2017 Toyota HIGHLANDER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2017 Toyota HIGHLANDER has 364 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2017 toyota highlander. while attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle would not drive forward and rolled backwards. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear axle shaft support bearing retaining ring failed and caused the axle to separa. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 24 crash reports 19 injuries

364

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

69 complaints

19%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD AND ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE SHAFT SUPPORT BEARING RETAINING RING FAILED AND CAUSED THE AXLE TO SEPARA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVESHAFT BECAME EXPOSED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT ADJUSTMENT LEVERS BECAME DETACHED FROM THE SEAT HARNESS. OAKLAWN TOYOTA IN OAKLAWN, IL (60453-2668) WAS MADE AWA
• DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 72 MPH WHEN VEHICLE DIED CAUSING A POTENTIALLY VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, MASTER WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, SEE DEALER FOR REPAIR MESSAGE DISPLAYED. WAS ABLE TO LIMP TO SIDE OF ROAD AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. AFTER 2 DAYS OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTIN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD AND ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE SHAFT SUPPORT BEARING RETAINING RING FAILED AND CAUSED THE AXLE TO SEPARA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

56 complaints

15%

• 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SE AWD ("VEHICLE"). ON JANUARY 26, 2017 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:15 P.M., PACIFIC TIME, I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE 10 FREEWAY NEAR THE LA BREA AVENUE EXIT. IT WAS DARK BUT CLEAR WITH LIGHT TO MEDIUM TRAFFIC. WHILE I WAS DRIVING AROUND 80 MPH AND MERGING TOW
• THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TO CONTINUE TO CHARGE THE BATTERIES EVEN AFTER THE KEY IS NO LONGER IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED IN A GARAGE - GENERATING CO AND ALSO POTENTIALLY OVERHEATING. PROPOSE THE VEHICLE CONTROL LOGIC WILL SHUTDOW
• MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, FUSES REPEATEDLY BLOWING OUT, POWER LIFT GATE NOT CLOSING, MANY DIFFERENT ERROR MESSAGE APPEARING ON THE SCREEN FOR NO REASON, VEHICLE WENT INTO ACCESSORY MODE WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 7 crashes

“2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SE AWD ("VEHICLE"). ON JANUARY 26, 2017 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:15 P.M., PACIFIC TIME, I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE 10 FREEWAY NEAR THE LA BREA AVENUE EXIT. IT WAS DARK BUT CLEAR WITH LIGHT TO MEDIUM TRAFFIC. WHILE I WAS DRIVING AROUND 80 MPH AND MERGING TOW”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

47 complaints

13%

• WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER TO APPX 5MPH AND CHECK ENGINE, CHECK ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, VISIT DEALER, LIGHTS APPEARED ON DASH, VEHICLE WAS ON HIGHWAY DRIVING AT APPX 50MPH AT TIME OF INCIDENT , DEALER REPROGAMMED ECM, AND RETURNED CAR TO OWNER AND NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS ALSO AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS PHYSICAL E
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE REVVED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ISLAND TOYOYA (1591 HYLAN BLVD, STATEN ISLAND, NY), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER TO APPX 5MPH AND CHECK ENGINE, CHECK ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, VISIT DEALER, LIGHTS APPEARED ON DASH, VEHICLE WAS ON HIGHWAY DRIVING AT APPX 50MPH AT TIME OF INCIDENT , DEALER REPROGAMMED ECM, AND RETURNED CAR TO OWNER AND NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

46 complaints

13%

• MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, FUSES REPEATEDLY BLOWING OUT, POWER LIFT GATE NOT CLOSING, MANY DIFFERENT ERROR MESSAGE APPEARING ON THE SCREEN FOR NO REASON, VEHICLE WENT INTO ACCESSORY MODE WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER. *TR
• DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 72 MPH WHEN VEHICLE DIED CAUSING A POTENTIALLY VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, MASTER WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, SEE DEALER FOR REPAIR MESSAGE DISPLAYED. WAS ABLE TO LIMP TO SIDE OF ROAD AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. AFTER 2 DAYS OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTIN
• WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 75 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING, ALERTS WENT OFF AND VEHICLE SLOWED TO ABOUT 40 MPH AND WOULD NOT LET ME GO ANY FASTER. THE AWD FAILURE ALERT SIGN CAME ON AS DID SYSTEM ENGINE FAILURE ALERT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE DRIVE AT THAT SLOW SPEED FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 MIL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, FUSES REPEATEDLY BLOWING OUT, POWER LIFT GATE NOT CLOSING, MANY DIFFERENT ERROR MESSAGE APPEARING ON THE SCREEN FOR NO REASON, VEHICLE WENT INTO ACCESSORY MODE WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

36 complaints

10%

• 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SE AWD ("VEHICLE"). ON JANUARY 26, 2017 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:15 P.M., PACIFIC TIME, I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE 10 FREEWAY NEAR THE LA BREA AVENUE EXIT. IT WAS DARK BUT CLEAR WITH LIGHT TO MEDIUM TRAFFIC. WHILE I WAS DRIVING AROUND 80 MPH AND MERGING TOW
• GASOLINE BEGAN GUSHING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE AS I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. I STOPPED AND CALLED TOYOTA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THEY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THE CASE NUMBER INVOLVING THIS INCIDENT IS #17020
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS ALSO AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS PHYSICAL E

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 364 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD AND ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE SHAFT SUPPORT BEARING RETAINING RING FAILED AND CAUSED THE AXLE TO SEPARA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SE AWD ("VEHICLE"). ON JANUARY 26, 2017 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:15 P.M., PACIFIC TIME, I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE 10 FREEWAY NEAR THE LA BREA AVENUE EXIT. IT WAS DARK BUT CLEAR WITH LIGHT TO MEDIUM TRAFFIC. WHILE I WAS DRIVING AROUND 80 MPH AND MERGING TOW
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER TO APPX 5MPH AND CHECK ENGINE, CHECK ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, VISIT DEALER, LIGHTS APPEARED ON DASH, VEHICLE WAS ON HIGHWAY DRIVING AT APPX 50MPH AT TIME OF INCIDENT , DEALER REPROGAMMED ECM, AND RETURNED CAR TO OWNER AND NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, FUSES REPEATEDLY BLOWING OUT, POWER LIFT GATE NOT CLOSING, MANY DIFFERENT ERROR MESSAGE APPEARING ON THE SCREEN FOR NO REASON, VEHICLE WENT INTO ACCESSORY MODE WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)