2019 Toyota Highlander Transmission Problems

Your car rolled forward while in park at a gas station, as if the transmission wasn't holding. After restarting and putting it in drive, you heard grinding noises. The transmission fluid appeared dark with a reddish tint and slight sparkle, but no visible metal shavings were present. This suggests an internal transmission problem that may require professional diagnosis and potentially a transmission rebuild or replacement.

Your transmission has failed at under 100,000 miles despite regular maintenance at Toyota. The repair cost is approximately $11,000. This will likely require a transmission rebuild or replacement to restore drivability.

Your transmission started making a high-pitched whining noise and shifting hard into second gear. Within a year, the transmission failed completely and became stuck in third gear, leaving you unable to drive normally.

Your Highlander suddenly lost power while driving on the freeway at highway speeds and wouldn't respond to the gas pedal, even though no warning lights appeared. After pulling off and restarting the vehicle, it wouldn't shift into gear and only revved without moving, requiring a tow to the dealer where the transmission was diagnosed as failed and replaced. The sudden loss of driving power on the freeway created a serious safety risk.

Your transmission started making a whining noise around 70,000 miles. At 90,000 miles while driving on the highway, your transmission completely failed and you lost all forward gears and neutral—only reverse works now. Your transmission will likely need to be rebuilt or replaced to restore normal operation.

Your transmission suddenly failed without warning, requiring complete replacement. The dealership informed you that replacement transmissions were unavailable and that your warranty had expired three months earlier, leaving you responsible for $8,500–$12,200 in repairs. Even with partial warranty company coverage, you paid nearly $4,000 out of pocket, and Toyota declined to take responsibility for the failure.

Your transmission makes a whining noise when you press the gas pedal, and you've noticed rough shifting between gears since you bought the car. This suggests your transmission may not be operating smoothly. A transmission fluid check, fluid change, or internal transmission inspection will likely be needed to diagnose and fix the issue.

You're hearing a whining noise coming from your transmission, which a Toyota technician diagnosed as internal transmission failure. The dealership recommends replacing the entire transmission assembly and torque converter. Toyota has issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 0008-21) about this issue on your 2019 Highlander, but you weren't notified about it until you discovered it yourself.

Your 2019 Highlander makes a whining noise between 0-40 mph and sometimes shifts hard. Multiple mechanics confirmed this is a transmission problem—the Toyota dealer's diagnostic codes show internal transmission failure. The dealer quoted $10,500 for a complete transmission replacement, though replacement parts are currently backordered for 8+ weeks. A new transmission assembly will need to be installed to resolve this issue.

Your transmission failed at approximately 90,000 miles, which is earlier than typical for this vehicle. This is a significant issue that will require professional transmission service or replacement to restore your vehicle to working condition.

Your transmission has failed completely. This is a serious drivability issue that will prevent your vehicle from operating normally and require professional repair or replacement of the transmission unit.

Your Highlander is making a high-pitched whirling noise that your dealership confirmed they can hear during diagnosis. The dealership's diagnostic test didn't identify a specific error code, but they determined the noise is coming from an internal transmission problem. The noise is the only symptom you're experiencing, and you've kept up with all scheduled maintenance. Fixing this will likely require transmission inspection or repair at a dealership.

Your transmission has failed and your dealer says you need a complete replacement at 94,000 miles. You haven't towed anything or gotten stuck, so you're concerned this shouldn't have happened and suspect a defect. You found a Toyota service bulletin that may relate to the issue. The fix will involve replacing the entire transmission.

Your 2019 Highlander is making an abnormal whining sound from the transmission at various speeds. While driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly entered limp mode and slowed down on its own — the cause appears to be a torque converter failure. This happened at 128,000 miles, and the dealer hasn't provided a repair solution yet. Fixing this will likely require torque converter replacement or transmission service.

Your car makes a high-pitched whining noise when you accelerate. This sound is coming from the powertrain area and may indicate an issue with the engine or transmission components that need inspection.

Transmission failure. Unexpectedly failed while driving. Failure to accelerate before total failure. Repaired with used transmission since new ones are unavailable. Called Toyota to report the failure. No acknowledgement of any failure mechanism.

While driving, my vehicle experienced a sudden transmission failure. The vehicle began to lose power and was unable to shift properly, making it difficult and unsafe to continue driving. I had the vehicle inspected and the transmission is currently being rebuilt. The mechanic performing the rebuild has stated that the failure was caused by a faulty build and a manufacturer defect, not normal wear and tear. I am currently awaiting written documentation from the mechanic confirming this, which will be submitted once received.

My Toyota was just in the shop for 100,000 mile service and investigation of whining noise upon acceleration. Was notified that the transmission needs replaced and will cost over $7500 . Transmissions are supposedly on back order. Upon further investigation, discovered there is a known issue with 2017-2019 Highlander transmissions that Toyota failed to issue a recall and failed to notify owners of these models. Repairs have not been made as transmissions are on backorder due to the magnitude of the issue.

On Sunday, February 1st 2026 during sub-freezing temperatures The vehicle's 8-speed automatic transmission (UA80) experienced a complete mechanical failure while driving. This resulted in a sudden and total loss of vehicle propulsion, requiring the car to be towed. Prior to the failure, the vehicle's AWD system indicator light was illuminated. The failure was diagnosed by Alexandria Toyota on February 3rd of 2026 as a catastrophic internal transmission failure requiring full replacement of the transmission Assembly with cooler (see attached quote). This defect causes an unreasonable safety risk by potentially stranding the vehicle in moving traffic or causing a crash due to unexpected loss of power.

Transmission starting making a whining noise failing at 106,950 miles. Inspection by transmission shop shows issue related to UA80E/F transmissions. Concerns or increased inspection for transmission were never mentioned during prior maintenance with dealerships or any notices sent out to owners. No warnings or codes recorded on system ECO. •Toyota Tech Tip T TT 0410 •Bulletin T SB 0160 18 •Bulletin T SB 0008 21 •Bulletin T SB 0122 20 •Bulletin T SB 0087 23

Transmission has High pitch when accelerating

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned? System: Power Train: Automatic Transmission Specific Component: UA80 8-Speed Automatic Transmission (Internal Failure) Available for Inspection: Yes, the vehicle is currently available. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? While merging onto the highway, the transmission failed to upshift, resulting in a sudden and unexpected loss of acceleration. The vehicle could not reach or maintain highway speeds (speed limit). This created an immediate hazard as I was unable to keep up with the flow of traffic, forcing me to make an emergency exit across multiple lanes while moving significantly slower than other vehicles. The loss of motive power increased the risk of a high-speed rear-end collision. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer? Yes. The problem was confirmed by Heritage Toyota Service. The technicians confirmed an internal transmission failure. A secondary consultation with a transmission specialist (AAMCO) also identified the failure as a known mechanical defect common to this transmission model. 4. Has the vehicle been inspected by the manufacturer... or others? Yes, it has been inspected by the authorized Toyota Dealership listed above. I have also reported the issue to Toyota Brand Engagement (National), but a corporate field inspection (DSPM) has not yet been performed. 5. Were there any warning lamps... or other symptoms? Symptoms: A distinct whining noise from the engine/transmission area that increased with vehicle speed. Prior Events: The vehicle was taken to the dealer specifically for this noise. The dealer performed a fluid change and released the vehicle. The catastrophic failure (loss of power) occurred less than 24 hours after leaving the dealership. No dashboard warning lights illuminated prior to the loss of power.

The transmission is whining and is going out it is shifting hard now.

Transmission failed catastrophically at 133,000 miles while vehicle was in operation at a busy intersection. Vehicle became immobilized and unable to move. Unable to safely exit vehicle due to traffic. Stranded for 60-90 minutes with multiple vehicles nearly striking the disabled vehicle, creating a serious safety hazard. Police were called but failed to show up. Prior to failure: Vehicle exhibited loud whining noise during initial startup that would sometimes lessen or stop. This symptom appeared sometime within the last 1,000 miles of operation. Toyota dealer service at 132k miles noted transmission fluid was "Ok" during routine maintenance. At 133k miles transmission failed catastrophically. Independent transmission service center reports burnt-smelling transmission fluid indicating severe thermal damage and transmission failure. Problem confirmed by two independent service centers. Transmission is available for inspection upon request. Vehicle is not drivable.

128,000 Miles and the transmission is making a whining sound that progressively gets worse with acceleration. Also has occasional erratic shift associated with no throttle response. Sound is obnoxiously loud on the freeway deeming it almost undriveable.

The car started making a wining noise while accelerating. The car was brought to my local dealer where I always have my service done and they said I need a new transmission. The cost will be approx. $9,300.00. The car has less than 84,000 miles on it and is just 6 years old. Every recommend service has been done to date.

Vehicle experienced sudden loss of power and severe hesitation from a stop. Acceleration is extremely weak from approximately 0–20 mph, then returns to normal once moving. Traction control system automatically disables itself and check engine light illuminates. Vehicle feels unsafe when pulling into traffic or intersections due to delayed acceleration. Diagnostic trouble codes retrieved: P0740 (Torque Converter Clutch Actuator Stuck On), P0745 (Pressure Control Solenoid A Stuck Off), and P2713 (Pressure Control Solenoid D Stuck Off). Dealer recommended full transmission replacement costing over $11,000 at only 79,000 miles. Dealer stated this failure is common on this model. Similar failures have been reported by other owners of Toyota vehicles equipped with the UA80 8-speed automatic transmission. No recall currently exists for this issue. This condition presents a safety concern due to delayed acceleration when entering traffic and loss of traction control functionality. Vehicle is being driven minimally until repaired.

2019 highlander has a winding sound coming from engine area, no warning lights turned on but winding sound only occurs when in drive and accelerating. vehicle has 90000 miles and winding sound started around 80000 miles. i brought highlander to toyota service and they stated they heard the sound but didnt diagnose it.

On Monday December 15, 2025 our transmission failed as we began to drive up a small grade in between two sets of railroad tracks at the intersection of Cary, Ushers and Coons Crossing Road in the county of Saratoga, NY. If it had failed on one of the two sets of tracks it may have endangered us. On December 17, 2025 Northway Toyota in Latham, NY diagnosed the transmission failure at their dealership. I had attached the appropriate documents. The only warning for failure was a whining sound a few days leading up to the failure, but we thought it was a normal sound from the engine which we have subsequently learned was a sign of a failing transmission as we investigated prior complaints from others.

I am experiencing a turbine whining noise from my transmission while under load. This has been reported to be an issue that stem from incorrect assembly of the locking washer to the locking nut in the UA80F 8 speed transmission. Toyota only provided extended warranty to 2017-2018 vehicles but not all vehicles that were manufactured with the same exact transmission. This whine is a sign of premature transmission failure that can occur at any given time while driving which is an extreme safety hazard. Please do something to force Toyota to be held accountable of their poor manufacturing and fix this safety hazard via recall. There is a law suit from James LeBoutheller pertaining to this issue.

Transmission failure resulted in sudden loss of power while driving, creating a safety risk in traffic. Vehicle was unable to accelerate and required immediate repair. Put myself and my children at risk, as the car suddenly died while I was driving it. Prior to this, there were not issues. Has been routinely maintained and only has approx 83k miles. Toyota agreed that the transmission is the only issue with my car but won't cover the cost to replace it (10k) or the cost of a loaner vehicle. I have been without a car for almost a month while the (refurbished) transmission is on backorder.

Good Morning, I purchased a 2019 Toyota Highlander at a Toyota dealership and the transmission has died at 68,000. It died while driving in heavy traffic with my kids in the car. Toyota has completed an inspection of the transmission and determined that it needed to be replaced. They also said that because the transmissions are in back order due to all of the failures, I would have to wait 45-60 days to get a remanufactured transmission. I've also heard that they are replacing these transmissions with the same ones that are failing and only offering a 1 year warranty. Ive already spoke with Toyota Brand engagement and they told me that there was nothing that they could do.

Transmission began to manifest gear shifting issues. Took to mechanic shop to have diagnosed and found premature wear. The recommendation was to replace this transmission. However there are no factory replacements for this transmission and the only alternative is a used transmission replacement. Parts can't be sourced for even a rebuild. This vehicle has 96k miles on it. In review of recommended, routine services for this vehicle, transmission service is not recommended due to being a "sealed" transmission. Apparently this is a known issue as documented by Toyota under TSB "CSP ZJC". In this particular situation there have not been any warning lights. Replacement quote for a used transmission was $15,000 on 01/12/2025.

Transmission stopped working while I was driving. Could not drive the car.

We began to hear a whine coming from the front of our 2019 Highlander. The tone of the whine got higher as we picked up speed. We went immediately for a preliminary review at the dealer who indicated that it was a known transmission problem in several model years, and the whine would only become more pronounced. We further understood that the very same transmission in our 2019 Highlander has been covered by a recall in years just prior and after 2019, but not for our particular VIN. Nevertheless, it is obvious to even the Toyota dealer mechanic that it is the same issue. The car has been carefully used and maintained since purchasing it new--it only has approximately 74,000. We expect our transmission fix or replacement to be covered.

With under 80,000 miles, my 2019 Toyota Highlander XLE needed a full transmission replacement. Noticed some rough gear changes for about 2-weeks (mostly changing from Park to Drive), then on my drive home from work, the RPM spiked high and all the sensor lights came on (AWD, Check Engine, etc). I drove the rest of the way with hazard lights in limp-mode. Took my car into a Toyota dealer service center (Kenosha WI), they did not make any repairs - just disabled the sensor lights and did a test drive - ended up keeping a 2nd day and replaced transmission fluid since they were seeing oddities with shifting. Within 1 week, the same thing happened. This time, I could hardly make it above 20 mph, basically no acceleration. Received 2 quotes from independent transmission specialists / repair shops - both confirmed I needed a new transmission. They said the car is unsafe to drive until it is replaced. This was right near my 6-year 100,000 warranty. Perhaps a few months beyond 6 years. Toyota opted not to make any repairs / improvements. Left the car in unsafe condition for me and my kids. Toyota then quoted $16,346 for a new transmission. Other quotes I received were $10,000 LESS than Toyota, using new Toyota parts. Seemed like price gauging to me.

Per my mechanic (fyi: 56k miles on vehicle): I test drove the vehicle and can hear a noticeable whine type noise when accelerating the noise goes away when getting off throttle. I put it on lift and the noise is coming from the transmission pump and sounds like cavitation. I checked the fluid level and it was overfull, very dark and has some very fine metal debris in the fluid. Something is coming apart inside the transmission has caused a catastrophic failure. The transmission will need replaced. I called Toyota to check availability and these transmission are on a restricted order. The dealer would need to call corporate Toyota to see what is needed to even order one. Usually a restricted order means they are on the edge of a back-order or having problems with the part and are working on a resolution or update. I did not see any recalls, service campaigns, or technical service bulletins for this transmission, but it sounds like the 2017-2021 V6 AWD UA80F transmissions are having issues. It is a long shot, but given the low mileage, you could try contacting Toyota to see if there is anything they can do for you. I know the factory warranty is 60 months or 60,000 miles on the powertrain. You are out on the time, but if they are having a known issue, then maybe they will help you.

transmission problems at 62000 miles high pitched whine with acceleration

2019 Toyota Highlander with approx 178000 miles, UA80E transmission sudden failure while traveling approximately 30 mph, on city street. Manually pushed vehicle to safety away from traffic and unto a parking lot. That same evening drove vehicle about 20 feet to a more secure parking spot. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN MOVED SINCE 12/15/25. No leaks, no spills etc EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

The transmission failed while going up a steep hill the car lost power and shut off. Could have caused seriously property and body damage if traffic or people were around. Luckily no accident happened but could certainly cause an accident if the circumstances are different. Please make an official complain so this could be fully investigated.

premature failure of UA80F transmission with 80,000 miles on vehicle which has been regularly serviced and maintained. Failure symptoms demonstrated match documented cases exactly resulting in the ultimate and complete failure of the transmission resulting in the vehicle being towed in to the dealer for a repair. Repair bill upwards of $10,000 however being told parts not available leaving me with a 40k vehicle that is unable to be repaired.

Our transmission is making a high pitched whining sound when accelerating.

At around 107,000 miles, we started hearing griding/whining noises from the engine compartment. After multiple inspections from 3 different auto shops a Toyota dealership confirmed the transmission and transfer case had failed and needed to be completely replaced. There were NO warning lamps, messages or other symptoms besides the griding/whinig noise prior to the failure. After the Toyota dealership diagnosed the issue, we stopped using the vehicle until Toyota could make the necessary repairs for the vehicle to be safely driven. The Toyota dealership made the necessary repairs that we paid for on 10/28/25. We are aware that this is a known defect by Toyota on the UA80 Transmission and Technical Service Bulletins have been released. We demand a recall and our out of pocket repair cost money back of $12,623.31.

8-speed automatic transmission failing. Noticeable whining sound that increases with acceleration, however no warning lights or messages. Metal shavings found in fluid upon inspection by independent mechanic. This is exactly in line with the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California by plaintiff [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The vehicle is relatively new 2019 and mileage is low 45000 car was humming for no reason for a day or two and its well maintained, today at busy thoroughfare it stalled at intersection of ave u and another street and was behaving erratically due to know manufacture defect of Toyota Transmission UA80E/F that causes sudden stall and thank god have. I stalled on highway it would have been a catastrophe. I want NHTSA to acknowledge danger this poses to drivers if suden loss of power occurs suddenly hoping for a solution to this dangerous manufacture defect.

•What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Transmission and power train failure during normal operation. Vehicle was occupied by mother and two small children. Vehicle produced a whining noise, delay in shifting and power failure. No warning lights appeared to give any indication of failure prior to occurring. Vehicle is available for inspection. •How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Vehicle stalled during normal operation. No warning indicators were present. No ability to proceed to shoulder. Traffic hazard in middle of road. Possibility of being rear ended increased. Exiting the vehicle in traffic to determine fault increase probability of being struck. Two young children seated to the rear should vehicle be rear ended due to sudden stop could cause catastrophic injuries or death. •Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, vehicle was taken and diagnostic conducted by Glendora Toyota. Vehicle was kept overnight. Dealer determined that vehicle had a transmission failure. Multiple articles and bulletins by Toyota indicating and acknowledging transmission failures in 2019 Toyota Highlander. •Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Vehicle has only been inspected by Glendora Toyota service personnel. •Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lights or indicators. Whining noise was heard prior and taken to Glendora Toyota for diagnosis. They advised no problems with vehicle.

My vehicle was taken into Toyota dealership for diagnostics after experiencing a whine noise from transmission after driving. Toyota confirmed that I will need a new transmission. After researching I found that there is a defect in the transmissions for my specific type. It has been reported for years but Toyota has not addressed. Since it is a transmission failure this could lead to a breakdown while driving on highways and could risk my safety and other drivers. The estimated repair cost are currently above $8K.

Owners of 2017–2022 Toyota Highlanders, 2017–2020 Siennas, and 2018–2020 Camrys are experiencing serious transmission issues—including high-pitched whining, erratic shifting, clunks, hesitation, and premature failure. These vehicles are equipped with the UA80F (AWD) and UA80E (FWD) 8-speed automatic transmissions. Toyota quietly acknowledged the problem in Technical Service Bulletins T-SB-0160-18, T-SB-0008-21, and a limited Customer Support Program (CSP ZJC)—but only offered coverage to a narrow group of VINs. Thousands of other affected vehicles were left out, even though they show the same exact symptoms.

Transmission failure. Vehicle is at this time still operational however the transmission has developed the ever so common whining sound and sluggish shifting. Upon fluid inspection metal filings can be seen and replacement has been recommended by repair shop. The whining has been evident for some time but after investigating this issue decided to have inspected. This inspection was just completed on 11/14/25

Our 2019 Toyota Highlanders transmission is gone. The car has 83,000 miles. I have been researching online and found out that Toyota is very much aware of the problem. They're refusing to help me. They're basing it on our VIN#. No recalls. I just want them to acknowledge that the issue needs to be addressed NOW.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was an abnormal whining sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact previously owned a 2017 Toyota Highlander and heard the same whining sound coming from the transmission. The contact stated that when the 2017 Toyota Highlander was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was purchased, the contact was offered a trade of the 2017 Toyota Highlander for the 2019 Toyota Highlander. Following the failure of the 2019 Highlander, the vehicle was taken to two different dealers to be diagnosed. The first dealer had not diagnosed the vehicle but stated that the vehicle was operating normally. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched the failure online and determined that the 2017 Highlander and the 2019 Highlander had the same model transmission, UA80F - CVT transmission. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.

Transmission failed at 143,000 miles. Initially vehicle lost acceleration and would not go over 60mph. Then vehicle would not go into drive, and instead rolled backwards. Vehicle was towed to dealership where they provided a report saying it needed a new transmission that would cost $9,000. No warning lights were ever present on vehicle, it just stopped operating.

Vehicle stalled on highway. Went into limp mode. Took to Toyota and they said I need a new transmission. The car only has 139k miles. 2019. I purchased it 1 year ago from Toyota with 101k miles.

Whining noise when accelerator is pressed. Potential failed transmission.

My car does have a similar transmission as the one that was recall in Siannas, and Camrys. I have experience the same serious transmission issues—including high-pitched whining, erratic shifting, clunks, hesitation, and premature failure. These vehicles are equipped with the UA80F (AWD) and UA80E (FWD) 8-speed automatic transmissions.

Bearly 60 k miles and transmission is going out I got a Toyota because it was reliable did all the required maintenance and Toyota won’t even help

While driving, I began noticing a high-pitched whining or buzzing noise when pressing the accelerator, particularly at low speeds. The sound resembles an electric or remote-control car and rises in pitch with engine RPMs. The noise disappears when I release the gas pedal. A mechanic initially suspected a wheel bearing, but after further inspection, it appears the noise is coming from the transmission or drivetrain. I later discovered that this issue is widespread among 2017–2020 Toyota Highlander models equipped with the UA80E/UA80F 8-speed automatic transmission, which has been associated with internal gear and pump whine. Toyota has issued Customer Support Program POL19-04 and Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0008-21 addressing similar transmission whine and gear damage, but my vehicle is outside the standard 5-year/60,000-mile warranty and was not included in the extended coverage list, even though the symptoms match exactly. The problem appears to be a design or component defect within the UA80-series transmission, leading to premature wear and potential failure. This can affect drivability, safety during acceleration, and could result in transmission failure without warning.

2019 Toyota Highlander XLE with 94,000 miles. This past Friday, the transmission started slipping...slow to move while pushing the gas pedal. After about 20 minutes, was slipping less. Pulled code P2757 off of OBD. By Monday, the car wouldn't move despite revving up to 3500-4000 rpm. Reverse would work, but not first gear. Called AAA and had it towed to a shop. Shop didn't give me codes, but said there were several. They reported that the transmission needed to be replaced or rebuilt.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH uphill and depressing the accelerator pedal, the contact heard a grinding sound and smelled an odor coming from the front of the vehicle. A dealer was contacted. 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 not notified of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

My car was having trouble shifting gears and then every single light came on indicating a big problem. The check engine light came on, it said ABS off and went through a bunch of different things saying they all turned off and would barely roll at 2mph. I took it in and it needs a full transmission replacement at barely 73,000 miles. Upon looking into it, I saw online that this is a common issue that Toyota still has not issued an official recall for despite it being a very common issue. It’s a 2019 Toyota Highlander XLE and should not be having these issues this early on.

Engine revs up to 5k rpm by itself and barely moves forward when stepping on the accelerator. When it does move it’s only up to 40 miles per hour only and the engine will rev up to 5k rpm without moving any faster.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a high-pitched whining sound coming from the vehicle. In addition, the contact became aware that the transmission was shifting abnormally rough. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. 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 failure mileage was approximately 90,000. The VIN was unavailable.

The 2019 hylander started whining when pressing the gas pedal. I had it checked out and found that it needs a new transmission but it is so prevalent of an issue with this vehicle that the transmission is on severe back order. Every complaint on the department of transportation website about this vehicle are about this issue save a handful. We should not be liable to pay for this repair nor for a rental car for months while we wait for the parts.

,At approx. 76,000 miles, we begin to hear a whine with acceleration. We also begin experiencing slight hesitation? It was diagnosed at The Williams Toyota Dealership in Big Flats New York 9/22/25. The dealership indicated the final drive gear bearing is starting to fail and we need to replace the transmission at the cost of $7472.00 plus tax. We are aware of the several class action lawsuits that have been filed against Toyota regarding the UA80E/F 8-speed automatic transmissions. The litigation covers multiple Toyota models 2017 model year and onward including the Highlander.

A couple of days ago, I started hearing a faint whining noise coming from my vehicle when I pressed on the gas pedal. When I brought my vehicle into the dealership today for my 100,000 mile service, I advised them of such. After raising the concern, I was told that there was an issue with my car's transmission and that it was not covered by the warranty as the warranty for that part ended at 75,000 miles. After looking up this issue and the cost to replace, I learned that this transmission issue is a prevalent issue with 2017-2021 highlanders with over 60,000 miles. This issue is so prevalent that there is a huge backorder for parts needed to fix this specific issue. I have owned multiple Toyotas because of their reliability. I had a 4 runner that I used past 225,000 miles with no issues. The fact that I'm having an issue with a transmission issue with a vehicle with less than 100,000 miles on it that I always service every 5,000 miles at the Toyota dealership I bought the vehicle at is huge red flag and is making me reconsider my allegiance to the Toyota brand. The dealer has quoted me a price of $7,500 to fix the issue. I believe that Toyota should make this right as it is clear that this is a known and prevalent issue with the highlanders. In fact, I'm surprised given the number of people complaining online that it is not the subject of a recall. As a lawyer, this sounds like an issue ripe for a class action. That being said, I am hoping that Toyota will work with me and pay for the repair and/or furnish me with a new car credit.

The transmission was checked by Toyota at 55,000 miles for whining sound. Technician advised that it is a normal sound for that type of transmission and it is ok. The sound continued to get louder , so we took it to 2 independant garages and they advised that the noise is the transmision going bad. At 64,000 miles we took it back to the same dealer to tell them we thought it was the transmission. The technician road with us and said he thought it was the brakes or something else. After returning from the test drive with the technician, 3 technicinians looked at it and agreed that the transmission is bad and should be replaced. The factory warranty expired at 60,000 miles and Toyota is not honoring that we took it to them for the same problem prior to warranty expiration. They are advsising that it has not completely failed yet, so it's not a problem. I do not want to drive my vehicle for any distance or at highway speeds for fear of failure in a dangerous area or stranded during bad weather.

The car only has 73, 000 miles on it and Toyota said it needs a new transmission. The car starting making a "whining" sound on acceleration so we took it into Toyota for diagnostic. We also found out that the Rav 4, Sequoia and Tacoma were all recalled for this same year for transmission issues. Toyota is trying to charge us $10,000 to have the transmission replaced since it is no longer under warranty.

Transmission failure

Transmission whine at 63k miles

Transmission failure. Car will not drive or reverse. Engine turns on. I’m told that transmissions are on back order with no ETA.

I have 2019 Toyota Highlander and it has less than 78k miles. A few months ago ago it started barley noticeable wheezing sound and then it got progressively worse. I took it to a the mechanic and he said it was the transmission. It expensive to fix and I saw that a lot if people are complaining about the same problem. I think Toyota should be responsible for replacing the faulty transmissions. My car has been sitting in the driveway because I can’t fix it.

Car Manufactured in April 2019. Transmission failure at 113,000 miles. Before failure, the transmission had a whine and lag when accelerating from a full stop, creating an unsafe situation when pulling into traffic. The cost to repair is over $9,000, and the part is on backorder for several months. The NHSTA facilitated a voluntary service bulletin with Toyota that extended the warranty for the Highlander model years 2017 to 2018 for issues related to the UA80F transmission. The service bulletin should extend to the 2019 model year, as the issues are the same and the transmission model is the same, and possibly for models built early in 2019, which likely have transmissions built or component parts from 2018.

Erratic shifting, dangerous hesitancy and slow starts when pulling into traffic, whining. Took the car to the Toyota Dealer on 08/19/2025, diagnosed as having a failing transmission (detailed service invoice attached).

The transmission has exhibited signs of premature failure due to an internal component defect. The only indication was a whining noise when accelerating. This was first noticed around July 2025 when the car had about 78,000 miles on it. The car was later inspected by the Toyota dealer on 08/20/2025 with 79,253 miles on it. The Toyota dealer determined that "the noise being heard was the transmission becoming faulty" and prescribed replacing the transmission "as soon as possible." This is a safety concern if the transmission suddenly fails while driving, but I am not going to wait for that to happen before replacing it.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. No warning lights were illuminated. A passerby helped push the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the vehicle was inspected, and the contact was informed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 143,335.

Transmission went out at 93,000 miles. Toyota dealer confirmed the car needs a new transmission and wants me to pay $7500 for it. This seems ridiculous for these to go out the early. I follow all the regular maintenance schedules

SUV has a pronounced whine coming from the transmission. This started at approximately 85,000 - 90,000 miles and has progressively gotten louder. The car currently has 96,000 miles on it. As I understand it Toyota has issues multiple technical service bulletin about this exact issue covering the 2017-2018 highlander but my 2019 is not covered even though it has the exact same 8 transmission. I have not taken this to the dealer as I understand it would not be covered under the factory power train warranty which is 5 years or 60,000 miles. I've purchased several Toyota vehicles over multiple decades, but with this issue on a vehicle that is not yet 7 years old I am a bit dissapointed and will not be purchasing any more toyota vehicles. Since this issue is specifically related to the powertrain it is most certainly a SAFETY related issue when this transmission fails.

Severe whining from drivetrain car had less then 80,000 when problem started. Dealership has no answer. Car has drivetrain transmission UA80F which has numerous documented issues and has been used in many vehicles which all has same drivetrain problems. This is known problem at Toyota Motor Sales. This issue can cause vehicle transmission to just fail and leave car valueless. The whining has been getting worse every time driven.

At approximately 64,607 miles, my 2019 Toyota Highlander experienced a complete transmission failure. The vehicle had. been properly maintained. There were no warning lights prior to the failure. The transmission began making a high-pitched whining noise, followed by difficulty shifting. Research shows that many other 2019 Highlander owners have reported the same issue, often described as the "death whine," occurring between 50,000-100,000 miles. These failures appear related to the UA80 8 -speed automatic transmission, which has already been the subject of service programs in earlier 2017-2018 Toyota vehicles. Transmission replacement cost range from $7,000 - $10,000, with parts frequently on backorder. A major drivetrain failure at such low milage, raises significant safety concerns, and appears to be a recurring defect that warrants investigation.

Transmission started whining at 90k miles and has failed

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, upon depressing the accelerator pedal, there was an abnormal whining sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 51,000.

8/15: I was informed that the had a transmission failure requiring full replacement. The highlander is a 2019 SE with a UA80 transmission which we have now discovered has multiple complaints against it. Our car only has 108,000 miles and has been maintained with all required maintenance a full transmission service.

I was nearly in an accident because the vehicle was unable to accelerate quickly due to transmission shift delay.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal whining sound emanating from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced; however, there was a back log on the part. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Car started to make whining noise when accelerating, was taken to a car repair shop & it was found that the transmission will need to be replaced with only around 43k miles on the vehicle. Let it be noted that there are many other people on numerous Toyota forums complaining of the same issues.

I’m reporting a drivetrain and engine performance issue affecting my 2019 Toyota Highlander, which I believe is related to Toyota's T-SB-0160-18, T-SB-0008-21, and Customer Support Program ZJC (CSP ZJC). My vehicle is exhibiting the same symptoms like: 1. Intermittent engine misfires (no consistent CEL, but noticeable during driving) 2. Hesitation and shuddering during light or moderate acceleration 3. Unintended surging/lunging — the vehicle will randomly jerk forward without throttle input 4. Whining noise under acceleration, which appears to come from the engine bay These symptoms negatively affect vehicle control and driver confidence, especially when merging, passing, or driving in traffic. The behavior is unpredictable and poses a potential safety hazard. After researching, I found that Toyota issued T-SB-0160-18 and T-SB-0008-21 for this engine, acknowledging similar performance issues due to valve train irregularities and ECM programming. Toyota also released Customer Support Program ZJC, offering limited support to some VINs. However, despite my vehicle showing the same symptoms, it is not included in the CSP, and Toyota has not offered assistance without out-of-pocket costs. This issue appears to be more widespread than Toyota’s internal VIN list suggests. Many Highlander owners have reported the same issues online, and I believe Toyota should take responsibility for correcting these performance defects under a recall, not a limited CSP. I respectfully request that the NHTSA investigate the scope and validity of Toyota's CSP ZJC and TSBs related to the 2GR-FKS engine and push Toyota to expand CSP ZJC or issue a formal recall to cover all affected vehicles based on symptoms, not just VINs

Defect with Transmission as hundreds of other people if not, thousands have already stated. Whining noise from Transmission after only 70,000 miles such a big issue that Toyota has a backorder on replacement transmissions.

Transmission started making a whining noise. Auto shop confirmed it will need a new transmission.

A wine and hard shifting, toyota does not agree. I experience this issue several times a day. Taking it into the dealership again to try to diagnose.

There has been a high incidence of this model of Toyota Highlander having faulty transmissions. My vehicle had 129,000 when the transmission failed. It was metal shavings in the fluid. I’m hoping you will put pressure on Toyota to recall or help replace these transmissions. Thank you.

• Transmission Failure. Inspection is available upon request. • We do not know if we are at risk if the transmission fails while driving. • Certified Toyota Dealership diagnosed and deemed failure – recommends full replacement • Component was inspected by a certified Toyota dealership • No warning lights

Less than 95k miles. Dealer says transmission needs replaced and cooler. Bought new- owned 5 years and 2 months. Many other 2019 highlanders online stating same problem.

Upon acceleration, the engine revved high and a whine sound started once the car (2019 Highlander XLE) approached 25-40 miles per hour. It appears that this is a transmission issue that Toyota was aware about years before selling the 2019 (and later) Highlander and other models (according to consumer complaints online). The car has 92,700 miles on it and is thus out of warranty. It had a recall in 2020 though I do not know exactly what was allegedly fixed. Had Toyota disclosed these serious transmission issues, I would not have purchased the car. My local mechanic has advised that the transmission will need to be replaced at a high cost.

Hello, it seems that my vehicle is having a whirling noise when accelerating at different RPMs. When I researched, it isn’t an isolated incident because many others online are experiencing the same issue with most of them being told that the transmission must be replaced. And further investigation, I found that the issue could be the trans axle assembly component which can cause issues if not replaced.

2019Toyota Highlander = Transmission whine and hard shift at times, Needs replacement transmission at 106,000 mile , no codes stored

At approximately 85K miles my 2019 Highlander began to exhibit a high pitched “whirring” sound upon accelerating. The noise stops once you take your foot off the gas. I brought the vehicle to my local Toyota dealership to investigate the noise. They concluded that it is the transmission and I would need to replace the entire transmission. There are no warning lights or other indications aside from the sound. Transmission fluid is clear of any shavings or other indicators of an issue. Toyota service stated they could not tell me if or when the transmission might fail, just that it should be replaced. There are multiple reports of similar occurrences on online Toyota forums. There are also recalls for the exact same sound for the 2018 Highlander. I opened a case with Toyota customer service and was told there was nothing they could do to assist.

A whinning noise can be heard from car while driving. Vehicle has just under 60k miles and dealer is saying the transmission is failing and it would need to be replaced. There was no warning lights or indication on display.

2019 toyota highlander bought 3/15/25 with approximately 82,000 miles. Started making whining noise 4/7/25. On 4/9/25 took vehicle to dealer 4/11/25 notified need new transmission and transaxle seal need on new transmission. 2 weeks later on 4/25/25 picked up vehicle drove home 3 days later noticed gear oil leaking and sprayed all over under chassis. Vehicle brought back to dealer on 4/29/25. On 4/30/25 notified needs new transaxle seal on new transmission. Notified on 5/9/25 new transmission will need to be replaced again. They stated there is gouging/nicks where transaxle and transmission connect. Dealer is saying there is no transmission to put in. Toyota has put a stop to all transmissions. So now I have a vehicle with only 82,000 miles and no way to fix it.

Transmission failed while driving down the highway almost causing an incident. These transmissions are very unsafe and should be recalled. Toyota refuses to take responsibility for this year Highlander although it is the same 80ua transmission that was recalled in the 2017 and 2018. While Toyota has said this problem has been remedied in the later years it is very false. Please do an investigation on this before people get hurt from accidents if they haven’t already.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware of an abnormal whining sound coming from the vehicle, and the transmission was shifting hard. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

Transmission makes a whine noise and also experiencing some harsh shifting. Dealership confirmed the whine noise is an indication of transmission failure and they recommend replacing the transmission. Toyota needs to do a recall on this transmission!!

the transmission completely failed. it is at Spitzer Toyota in Monroville. PA

Needs transmission at 90,000 miles - original owner - well maintained car- manufacture defect according to dealer According to various websites other 2019 Toyota Highlanders have had similar issues Had 2009 Highlander that lasted til almost 200,000 with no Issues

We have noticed a whinning noise as we accelerate the vehicle. Doing some investigation online I came across a lot of threads with the same issue. Seems to be the transmission. Reached out to a Toyota tech friend and he mentioned it is the transmission. They have had several Highlanders and Camry with the same issue.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal whining sound. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. No further information was available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The VIN was unavailable.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a whining sound coming from the transmission while accelerating. The contact stated that over time, the whining sound became louder, and the vehicle later had transmission shifting malfunctions. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 64,000.

My 2019 Toyota Highlander with 56K miles has a whining noise whenever the accelerator is pressed. The noise stops when you release the gas pedal. This was confirmed by my Toyota dealership service department. The transmission does need to be replace. They said this is a common problem with this vehicle and yet there has been no recall. Fortunately my vehicle is still under warranty. I found manner similar complaints about this transmission on the Toyota Highlander Forum. I don't understand why there has not been a recall. Going forward I am also concerned that the replacement transmission could very well have the same problem.

My 2019 Toyota Highlander with 56k miles has a whining noise whenever the accelerator is pressed down. The noise stops when you release the accelerator. This was confirmed by my Toyota dealership service department. They informed me the transmission needed to be replaced. They said this is a common problem with this vehicle but yet there has not been a recall. Cost of replacement is around $8000. Fortunately for me my vehicle is still under warranty. I found many similar complaints about the transmission on the Toyota Highlander Forum. I don't understand why there has not been a recall. Going forward I am concerned that the replacement transmission could very well have the same problem.

The CPO vehicle was purchased at 60k miles 11/5/2024. The vehicle started bogging down accelerating from a stop, while pulling into traffic, and decelerating randomly at 62k. The vehicle went in to the dealership at 64.5k on 2/20/2025 where they stated the transmission needed replacing due to a transmission whine and incorrect acceleration/deceleration. Toyota corporate will not acknowledge the dangerous problem with the UA80 transmission that 1000's of customers are having. This transmission is in many models with similar issues from 2017-2019.

My Highlander transmission has an internal failure. The Toyota dealership declared “transmission has internal failure quote. I am afraid to drive it due to it breaking down on the highway.

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT coming on constantly Cylinder 3 misfire reported under DIAGNOSTICS of ADVANCE AUTOPARTS 500 Rte 291, Lee's Summit, MO 64063 another workshop said NO MISFIRE however now it says Engine Misfire 1, 3, 5, 6 4 cylinders misfiring as per diagnostic on 02/15/2025

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started shuddering, prompting the contact to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway where the failure persisted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 88,000.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal burning oil odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the failure was related to the transmission. The mechanic referred the contact to a certified transmission mechanic. The vehicle was taken to Leon's Transmission Services, where diagnostic trouble codes indicating an internal transmission pump failure were retrieved. The vehicle was then taken to Integrity Transmission & Auto Repair, where the same assessment was made, and the mechanic determined that the transmission needed to be replaced with a used, new, or rebuilt factory transmission. The dealer was contacted for parts and informed the contact that parts were not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

Vehicle has 80k miles. When slowing the vehicle down to 10-20 mph and then trying to accelerate again the transmission bangs/clunks into gear and is delayed to get going causing a safety concern. No warning lights on

Vehicle started making intermittent whining noise around 75,000 miles but Toyota service advisor at the time told me it was normal and since my transmission had been serviced on schedule, it was nothing to worry about. Around 135,000 miles the vehicle sometimes would operate completely normal, and at other times would suddenly seem to struggle to get up to speed especially on the highway somewhere between 20-60 mph. Also sometimes difficult to go at stoplights; but then would resume completely normal operation. The risk to us was we could have easily been hurt in an accident had the vehicle not been able to operate normally at normal speeds, leading to a collision. There were no warnings nor stored codes; the vehicle had received all routine maintenance on schedule including all major maintenance such as transmission services performed by a Toyota dealership. When taken in for this problem, they claimed that they were not able to replicate the jerky/intermittent issues during their test drive, but the whine was indicative of transmission failure and the transmission would need to be replaced. The remanufactured transmissions were on backorder with no ETA, which I was told could be 6-10 months of a wait due to a parts shortage. My service advisor recommended I trade in the vehicle instead because they could not guarantee the vehicle would be safe to drive and I could not continue to drive fearful of a wreck, so we had to do that, and the vehicle was traded in.

Transmission whine stated on or around 52000 miles. Whine progressively increased in volume over the next 2000 miles. Toyota dealer analyzed the noise and recommended the transmission be replaced. Transmission out of warranty. Independent transmission shop confirmed transmission internal pump was failing and could cause transmission lockup at speed.

automatic transmission makeing a whinning noise.Many other customers complaining about same problem. Car has 72,000 miles on it which puts it out of 5 year/60,000mile warranty.Customers feel that toyota should cover replacement or repairs cost knowing they have had same problem with 2017/2018 models and have not corrected the problem with the 2019 model.Very unprofessional for such a high quality company.

when I release the gas between 40 to 60 km a whining sound. Dealer says transmission has to be replaced I have 103,000 km.

within a 3 hour span, car started whining when accelerating and engine would rev and accelerate but wouldnt go. By lunch time the car would accelerate but go nowhere. Transmission failed within a morning.

1 - The car transmission is emitting a whine noise, harsh shift and loss of power. The dealer recommended the transmission be replaced. The car has 54,857 miles. The auto is available for inspection. 2 - Safety is an issue when the transmission loses power and is unable to accelerate. 3 - The issue was reproduced by the dealer and recommended transmission replacement. 4 - Inspected by dealer only. 5 - There were no warning indicators for the failure.

While driving up hill in snowy and icy conditions, my engine RPMs suddenly went up to 4000, then quickly back down. When I tried to continue driving, the car would not switch gears. It was stuck in what I think was 5th gear. I was slugging along at about 5mph. At this point I put the car in park, and waited in confusion for about a minute before putting the car back in gear. There were no warning lights on my car and nothing else to suggest anything was wrong. I tried to move forward up the steep hill, but the car would not go. I put the car in park again and then switched into reverse instead of drive. At this point I had no option but to back down the narrow icy road. I was driving the going to wrong direction backwards, but it was my only option to get me out of the way of others traffic. The conditions made it more dangerous, but this would have been dangerous on any given day. I was able to back down, get my car to flat ground where I parked, shut the car off, waited about 10 mins, and then turned it back on. After turning it back on I was able to drive the car down to the mechanic shop where they told me that my transmission was bad. In hindsight i should have had it towed, but I'm thankful I made it to the shop safely after the transmission warmed up a little. I'm now waiting 3 or 4 weeks to get a transmission directly from toyota (a $5000 part). The repair in total will cost nearly $8000!! This isn't something I can afford to do, especially near the holidays, but I have no other options as the vehicle isn't worth much in its current condition. I'm very disappointed in Toyota for this one. I expect more from their vehicles.

My 2019 Toyota Highlander XLE has 50,000 miles on it, when the transmission began making a whining noise while driving. The noise has become significantly louder. There has been no noticeable issues with the shifting, however when taken to the dealer I was advised that the transmission needs to be replaced and can not be repaired. I was lucky enough that we did not encounter any serious problems with the transmission. This appears to be a major problem with the Highlander transmission and should become a recall. I was lucky enough that my vehicle was in the drivetrain warranty range considering the low miles and cost to repair such a problem. Toyota should be mandated to recall or at the very least extend the transmission coverage to 10 year 100,000 miles due to the malfunction.

Faulty transmission with no solution for a fix. Transmission makes grinding noise while driving. Dealership cannot fix the problem knowing that there is an issue with the 8 speed transmission. They recommend replacement with a salvage transmission out of pocket.

Dealer states that the transmission and transmission cooling needs to be replaced. The car only has 58500 miles.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine revved but the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted, and the check engine warning light illuminated, and the AWD message was displayed. The failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the check engine warning light illuminated and disappeared later in the evening. Additionally, the contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was a winding sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken 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 54,471.

When in gear, the power does not engage. Unable to accelerate in Drive (spins as though in Neutral) or Reverse (same result). The car stopped in traffic and I was unable to safely pull aside.

At 80,000 miles or so the transmission has now started making a whining sound upon acceleration. The repair shop says there's nothing they can do except to replace the entire transmission. This tends to be a common occurrence with Toyota vehicles.

ur transmission went out with only 96K miles on it, We were told that it could break down at any time leaving us stranded. there are may forums and people experiencing this issue. It was inspected by the dealer, and they confirmed that the transmission was needing to be replaced

These Toyota highlanders had a whine noise in the transmissions that Toyota ended up taking care of in previous years. They said the problem was fixed in 2019 and newer. This problem has not been fixed as there are numerous confirmed cases of the exact problem with later models.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that recently while driving at speeds above 40 MPH, there was a whining sound coming from the engine compartment. The cause of the sound was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 51,000.

Dealership stated that whining sound from transmission is irreparable and must be replaced. It is unsafe to drive and the dealer confirmed the noise. This is a known, common issue with the CVT Transmissions, but they are not willing to replace it due to being more than 60 months past the manufacture date, but under 60,000 miles.

Approximately at 56,000 miles I began having trouble with a whining noise along with rough, delayed, or sudden shifting, lack of acceleration from a stop and shuddering. I had taken it in for an oil change and explained some of my complaints. They stated they didn't hear any whining noises (so they say) after completing the oil/fluid change. The service department said if it continues to come back and they stated that they haven't had any complaints about the whining noise with Toyota. I got "service engine light" and took it to the dealer which they said was a sensor for AWD. I paid to have it replaced and 2 days later the exact code came back up. Took it back into the Toyota dealership stating the same code came on but, to date, the dealer has been unable to correct the problem because they say it's the transmission that needs replacing which will cost over 8,500.00! My truck only has 119k miles and should be good to go for at minimum of 100k miles more with no major issues!

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated and was sluggish while responding. There was an abnormal humming noise detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where the transmission was replaced, but the failure recurred. While driving 71 MPH and merging into traffic while accelerating, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact was able to veer to the shoulder. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. There were no fault codes retrieved. The mechanic at the dealer reported that during the test drive, there was hesitation while downshifting. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000.

Transmission failed at 97,500 miles

Transmission Failed at 65,000. Yes, inspection available upon request. Safety is when my family with little children are in the car, and erratic shifting takes place while traveling at high rates of speed. Car has not broken down, but was told by dealer that it could "run for ever or break down tomorrow" Issue for me is that it is VERY apparent through multiple resources that Toyota clearly is aware of this issue. Recalled in 2017, and 2018.....but looks like most is happening with the 2019 with no accountability on their part. Power train warranty expires at 60,000 miles....yet 75% of reported issues are in between $60,000-$70,000 with Toyota offering ZERO assistance or taking any responsibility or action. No warnings on the dash, no lights. Either loud noise, high rev RPM, or sudden erratic shifting. Just Toyota....saying "yeah we know about it, but still not helping with it, not extending the warranty, and just leaving you with a $8,000-$10,000 bill or continue with a ticking time bomb. Negligence is a safety issue. A big one.

Transmission has a whine at 117,000 miles. No warning lights. An independent shop advised the transmission is bad and needs replaced. After reading numerous similar complaints, I believe the premature failing of the transmission jeopardizes people's safety as improper shifting could cause an accident. Currently waiting on an appointment at a Toyota dealership.

While driving my car, the check engine light turned on and my car listed hybrid system malfunction as a flashing indicator. It lost all power in the middle of the road and I was unable to drive and move vehicle. This is the third incident with the same problem since purchasing.

Transmission/transfer case has a known bearing/internal fault that makes a whining sound between 20-40 mph, vehicle has only 56,000 miles. Based on other owner experiences the transmission must be replaced at an estimated cost of 10,000-13,000 dollars.

The transmission started making a whining noise at 100k miles and is getting worse as the mileage gets higher. There is a similar problem with 2017-2018 models.

The vehicle has developed a whining noise from the transmission on acceleration. It is the same symptoms included in a customer support bulletin for 2017, 2018 models with the same transmission. I’ve been unable to locate a bulletin covering the 2019 that I own even though it is the same issue.

My Highlander currently has 91,700 miles. Over the last 60 days, it has developed a high-pitched whine during acceleration under power. The sound starts at about 20 MPH and continues. I presented it to the dealer 30 days ago and they suggested new tires, front and rear brakes and an alignment. Those repairs have all been completed and the noise continues and may have gotten worse. A second diagnostic visit revealed the need for a new transmission at a cost of $11,005. The part number involved is T030510-48601-84. Safe operation of the vehicle is at risk as I could be stranded or worse as I wait for a part that is on back-order. There are no warning lights or check engine lights.

In driving my vehicle the RPM stayed high I took it into the Toyota dealer in Albany Ga and was told that the transmission was stuck in 3rd gear and the transmission needed to be replaced. My vehicle currently has 66k mikes on it so it is not covered by a warranty. I read where the 2018 Highlander had reported issues with their transmissions. I checked to see if one of the 2018 transmissions were put in my 2019 model and all I was told was there was not a recall on my vehicle. Yet if I were to order a new transmission through Toyota they told me they are on back order for anywhere of two weeks to two months. Sounds like they are having issues if they have none in stock.

The engine can be turned off while the shift (automatic) lever is not in Park. If the driver does not realize the failure to put the lever in Park, the car can roll freely. My car is available for inspection, but I was given to believe by Toyota service that this is a standard feature on all 2019 Highlanders. Safety is continually at risk because the car can roll and cause injury to an exiting passenger, another car, or a pedestrian. The car has not been inspected for this since Toyota does not believe this is a problem. There is a warning lamp triangle ! but no sound. The message says "Shift to P before exiting vehicle" . While proper parking is my responsibility, I have not seen the in any other type of vehicle in which I have ridden or driven, Honda, GMC, Chevrolet, Dodge Aspen--all owned and driven by me. This is an ongoing "condition", not an "incident".

Took the vehicle twice to Toyota to check on console vibration originating from possible drivetrain (normally in cold weather). This was done under extended warranty. Also had transmission fluid replaced. Service department noticed fluid low even though there was no transmission leak. Service department couldn't duplicate issue but failed to attempt start of vehicle in early mornings as requested. About 10K miles after last attempt to get issue fixed, the transmission failed with no caution, no warning and no error codes. Symptoms included little to zero acceleration from a dead stop and inability to accelerate to higher speeds when necessary (main safety issue). Eventually, vehicle was not able to accelerate. This vehicle does have the 8-speed AT Transmission that lawsuits are being filed against.

Both the right and left constant velocity axels are making noise. The dealer tells us it is under warranty and will be repaired. However, there are no repair parts available and on national back order. The dealer parts department indicates that there have been problems with the 2019 Highlander cv axels, and all replacement parts have been used. My question is how many highlanders have bad cv axels? Is there more of a problem than just a back order. The dealer indicated we could continue to drive the car until it starts to vibrate.

2019 Toyota Highlander SE V6 FWD - Transmission failing 106000 miles. Transmission has developed a whining sound while accelerating. Fayetteville AR Toyota dealer initial diagnosis was a loose heat shield and recommended a front end alignment, which was done. Noise continued. Independent transmission shop diagnosis was potentially failing bearing, but most likely transmission beginning to fail. Fayetteville AR Toyota dealer, diagnosis upon return, transmission failing, needing replacement. $7,000+ for parts, 5 week lead time to order. Recommended to not drive vehicle as transmission could fail while driving.

2019 Highlander has whining noise when accelerating so we brought it into the dealership. They stated it needs a new transmission assembly - $11,741.41. This is unacceptable for a four year old vehicle. I have contacted Toyota directly, they stated there is nothing they can do for us because we are over the 60,000 warranty.

My car was manufactured in 10/2018. My car is experiencing whine noise from the transmission while driving, harsh shifting and reduced power. This issue also appeared on previous year models from 2017-2018 and was taken care under bulletin "T-SB-0160-18". However, I called Toyota and they don't want to fix my vehicle under that bulletin even though the issue my car faces is the same. I checked online and many Toyota Highlander Owners face the same issue. I can be contacted on [XXX] or [XXX] Thanks, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Our 2019 Highlander xle ( VIN [XXX]) is currently at the Lonestar service department. Service Rep ([XXX]), Assistant Sales Manager [XXX], and [XXX], were fully advised of the stall problems of our vehicle on 9/13/2031. Our paperwork on previous tall repairs were left with [XXX]. On 9/13/2021, we left our 2019, Highlander XLE in the Toyota Lonestar Service department, Lewisville, Texas, for stalling (would not drive) repairs. They were fully notified of several stall episodes. The most recent stall was while driving, 30 mph in Denton, Texas, in heavy traffic, in the middle of an intersection. My wife was terrified when the car stalled. The screen went black. Her car mileage was 9344 mileage at this most recent problem 9/2021. My wife when she starts the car leaving the house. She always going through the procedure to turn off the "start/stop" function, before leaving our residence ("manually turns off the auto stop-start feature"). This vehicle has stalled, several times, in heavy traffic while wife was driving, putting my wife in personal danger. The vehicle is very much at risk of a serious traffic accident. The Toyota dealer, in Denton Texas, has been made aware this problem, when it was returned for service repairs several times. They have not fixed this on going problem at all. This car is a "Lemon". This problem has occurred (stalls occurred on 3/16/2021, and 3/26/2021, 5/17/2019)The care was taken to Lonestar Toyota and Denton Toyota for repairs on these stall occasions. My wife says there were additional stall episodes. The Denton Police have a report of my wife being stalled on I-35 in heavy traffic on 3/5/2021. We waited in a police car for four hours for a tow truck, because of dangerous fast traffic. My wife says two other police departments have similar reports of these stall episodes, when police responded, (Flower Mound Police was one she recalled. https://www.consumerreports.org/car-recalls-defec INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW WITH ABOUT 11 MILE ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION IMMEDIATELY HAD SHIFTING ISSUES AS IT COULD NOT DECIDE WHAT FORWARD GEAR TO GO INTO AND SHIFTED HARD AND FELT AS IF IT WAS GOING INTO TWO GEARS AT ONE TIME AND AFTER A SHORT DRIVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING DISPLAY INDICATED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WARNING THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHEATING AND ACTED AS IF THE ENGINE WAS STARVING OF FUEL AS IT SURGED AND DID NOT DELIVER POWER TO GO BEYOND 35 MPH. AFTER I BOUGHT IT THE DEALER REASSURED ME AT LEAST THREE TIMES THAT THE CAR WAS OKAY AND THAT THIS IS THE WAY THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS. I REPEATEDLY HAD THE DEALER CHECK IT AND THE DEALER REASSURED ME THAT THERE WAS NO TROUBLE CODE AND NO PROBLEMS FOUND ALTHOUGH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SHOWED TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING AND THEY FIXED A WIRING CONNECTOR TO TRY AND FIX THE RUNNING PROBLEM. A CLASS ACTION SUIT CAME OUT FOR THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE RECALL AND THE 8 SPEED TRANSMISSION. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURE ARE TRYING TO HIDE. AFTER 13 MONTHS AND 2,800 TOTAL MILES THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED, BURNED UP THE INTERNAL CLUTCH SET AND I NOW HAVE NO FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARS. I FEEL THAT THE SURGING AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ARE A SOFTWARE DEFECT AS THE SHIFTING DEFECT COMES AND GOES AND VASTLY PROMOTED IF I DRIVE IT VERY GENTLY FROM A COLD START. ONCE WARMED UP IT DOES NOT ACT UP AS OFTEN EXCEPT WHEN TWO GEARS SEEM TO BE ENGAGED AT THE SAME TIME. THE KEY ALSO INTERMITTENTLY DOES NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ALSO SHOWS TRAC LIGHT , ABS FAILURE LIGHT, BSM NOT AVAILABLE, SMART KEY FAILURE, AND COMPLETE BLACK OUT OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND SHOWN TO THE DEALER MECHANIC AND SERVICE WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHED AND VIDEOTAPED FOR DOCUMENTATION AND IN THE REPAIR ORDERS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEW COUNTRY TOYOTA OF CLIFTON PARK (202 RTE 146, MECHANICVILLE, NY 12118, (518) 670-4332) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND TEST DRIVEN. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO FIX FOR THE TECT TIP WHICH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NO RESOLUTION WAS SET FOR THE ISSUE HOWEVER, AN INVESTIGATION WAS STARTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,000.

WHEN I AM DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SEARCHES FOR THE CORRECT GEAR. IT'S VERY ROUGH AND AT TIMES HAS MADE DRIVING UNSAFE. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AT LOWER SPEEDS.

LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS IN ACCELERATION FROM A STOP; SLUGGISH RESPONSE TO PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR WHILE MOVING AND ATTEMPTING TO PASS SLOWER MOVING VEHICLES; HAVE NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT MORE THAN ONCE WHEN TURNING/PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC WITH PLENTY OF SPACE BUT UNABLE TO ACCELERATE CORRECTLY. ALSO UNEVEN SHIFTING; TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS.

WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AGAIN THERE IS A HESITATION FROM WHEN I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND WHEN THE CAR ACTUALLY ACCELERATES. IT HAPPENS FROM A COMPLETE STOP SOMETIMES ALSO. SOMETIMES THE CAR JERKS WHEN IT DOES THIS. THE PASSENGER CAN FEEL IT ALSO

2019 HIGHLANDER PURCHASED 12/2019. I GUESS I AM LUCKY, MINE HAS NOT STALLED YET. VERY POOR THROTTLE RESPONSE. TAKEN TO AUTIO NATION TOYOTA FT MYERS 3 TIMES INCLUDING HAVING A REGIONAL REP THERE. HE CLAIMS MINE IS OPERATING WITHIN FACTORY SPECS. SUPPOSEDLY MINE IS NOT A PART OF THE FUEL PUMP ISSUE. NOT THAT IT MATTERS TOYOTA SAYS THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. FACTORY REP SAYS MINE HAS 41 COMPUTERS. WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG? YEH RIGHT LOOK AT THIS WEB SITE AND SEE THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ACROSS THE TOTAL TOYOTA LINE INCLUDING LEXUS. WARNING IF YOU HAVE THE LANE DEPARTURE FEATURE (LDA) BE EXTRA CAREFU. IF THE LDA ACTIVATES AND YOURS IS ONE WITH THE LACK OF THROTTLE RESPONSE, IT MAY END UP MOVING YOU INTO ANOTHER LANE OR OFF THE ROADWAY.IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME. ACCCELRATER SHIFTED WAT DOWN AND ALMOST PUT ME IN ANOTHER LANE. LUCKILY NO OTHER VEHICLES PRESENT HOW MANY BODY BAGS WILL IT TAKE TO FORCE THE FEDS TO ACT? OH I FORGOT. THEY ARE NEEDED ELSE WHERE. TOYOTA WINS Y MORE LIKE A THUNDERSTORM. IF YOU BOTHER TO SCAN THIS FED WEB SITE YOU WILL SEE ALL TH ALL I KNOW IS TO THE CAR BUCKS, FAILS TO RESPOND TO NORMAL ACCELERATION, OR OVER DOWNSHIFTS. SO FAR I HAVEN'T TAKEN OUT ANY OTHER VHICLE ,PERSON, OR ME. IF YOUR VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE LANE DEPARTURE FEATURE (LDA) WATCH OUT IF YOU TRYING TO ACCELERATE, MINE LDA ACTIVATED, AND ALMOST PUT ME IN ANOTHER LANE. LUCKLY THERE WASN'T ANOTHER ANOTHER CAR THERE. READ ALL THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS FEDERAL WEBSITE COVERING ALL MODELS OF THE TOYOTA BRAND (LEXUS INCLUDED) WITH THE 8 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND SEE NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY TOYOTA OR THE FEDS. I WONDER IF THE FEDS NEED A BODY BAG COUNT TO TAKE ACTION. OH I FORGOT THE BAGS ARE NEEDED ELSE WHERE AND TOYOTA WILL WIN.

WITH 300MILES ON HIGHLANDER STARTED TO EXPERIENCE ISSUES IN DRIVING AND DROP IN PERFORMANCE. PERFORMANCE WAS VERY SIGNIFICANT ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE IN MPG. AT SCENARIOS WHEN THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE UP THE HILL BUT REV TO MAX AND START ROLLING BACK WITH 'CLICKING' NOISE. TOYOTA WAS SEND TO SERVICE MANY TIMES AFTER TO MULTIPLE TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY DIAGNOSIS. AT 15K MILES ON THE CAR DRIVING ON HIGHWAY (70MPH) THE HIGHLANDER LOST POWER AND STARTED LOUD NOISE. WHEN PULLED OVER FOUND OIL SMELL AND SMOKE FROM ENGINE. DURING EXAMINATION FOUND 3 CYLINDER WENT LOOSE. DURING THAT TIME ONE OF THEM CAME OFF THE SIDE AND HIT THE TRANSMISSION. ALMOST A FULL MONTH THE HIGHLANDER WAS REBUILT BUT NO FINAL WORD WHAT HAD HAPPENED BY TOYOTA CORP. THE CAR IS ABOUT 17K MILES AND STARTED TO ACT THE SAME WAY. AS A FAMILY WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR ESPECIALLY MY PREGNANT WIFE WITH CHILDREN. I AM AFRAID THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN AND CAN LOCK UP ALL WHEELS AND CAN RESULT IN MASSIVE ACCIDENT. TOYOTA IS NOT TAKING THIS AS SERIOUS AND SEEMS TO ME THEY DO NOT CARE. AS OF RIGHT NOW THE HIGHLANDER HAS PROBLEMS WITH ALIGNMENT, LANE ASSIST, AND LACK OF POWER. PLEASE SEE PICTURES. *TR

I OWN A 2019 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, IT HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES DURING BUSY COMMUTE TO OR FROM WORK. I AM SO SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, THAT I REFUSE TO DRIVE IT TO ANY DESTINATION LONGER THAN 50 MILES. I NEED THIS CAR REPLACED, I HAVE THREE YOUNG CHILDREN, AND I PAYING FOR AN UNSAFE, UNRELIABLE CAR. I WOULD LIKE FOR TOYOTA TO REPLACE THIS VEHICLE.

WHEN TRYING TO COAST TO A STOP AT AROUND 4 MPH THE CAR WILL SLAM TO A STOP. DOES NOT ALWAYS DO THIS BUT IT'S SOMETIMES VERY HARD TO COME TO A SMOOTH STOP AS THE CARS BRAKING SYSTEM (REGENERATIVE BRAKING?) WILL KICK IN BY ITSELF. CAN BE DANGEROUS IF A CAR IS TAILING VERY CLOSE TO ME AS IT WILL SEEM LIKE I'M DRIVING UNPREDICTABLY. TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT THE TIME. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT IT IS MORE LIKELY TO DO THIS WHEN THE CAR IS STILL WARMING UP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAMER TOYOTA (11041 SEPULVEDA BLVD, MISSION HILLS, CA 91345), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.