2022 Toyota Highlander Power Train

UA80 Transmission failure @ 3.5 yrs old and 89k miles.

Transmission failed at 75K with no warning lights or prior evidence.

Transmission failure of 2022 Toyota Highlander LE at 82,329 miles. Safety compromised due to possible roadside failure.

Transmission failed at 63,000 miles, new transmission was installed.

My 2022 Toyota Highlander experienced transmission-related issues that affected the vehicle’s performance, reliability, and overall value. These problems caused inconvenience, safety concerns, and additional stress, and in some cases required diagnostic visits, repairs, or time without use of the vehicle. As a consumer who purchased the vehicle with the reasonable expectation of dependable operation, I believe compensation is warranted for the diminished value, disruption, and potential repair costs resulting from this defect.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended and made an unusual whining sound. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact's husband, a certified mechanic, diagnosed that the transmission had failed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact related the failure to several unknown TSBs. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. In addition, the contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

early transmission failure and whining at 40,000 miles

Car developed a whining noise coming from transmission at 63,000 miles. Known manufacturing defect that will lead to transmission failure. No recall issued and Toyota would not extend warranty. I do not feel safe driving the car pending a transmission failure. Toyota’s solution is to replace the transmission at a cost of $9000.

Premature transmission failure

Four days ago, engine started making a whining noise when accelerating, especially in lower gears. No warning signs. 2022 Highlander Platinum is 3 years old, 80K miles, out of warranty; no extended warranty purchased due to historical, stellar Toyota reliability. Toyota service department at Toyota dealership today said whining is due to a bearing issue within the transmission (my personal mechanic inspected and said that is also likely) and cannot be repaired. Transmission could last another 10K-20K miles they said, before it becomes undrivable or just drops, causing a potential safety issue. Net, the entire transmission needs to be replaced to the tune of $9186. Just shocking.

About 4 weeks a go i started hearing a whining noise from my Highlander. Thinking it was a belt we replaced. Whining continued to get worse only on acceleration. We are at 88,000 miles and it is now at Toyota getting a new transmission. Is there not something that can be done about this? I have read thousands of articles that show the UA 80E/F transmissions that are in the 2021-2022 models are junk. Luckily we bought a Toyota VSA and it is covering it. What about after 100,000 miles. Whats to say after another 80,000 it won't go out again which will cost me the $10,000. When the dealers put new transmissions in these vehicles are they using the same parts for the UA 80 E/F or the upgrade parts that fixed the 2023? If we have a VSA it should extended a year past the 100,000 mile mark because of the issue or they should have to replace them completely to match the 2023 models.

The transmission on this vehicle has failed - I’ve been told by Toyota Dealer Maintenance that I need the transmission replaced on this vehicle with under 70,000 miles and just over three years old. I began hearing a whining noise while accelerating, and brought it in for service. No system warnings.

Internal failure (dealer indicated a bearing as cause) on transmission leading to entire transmission replacement required. Happened just outside warranty. Problem confirmed by dealership. Warning signs are whining/revving noise when accelerating (starts at about 20mph).

2022 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER TRANSMISSION IS MAKING A HIGH PITCH WHINING SOUND AND IS GETTING WORSE. MY WIFE DRIVES 20 MILES A DAY, 6 DAYS A WEEK AT 65 MPH TO WORK AND THE TRANSMISSION NOISE IS GETTING LOUDER. IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS AND LOCKS UP, IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO FINDLAY TOYOTA IN PRESCOTT AZ. AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS DEFINITELY FAILING BUT WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE ISSUE BECAUSE SHE WAS 2500 MILES PAST THE 60K WARRANTY.

Ua80f/e transmission in the 2018-2022 Toyota Highlander are defective. Mine has a loud whistle while accelerating. Problems have been acknowledged by Toyota however they’re refusing to fix.

UA80 transmission failure

Complaint Description: The automatic transmission in my 2022 Toyota Highlander failed completely at only 62,800 miles. Toyota Brand Engagement Center offered to cover 50% of the replacement cost, but I was informed that the transmission is on national backorder with an estimated wait time of 4–5 months. This leaves me without a safe and reliable vehicle for an extended period of time. The failure is consistent with Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0008-21 (Feb 9, 2021), which acknowledges internal component failures and abnormal noises (whine/grind) in UA80E/UA80F transmissions. A major drivetrain failure at this mileage is unacceptable and raises concerns about safety, reliability, and Toyota’s handling of known transmission defects. I am requesting NHTSA to investigate this issue as it appears to be systemic and affecting many 2021–2022 Toyota Highlander owners.

HIGH PITCH WHINING SOUND WHEN DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AND SAYS THE TRANSAXLE AND TORQUE CONVERTER HAS TO BE REPLACED. ALL STARTED HAPPENING JUST AFTER 60000 MILES SO OUT OF WARRANTY. $8500 REPAIR BILL

This is regarding an issue with a 2022 Toyota Highlander with 79,668 miles at the dealership now waiting on a new transmission. On April 15, 2025, the vehicle was taken in to the dealership with whining noise and put on a diagnostic machine. Diagnosed as transmission. Took for second opinion at independent transmission company and stated the same issue. This vehicle is 4, 668 miles over warranty and we spoke with Toyota Brand Engagement and also district manager for this area. We are asking for help in replacement of this transmission costing over $10,000. Toyota was not willing to help in any way other than saying, "Sorry". We had to pay $5000 before the dealership would even order it. Now it has been three weeks and the transmission is still not at the dealership.We continue to make payments on a vehicle that is not even in service. I am seeing numerous incidents on the internet regarding Toyota's faulty transmissions. I am asking for a recall due to the issue of the age of the vehicle and the extreme expense of replacing a faulty transmission with no help from Toyota in any regard. This vehicle has been serviced as required and even transmission fluid change out per recommendation in Nov. 2024. There were never any warning lights that came on prior to failure. We took the vehicle into the service department within a few days of whining noise.

Vehicle is displaying a whining noise, especially when reaching 3rd gear / 35+ mph. Per mechnical review, it is the transmission failing. Only option is to replace the transmission. Similar to an issue already reported on similar models for both 2021 and 2022 Toyota Highlanders. No current recalls exist

Experiencing erratic transmission shifts and jerking. Intermittent in nature.

Highlander with approximately 650 miles on it had a transmission failure while on interstate 69 north of Evansville Indiana. The car seemed to shift into passing gear a few times while the cruise was set and we bumped it off cruise and coasted to a stop . The car would not move after we stopped . There was transmission fluid all over the drivers side and rear of the car and a puddle under it . We called Toyota roadside assistance and had the car towed to the nearest dealer .

When I'm cruising about 35 mph, let off the gas and decelerate, then give a slight bit of gas, I feel a "bump" in the drive train. It's more like slop in the transmission....sounds like a metal To metal noise...this happens after car is driving more then 30 min or 45 min.