2018 Toyota Highlander Complaints

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 04/20/2026

The Pre-Collision System (PCS) failed to engage the automatic emergency braking during a stop-and-go traffic, thereby, resulting in rear-ending the vehicle ahead of our 2018 Highlander Limited vehicle. Our Highlander was at a complete stop, then when the traffic moved slowly forward, we too started moving forward but didn't realize the vehicle ahead of us had suddenly stopped again. Our Highlander alerted us with high-pitched beep-beep-beep sound, but it didn't stop before colliding with the rear of the vehicle ahead of us. The speed couldn't have been more than 10 MPH since it started out from a complete stop and the distance traveled before the collision was about 40 feet. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the collision. It always beeped, like it should, when there were nearby obstacles, pedestrians, and when we got closer to the end of our garage parking space, etc. PCS sensitivity was set at the highest level (3 bars).

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 05/14/2026

I was parking my car and was almost to the gray slab to stop when the car suddenly surged forward! It felt like an airplane taking off. I hit a brick building. Somehow my nose was broken, and I was bleeding profusely. If someone had been walking on the sidewalk in front of me, they would have been crushed against the brick wall. Others have had this problem; in fact, one lady said she almost hit a brick wall! Ironic! There was no warning of any kind. However, the day before, while driving on the highway, the car did the same thing: it surged forward, but fortunately I was able to control it, and there had been no one in front of me. If I had been driving locally, I surely would have hit someone, and who knows what the consequence would have been. The Insurance Company towed the car and totaled it.

AIR BAGS — Filed 03/27/2026

The contact owned a 2018 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, occupied with her children in the rear passenger seats, the contact was attempting to merge onto the intersection, and a state trooper failed to yield at 55-60 MPH vehicle crashed into the front driver's side of the vehicle, causing the whole front end of the vehicle to detach from the vehicle. The contact stated that no air bags were deployed in her vehicle. The contact stated that she and her children sustained injuries, however under direct legal advice, she cannot disclose this information. Medical attention was required. The contact stated that a police report was filed. The contact mentioned the vehicle was towed to a collision center where it was declared destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

AIR BAGS — Filed 01/19/2024

My son and his friends were involved in a collision and the air bags did not deploy

AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 10/10/2023

10/10 Tapped pedal into Drive: Toyota Highlander 2018 Car sped off at 50mph with my foot on brake for 3 minutes Holding brake down and down-shifting did nothing Vehicle stopped when it hit a pole destroying passenger-side fender and bumper Airbag did not deploy Unintended acceleration/sticky pedal as reported early this century when Toyota recalled 80,000 vehicles. On 11/17/2023 an ER or Black Box four hour test/investigation was performed and I was told I would have results 12/28. Zero! When I telephone to report I was supposed to have EDR test results in 30 days, the operator (not the unreachable quality control personnel) tells me, "Well review of your crash results could take longer than 30 days." need to have a safe car to drive to work but this one has a potentially deadly defect. I have completed the inspection of your vehicle. Inspection report from Bosch to Toyota below: Please find three files attached to this email: 1) EDR FAQ_2.0.PDF "Frequently Asked Questions" related to the information in the Event Data Recorder (the Air Bag Control unit's digital memory). 2) [XXX]_ACM.PDF The Event Data from your vehicle in PDF form, this file will open on your computer. 3) [XXX]_ACM.CDRx This file contains the same information as Item #2, but it is a special format that will not display on your computer. It is sent to you so you will have the raw data for the #2 file above. I am not trained to interpret this data for you. The engineers will interpret this data and respond to you with their findings within 30 business days. 3 Attachments • Scanned by Gmail INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 10/10/2023

My relatives remembered the 2002-2011 recall of 80,000 Toyotas, 90 deaths due to unintended acceleration and said that seems exactly what happened to me last month. NEAR FATAL COLLISION DUE TO STICKY PEDAL 2018 Toyota Highlander 10/10 Slowly backed out of parking space in large, empty commercial lot: sunny day, 3pm  Tapped pedal into Drive  Car sped off at 50+mph with my foot off pedal  Sped around lot for approximately 3minutes  Holding brake down and down-shifting did nothing except cause sheer terror with my uncontrollable vehicle  Hit pole and vehicle came to a stop after near-complete destruction of passenger-side bumper  No injury except sheer mental terror  No witnesses DO NOT Blame the victim. Dealer says all-weather floormat could never have been or be involved.

AIR BAGS — Filed 07/27/2023

Was hit in the side in passenger door, which pushed my car off the road and hit a tree head on going approximately 40 mph. NO Airbags deployed anywhere in the car. I took pictures of entire interior and also a video showing no airbag deployment. Police, fire and first responders and completely shocked that no airbags deployed. Injuries occurred, thank fully no life threatening. However had the airbags deployed as they should have, and why we chose to buy this vehicle in the first place, those injuries could have been minimalized. If you need any additional info, please let me know. Toyota needs to be made aware of this.

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS — Filed 06/08/2023

I was involved In a rear collision that then pushed me into a front end collision. The airbags and seat belts did not deploy or lock.

AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 09/17/2022

A car hit me on the back passenger door. My car was pushed to the curb where I hit a tree and the air bags didn't go off. My dad was injured bad.

AIR BAGS — Filed 09/17/2022

I was traveling down the road, when a car hit my car in the back passenger door. My car was pushed onto the curb and it hit a tree. My car was totaled and it was a hit and run. The air bags didn't go off and my dad and I were hurt. I reported it to Toyota and the car was put on hold be the insurance company. There were no warning lights and the emergency stop didn't work. the car had 15000 on it and it was inspected in Jan. 2022.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 06/02/2022

The car Low Pressure Break pop up and lock the break because of "Low Pressure Vacuum pump" unable to Break crashing into the curve when back up. after stop the car the car wouldn't start up again.

STRUCTURE — Filed 10/02/2020

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Highlander equipped with a tow package. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle in for service, he made the dealer aware that on the passenger’s side rear of the vehicle where the muffler tip came out from underneath the vehicle that the plastic piece above the muffler was melted from exhaust heat coming from the muffler while towing his trailer. The dealer documented the incident and forwarded the findings to the manufacturer. The contact did not receive a callback, so he contacted the dealer and was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty and therefore there was nothing to pursue. The contact was concerned that there would be severe damage done to the bumper and wiring harness from the exhaust heat. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was still awaiting a response from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. The VIN was not available.

SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 09/11/2021

Where the incident happened? The incident happened at the following google coordinates (39.21707240377137, -77.6491829535095) on an unpaved, but well-maintained road. When this incident took place? 09/11/2021 – around 10.30am Who is travelling with you? I was travelling with my wife (Vijaya) and Pet Dog (Leo). Both my wife and I have the seat belts on. How are the driving conditions? A bright and sunny morning with clear visibility, minimal wind and no rain. The road is totally dry. In a way perfect driving condition. How the incident happened? A white truck came in the opposite direction and since the road is narrow I pulled my highlander to the right, where there is some loose gravel on the side of the road. When I pulled to the side I am almost at a standstill and after the truck had passed started moving the car towards the middle of the road. At this moment the Highlander suddenly started swiveling to the left, and the traction became very wobbly and when tried to apply brakes, brake did not work at all. In stead the car started going out of control on the left side and is about to crash into 2 large trees on the side of the car. At that time without having any control over the brakes, I tried to steer towards right and the car turned sharp towards right, crossed road and fell into a 15 feet ditch on the right side of the car. What is the Car behavior witnessed? Total loss of Breaks, self-acceleration, and unpredictable steering control. The whole incident might’ve happened in about 10-15 seconds. Neither the auto-braking nor the collision control has triggered. Not sure what triggered this behavior of the car. It appeared as if the car tried to auto-correct the traction and something malfunctioned.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION — Filed 01/10/2020

1) BIGGEST ISSUE: I BOUGHT MY SUV NEW. IT WAS ADVERTISED 30/28 MPG. MY AVERAGE MPG SINCE I BOUGHT IT IS 22-23. 2) IT SLIDES WITH BARELY ANY ICE OR RAIN. IT IS AWFUL. IT SLIDE BACKWARD DOWN A SMALL HILL LAST YEAR & CAUSED ME TO CRASH. POLICE RESPONDED BUT WERE TOO BUSY WITH OTHER INCIDENTS TO WRITE A REPORT. I HAD THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES & RENTAL CAR FEES FOR THE 5-6 WEEKS IT TOOK TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I LIVE IN THE PNW AND HAVE DRIVEN IN SNOW 35 YEARS. I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH BAD PERFORMANCE. I HAD TO BY MICHELIN ICE TIRES THIS YEAR BC OUR SUV IS SO BAD IN SNOW & ICE. 3) I WAS IN A MINOR COLLISION IN A PARKING LOT BC I DIDN'T SEE ANOTHER CAR BACKING OUT AT THE SAME TIME AND THE COLLISION SENSOR DIDN'T GO OFF. MY SENSORS WERE CLEAN 4) WHEN THE SENSORS HAVE EVEN THE SMALLEST LAYER OF SNOW THEY STOP WORKING. THAT MAKES THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM STOP WORKING TOO. VERY FRUSTRATING. THE RESULT OF THESE ISSUES IS AN INCREASE BY $800/MO OF MY AUTO INSURANCE. BEFORE THIS SUV I HADN'T EVEN HAD A SPEEDING TICKET IN 14 YEARS. DATE OF ACCIDENT LISTED IS APPROXIMATION. NOW I HAVE 2 COLLISIONS. WISH I HAD PURCHASED SOMETHING ELSE.

AIR BAGS — Filed 02/28/2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STANDSTILL, ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING AT 50 MPH CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE 5 INJURED REPORTED AND 3 NEEDED MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO POLICE LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000.

SEATS — Filed 03/20/2018

I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SEAT AS IT GAVE INSTANT PAIN IN THE SPINE AND NECK AND VERY HARD TO DRIVE SITTING ON THE DRIVERS OR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SEAT. BEING TOO CURVEY IS NEITHER AGRONOMIC FOR ANY STANDARD SIZE HUMAN BEING NOR ALLOWS ANY REST TO THE BACKBONE. THE HEADREST IS VERY TILTED FORWARD, WHICH STRAINS THE SPINE AND NECK IMMEDIATELY. I HAD A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005, AND I DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO ANY TEST DRIVE BECAUSE THE SEAT ON THE HIGHLANDER 2005 WAS VERY COMFORTABLE. BUT 2018 IS HORRIBLE TO DRIVE. I'M VERY MUCH REGRETTING BUYING SUCH A CAR THAT I CAN'T DRIVE WITHOUT HURTING MY SPINE AND NECK. THE TOYOTA SUPPORT SUGGESTED USING A CUSHION BETWEEN THE SEAT AND DRIVERS BACK, AND THE VENDOR OFFERED NO TO FIX THE ISSUE. I DON'T THINK I'LL EVER BUY FROM A BUSINESS THAT PUNISHES THE CUSTOMER THROUGH SELLING HORRIBLE PRODUCTS AND DECLINE TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX IT. I ENDED UP PAYING ABOUT $35000 FOR A NOT RIDABLE VEHICLE, AND I'M FEELING MISERABLE ABOUT IT.

AIR BAGS — Filed 08/30/2020

SUV WAS IN A CRASH AND HIT A TREE MID FRONT BUMPER WITH SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF SUV. DAMAGE APPEARS TO BE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FORWARD. DRIVER WAS WEARING SEATBELT AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED OF ANY KIND IN ANY AREA OF THE SUV. DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS INJURED. VEHICLE WAS IN FORWARD MOTION AT AN UNKNOWN RATE OF SPEED . WAITING TO SEE IF SUV WILL BE A TOTAL LOSS VIA INSURANCE COMPANY. COMPONENT SYSTEM THAT APPEARS TO BE S CAUSE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS THE AIR BAG SYSTEM.

AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 02/23/2020

SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS AND THE CAR KEPT GOING AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR INFRONT OF ME. THERE WAS AT LEAST 300 FEET DISTANCE FROM THE TIME I SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS TILL THE CRASH. I WAS GOING ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 50 MPH.

AIR BAGS — Filed 01/25/2020

WE WERE INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 01/25/2020 WHERE WE EXPERIENCED A FRONT IMPACT COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE WERE IN MOTION IN THE LEFT TURNING LANE OF A TWO LANE ROAD, THE ADVERSE VEHICLE PULLED OUT FROM A PARKING LOT ON THE RIGHT, CROSSED TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC RIGHT INTO THE FRONT OF OUR VEHICLE CAUSING US TO COLLIDE. THE FORCE OF THE COLLISION WAS SO HARD THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT ON THE TOP SIDE HAS BROKEN AWAY FROM THE ENGINE, I PROJECTED FORWARD AND MY GLASSES FLEW FROM MY FACE. MY WIFE AND I HAVE BUMPS AND BRUISES, ISSUES WITH OUR BACKS, SHOULDER AND WRIST PAIN. DURING THE IMPPACT THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER HAS DECLARED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. WHEN WE SPOKE WITH THE BODY SHOP THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF WITH THIS TYPE OF IMPACT.

SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) — Filed 01/25/2020

VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND ROLLED. IT PICKED UP SPEED AS IT CONTINUED TO ROLL AND THERE WEREN'T ANY OCCUPANT. THIS TOOK PLACE IN A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE ROLLS WHILE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ON ALLL THE TIME AS WELL.

AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE — Filed 01/28/2020

I WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 1/28/20 WHERE I SUSTAINED A DIRECT, FRONT IMPACT COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, ACCELERATING FORWARD THROUGH A GREEN-LIT INTERSECTION WHEN A LARGE DODGE RAM TRUCK TURNED IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING OUR VEHICLES TO COLLIDE. THE IMPACT WAS SO HEAVY THAT IT CAUSED MY BODY TO PROJECT FORWARD AND UPWARDS. MY SON'S GLASSES FLEW OFF HIS FACE AND ALL CUPS IN CUP HOLDERS FLEW ACROSS THE CAR. MY SON COMPLAINED OF THE SEATBELT HURTING HIS SHOULDER, AND I SUSTAINED BRUISES ON MY LEGS AND ARMS. UPON THIS IMPACT, NO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. THIS CAR WAS DETERMINED BY THE ADJUSTER TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR STATED HE WAS 'SHOCKED' THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON SUCH A 'GNARLY' COLLISION. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER REPORTED THAT HE WAS 'FLABBERGASTED' THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE IMPACT.

STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 10/01/2019

WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE, SLOWLY, WITH RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, GETTING READY TO STOP BEFORE THE CURB, THE CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB GOING OVER THE SIDEWALK AND HIT THE BUILDING. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE WHEN IT STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED IN A DOCTORS OFFICE PARKING LOT. AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 12/04/2018

THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM FAILED TO ASSIST IN AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY IN TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY. SINCE THE REPAIR, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE SPEEDOMETER SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSES AS IF THE ABS SYSTEM IS ENGAGING. ONCE IT STOPPED ME SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY CITY STREET. WENT FROM 35 TO 0 VERY SUDDENLY. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO 2 DEALERS AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THE SYSTEM DOES NOT INDICATE AN ERROR EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHT IS ON AND THEY TESTED WHILE IT WAS ON. I CAN RECREATE THE ISSUE BY ACCELERATING QUICKLY WHILE TURNING LEFT. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WHEN GOING STRAIGHT, BUT THE ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE IT WILL HAPPEN IS TO TURN AND ACCELERATE QUICKLY. NEITHER OF THE 2 DEALERS I HAVE TAKEN IT TO HAVE FOUND THE ISSUE AND TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE STOPPED CALLING ME BACK.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 01/12/2019

DURING THE WINTER OR WHEN THE ROAD IS WET OR MUDDY, THE RADAR CONTROLLED CRUISE CONTROL , AND OTHER SAFETY FEATURES SHUT DOWN. THIS RESULTS IN DANGER TO THE PASSANGERS WHO ARE TOLD ON THE IN DASH SCREEN TO STOP AND CLEAN THE SENSORS. MY BACK UP CAMERA WAS CLOUDED AND DID NOT SHOW A CAR BEHIND ME AND I BACKED INTO IT RESULTING IN COSTLY REPAIRS.

AIR BAGS,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 07/07/2018

RECENTLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN GOING IN REVERSE. THE SRS ALARM MALFUNCTIONED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE REVERSE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT INDICATED THAT I WAS CLOSE TO THE OBJECT.