repaired · 2022 Q4
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
2017 Toyota HighlanderProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 272 owner complaints about the 2017 Toyota Highlander, most often about the power train. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-295 the manufacturer reports only 58% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 1, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2017 Toyota Highlander has problems
272 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
78Power train4 crash/fire/injury
47Engine5 crash/fire/injury
46Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
28Fuel/propulsion system1 crash/fire/injury
28Service brakes5 crash/fire/injury
13Vehicle speed control
12Visibility/wiper
9Air bags
9Fuel system, gasoline
5516 other systems8 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 78 | 4 |
| Engine | 47 | 5 |
| Electrical system | 46 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 28 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 28 | 5 |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 4 |
| Visibility/wiper | 12 | 1 |
| Air bags | 9 | 6 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 9 | 0 |
| 16 other systems | 55 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2017 Toyota Highlander recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2018 Q4
Equipment
Risk. The roof rails may loosen and possibly detach from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2018 Q3
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
Risk. A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Toyota.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
20kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 25 power train complaints. 100% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 45% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
16under 30k miles25under 100k miles0100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
8 owners mentioned a cost$7,575median
Middle half: $3,875 – $9,125
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2017 vs. every other Highlander year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Highlander median. How we score
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2017 Toyota Highlander safety ratings
2017 Toyota Highlander SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (16.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Standard
In owners' words
What Highlander owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The UA80 Transmission whine began around 120000 miles, this transmission is from the same [XXX] plant that the ZJC CSP has been issued out of but they claim my vin doesn’t fall into the margin of VIN numbers that are covered. On XXX the Toyota service center of Dan Cava Toyota world in [XXX] stated…
Transmission whining, rough shifts at lower gears. Dealership says my car doesn't fall under the secondary csp even though it has the same symptoms.
Transmission failure after whining noise, taken to Toyota multiple times with no diagnosis. Today was informed the transmission is failing by another mechanic. 193,000 miles.
Own a 2017 Highlander?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.