Your vehicle report
2017 Toyota Highlander
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 271
- Received Feb 2017 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Transmission fails or loses power while driving37 complaints · 14% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Glass shatters or cracks without impact16 complaints · 5.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Engine suddenly shuts off while driving12 complaints · 4.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #20V682000Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
- Recall #17V520000Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2017 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles equipped with accessory roof rail cross bars. The fasteners for the roof rails may not be torqued properly.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Transmission fails or loses power while drivingFirst signal: Jan 2020
- Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slipsFirst signal: Jun 2025
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 18 crashes, 2 fires, 26 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
- Battery drains and dies when parked
- Infotainment screen ghost-touches and changes on its own
- Engine won't start or cranks intermittently
1 more problem
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 28 |
| 2018 | 28 |
| 2019 | 27 |
| 2020 | 20 |
| 2021 | 39 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 29 |
| 2024 | 22 |
| 2025 | 29 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 34 |
| Total | 271 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 37 | 14% | 15.4× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jan 2020 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 2.9% |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 16 | 5.9% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 12 | 4.4% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 11 | 4.1% | 3.1× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jun 2025 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.9% |
| Fuel pump fails and engine stalls | 11 | 4.1% | 3.4× | NHTSA recall #20V682000 |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 9 | 3.3% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 8 | 2.9% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 8 | 2.9% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 6 | 2.2% | – | |
| Battery drains and dies when parked | 6 | 2.2% | – | |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 5 | 1.8% | 9× | |
| Automatic emergency braking applies without reason | 5 | 1.8% | – | |
| Infotainment screen ghost-touches and changes on its own | 4 | 1.5% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 4 | 1.5% | – | |
| Cruise control fails to disengage | 4 | 1.5% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 4 | 1.5% | – | |
| Engine won't start or cranks intermittently | 4 | 1.5% | – | |
| Paint peels off roof and hood | 3 | 1.1% | – | |
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 3 | 1.1% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 3 | 1.1% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #20V682000November 4, 20201,525,742 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
NHTSA recall #17V520000August 23, 20171,121 vehicles affected
equipment
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2017 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles equipped with accessory roof rail cross bars. The fasteners for the roof rails may not be torqued properly.
The roof rails may loosen and possibly detach from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
GST will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and properly torque the fasteners, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2017. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 17R3.
NHTSA recall #17V295000May 2, 2017409 vehicles affected
tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.
A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2017 Toyota Highlander.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN