKES THE VEHICLES VERY UNSAFE AND DIFFICULT TO DRIVE.