repaired · 2022 Q4
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
2019 Toyota HighlanderProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 511 owner complaints about the 2019 Toyota Highlander, most often about the power train. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-244 the manufacturer reports only 67% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 5, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2019 Toyota Highlander has problems
511 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
217Power train
89Fuel/propulsion system2 crash/fire/injury
72Engine3 crash/fire/injury
56Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
19Fuel system, gasoline
18Service brakes
14Air bags
13Vehicle speed control
12Structure
7119 other systems8 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 217 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 89 | 2 |
| Engine | 72 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 56 | 3 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 19 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 18 | 4 |
| Air bags | 14 | 8 |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 4 |
| Structure | 12 | 4 |
| 19 other systems | 71 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2019 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 · 2022 Q1
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Other: labels
Risk. If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, 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?
65kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 33 power train complaints. 79% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 28% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
12under 30k miles26under 100k miles7100k 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
33 owners mentioned a cost$10,000median
Middle half: $8,000 – $11,005
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
2019 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
2019 Toyota Highlander safety ratings
2019 Toyota Highlander SUV FWD 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: Standard
- Lane departure warning: Standard
In owners' words
What Highlander owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while his wife was driving, the engine made an abnormal sound. While making a turn, the vehicle experienced a loss of motive power, slowly responded, and the transmission failed to shift properly. The traction control warning light…
Transmission. I brought my 2019 Toyota Highlander to the Toyota dealer for an oil change. Reported a whirring sound when depressing the gas. After they inspected it, I was told it needs a new transmission. I don't know when it can malfunction when driving.
Whining in the transmission. Took to a certified Toyota Mechanic and confirmed transmission is failing. Will need a total transmission replacement.
Own a 2019 Highlander?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.