Toyota Highlander transmission and drivetrain problems, 2016–2026
764 of the 2,522 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Toyota Highlander 2016–2026 name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). The loudest years: 2021 (222), 2019 (199), 2020 (126). Filed under the same heading across these years: no document yet. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Toyota Highlander transmission and drivetrain problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 50% | — | — | the year → |
| 2025 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 | 3 | 7% | — | — | the year → |
| 2023 | 20 | 10% | — | — | the year → |
| 2022 | 54 | 20% | — | — | the year → |
| 2021 | 222 | 41% | — | — | the year → |
| 2020 | 126 | 39% | 78k | — | the year → |
| 2019 | 199 | 40% | 64k | — | the year → |
| 2018 in depth | 66 | 24% | 92k | 15 TSBs | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 73 | 27% | 20k | 15 TSBs | the record → |
| 2016 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the transmission and drivetrain. Nothing here is a rate.
When the transmission and drivetrain complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2017: 4 · 2018: 9 · 2019: 7 · 2020: 15 · 2021: 11 · 2022: 11 · 2023: 26 · 2024: 92 · 2025: 275 · 2026: 314
Across the model years, half of the 95 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 16,000 and 90,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I was coming home from work and the break system fail and then I was coming to sa stop light I was able to break slowly and I was able to go into shell gas station got off to put gas and the started talking to take it to the near dealer Toyota .I got off the vechicle put gas and when I started to turn on I would turn on at all I do t…
A whine developed while accelerating on the highway. The whine continued any time I accelerated higher than about 35 mph. I suspected it was the transmission and Toyota confirmed I was right. I need a whole new transmission. At 59,000 miles, my Highlander is still under power train warranty.
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.
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.
8AT transmission failure. Toyota is telling me that it will take 7 months to obtain a replacement transmission
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNothing filed under this heading on these model years.
Other systems with a record on the Toyota Highlander
Source: the same files- body and structure problems
- airbag problems
- fuel system problems
- engine problems
- electrical problems
- brake problems
Every system, every model year: Toyota Highlander problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Toyota Highlander years have the most transmission and drivetrain complaints?
2021, 222; 2019, 199; 2020, 126. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2026 (50%).
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the Toyota Highlander?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the Toyota Highlander?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 55,803 miles across the model years; half of them between 16,000 and 90,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.