2024 Toyota Grand Highlander — Known Issues & Recalls

Your transmission has been identified as defective and needs to be replaced, according to your dealership. Toyota has faced multiple lawsuits regarding defective UA80 transmissions since 2016-2017, and your 2024 Grand Highlander is listed as an affected vehicle. The transmission could fail at any time, which poses a safety risk. Replacing the transmission will involve removing and installing a new or rebuilt transmission unit.

Your front axle assemblies were replaced under a Toyota service bulletin at 20,000–25,000 miles due to a clicking noise, but the dealer installed outdated parts that were supposed to be superseded by newer updated versions. Your axles are now failing again at 50,000 miles with the same clicking noise, but the dealer and Toyota won't fix them because they can't reproduce the problem in their shop. Toyota has acknowledged the issue was caused by insufficient grease in the CV joint boots and released updated part numbers, but your car still has the old defective parts installed. Getting this repaired will likely require the dealer to install the newer, updated axle assemblies (part numbers 43420-0E341 and 43410-0E521) instead of the obsolete originals.

Your 2024 Grand Highlander had both front axles replaced around 20,000-25,000 miles due to a clicking noise and vibration when turning. At 50,000 miles, the same clicking noise has returned, especially in cold weather until the car warms up. The dealer has visited three times but cannot reproduce the problem and won't replace the axles again. The issue may require replacement of the CV axles, and possibly a more comprehensive repair or redesign to prevent recurring failures.

Your 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid is making an intermittent knocking or clicking noise that seems to come from the drivetrain, especially during low-speed turning and light acceleration—particularly on the first drive after sitting overnight. The noise is unpredictable and hasn't been reproduced at the dealership yet, but multiple drivers have heard it. Your dealer may need to inspect the axles, CV joints, and drivetrain components to identify the source and rule out any developing mechanical issues.

Your center console power outlet isn't working, though the one to the right functions fine. Your infotainment screen has frozen multiple times—sometimes showing only navigation turn-by-turn directions without the map, and today it went completely black with no radio, phone, or navigation available. The system is completely unresponsive and unusable. This will likely require a technician to diagnose and repair or replace the infotainment system's power supply or internal components.

Your instrument panel stops displaying important information while you're driving at various speeds, with no warning light to alert you. A dealer confirmed this is related to a known recall (Campaign 25V595000), but the replacement parts aren't currently available. Fixing this will require installing the recalled electrical component once the part becomes available from Toyota.

Your forward collision avoidance system failed to alert you or apply brakes when needed, resulting in an accident. The safety feature that's supposed to warn you of obstacles ahead and automatically brake did not function as expected.

Your brake pedal went completely to the floor with no resistance, and your brakes failed to stop the vehicle even when you pumped them repeatedly. You also heard the engine revving unexpectedly. This loss of braking forced you to steer into a yard to avoid traffic, resulting in a crash with a retaining wall, tree, and street sign that caused the vehicle to roll. All airbags deployed and you required hospitalization. The vehicle was totaled. The issue appears to involve a combination of brake system failure and unexpected engine acceleration that occurred simultaneously.

Your 2024 Grand Highlander Hybrid's backup camera and parking assist system has a safety defect under recall, but the dealership has been unable to fix it after three repair attempts over 80 days. The dealer says the vehicle is unsafe to drive and is waiting for a replacement part that's on backorder with no confirmed delivery date. You're not receiving updates from Toyota or the dealership about the problem or timeline. The recall repair should be completed at no cost to you, but the indefinite delay due to parts shortage raises concerns about Toyota's obligations to fix safety defects promptly.

Your car was taken to a Toyota dealership in February 2025 for a recall repair on the curtain shield airbags. The dealership replaced both left and right airbag assemblies as part of recall 24TA09. However, in June 2025, your car was in a collision with a deer, and while the airbag sensors activated, the airbags failed to deploy. The auto body shop replaced the airbags after the accident. This suggests the recall repair may not have been completed properly or the airbags were not functioning as intended despite the dealership's work.

Your vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own while you were pressing the brake pedal in your garage, causing it to lurch forward and hit a workbench. Even though you pressed the brake hard, the vehicle didn't stop immediately. The dealer and manufacturer's investigator couldn't find any mechanical problem with the vehicle and attributed the crash to driver error, but you're certain you were braking at the time.

Your car hesitates when you accelerate from a stop, especially at intersections, and seems reluctant to shift out of first gear—the engine revs stay around 4500 RPM while you're only going 25-40 mph. This unpredictable problem has happened randomly since you bought the car and creates a safety concern when crossing intersections or merging into traffic. Your dealer found a transmission acceleration error code and applied a software update, but the issue persists. The fix will likely require further transmission software updates, reprogramming, or potentially transmission service.

Your car experiences noticeable lag when accelerating and shifts harshly when going into reverse, problems that started shortly after purchase. You've taken it to the dealership multiple times, but no warning lights appear on your dashboard. The dealership refused to confirm in writing whether the vehicle is safe to drive, and they denied your requests for a loaner vehicle while investigating the issue and during the repurchase claim process. The fix will likely involve the dealership diagnosing and servicing the transmission and engine control systems.

Your car experienced violent shaking while stopped at a red light. You've also noticed the brake pedal feels unusual at times when you're slowing down. These issues could be related to engine misfiring, suspension problems, or brake system concerns and should be inspected by a mechanic to identify the root cause.

Your catalytic converter failed at around 31,000 miles, well before typical wear, and Toyota's dealership refused warranty coverage by claiming contaminated fuel caused the damage—but provided no test results or evidence to support this claim. Catalytic converters are emissions parts expected to last much longer and are typically covered under extended warranties. You're concerned this may be a broader issue affecting other owners.

Your instrument panel has failed, and Toyota issued a recall (Campaign 25V595000) to fix it, but the dealer says the required parts aren't available yet. You're also experiencing shuddering when driving above 70 MPH, which was diagnosed as an axle leak—a problem that wasn't caught earlier because your failed instrument panel couldn't display warning lights. The axle was repaired but the shuddering continues, and Toyota hasn't provided assistance despite the recall delay.

Your dashboard is displaying warning messages indicating that your front sensors aren't working properly. The dealership identified that your right front ultrasonic sensor needs replacement, which they said may have been damaged by small rocks or debris during normal driving. Toyota declined to cover the $823.81 sensor replacement under warranty, and disabling the sensor to clear the warning messages also turns off some of your vehicle's safety features like obstacle and pedestrian detection. The repair will involve replacing the ultrasonic sensor and reprogramming the vehicle's safety system.

Your front windshield defroster isn't working evenly—the driver's side clears normally, but the passenger side takes 15-20 minutes longer to defrost and doesn't clear properly, making it unsafe to drive. Toyota and the dealer have confirmed the problem through testing and thermal imaging but are claiming this is normal operation. Getting the defroster repaired will likely involve inspecting the heating ducts, blend door actuators, or heating element distribution to the passenger side of the windshield.

clicking noises from front of engine area/tire area whenever steeing wheel turned left or right turned out to be cv axels and replaced feb 2. 2026 -so far will monitor for recurrence - grand highlander forum with numerous such complaints

When I turn to the left or right I hear a clicking/popping noise. Took it to the dealer and they said it was the CV axle. So they replaced the driver side.