UsedScore

2019 Toyota Highlander: Solid

Owners filed 202 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Toyota Highlander in its first five years on the road, about 84 for every 100,000 sold: 1.2× the rate of a typical Highlander year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the fuel or propulsion system (46% of complaints, median 6,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.2×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Highlander year
Rank
10th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
202
first five years; 84 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
3
campaigns
3rd generation, 2014–2019 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2019 Toyota Highlander SE

Photo: 2019 Toyota Highlander SE · Cutlass, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Fuel and propulsion46% · 93 complaints · median 6,000 miles
  2. Engine20% · 40 complaints · median 10,000 miles
  3. Electrical13% · 26 complaints · median 4,000 miles
  4. Air bags4% · 9 complaints · median 10,000 miles
  5. Brakes9% · 18 complaints · median 8,000 miles
  6. Body and structure4% · 9 complaints · median 5,000 miles
  7. Powertrain7% · 15 complaints · median 5,000 miles
  8. Driver assistance6% · 12 complaints
  9. Steering3% · 6 complaints
  10. Speed control3% · 6 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Electrical

Owners of the 2019 Highlander report a mix of electrical problems, from sudden stalling and loss of power while driving to piercing feedback noises at startup and dead or draining batteries. Repairs are often inconsistent, with dealers sometimes unable to reproduce or permanently fix the issue.

Warning signs:
Warning messages such as "Hybrid System Malfunction" or "See Dealer," flickering dash lights, sudden loss of power steering or acceleration, and intermittent high-pitched feedback noise at startup.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate the problem, replaced batteries or wiring harnesses, or told owners the noise was linked to an expired SOS subscription or a backordered DCM part.
Mileage:
most between 0 and 15,000 miles, among 17 complaints that give it

“there is a loud screech that startles you and makes you jump out of your seat”

“it was diagnosed that the START/STOP system was draining the battery”

Engine

Owners of this model report the engine losing power or stalling unexpectedly, sometimes tied to a fuel pump recall, and separately describe a whining transmission that many say eventually failed and needed replacement. Repairs are often described as slow, hard to diagnose, or costly once out of warranty.

Warning signs:
Before failures, owners report warning lights such as check engine, hybrid system malfunction and traction control, along with hesitation, jerking, rough idle or a whining/buzzing noise from the engine or transmission.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate the stalling problem, sometimes replaced fuel pumps, spark plugs or sensors, and in transmission cases recommended or performed a full transmission replacement, occasionally citing a recall for the fuel pump.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 25,000 miles, among 34 complaints that give it

“The vehicle hesitated while driving and that the fuel consumption had increased”

“trouble with a whining noise along with rough, delayed, or sudden shifting, lack of acceleration from a stop and shuddering”

Fuel and propulsion

Owners of the 2019 Highlander frequently report sudden stalling or loss of power while driving, sometimes in traffic or at speed, often tied to fuel pump issues covered by a recall. Many describe long waits for repair parts and warning lights preceding the stalls, causing concern about driving safely.

Warning signs:
Many report warning lights (check engine, hybrid system malfunction, traction control off), jerking, chugging, sudden power loss, and hesitation before or during stalling.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate the problem, replaced fuel pumps or related sensors when parts were available, or told owners to wait for recall parts.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 15,000 miles, among 47 complaints that give it

“They said it was a fuel pressure issue, and are replacing the fuel pump”

“The car began hesitating & made only halting movements. It would not accelerate beyond about 3-4 MPH.”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (3)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 20V682000November 20201,525,742 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 20V012000January 20201,830,752 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 19V244000March 20193,634 vehicles

    Equipment: other: labels

    Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling certain 2019 C-HR, 4Runner, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Sienna, Tundra and Yaris vehicles. The text on the load capacity label may become illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Risk: If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Toyota sent NHTSA 179 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2019 Highlander. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 24TE05 · January 2025 · Warranty extensionAlthough the Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump Assemblies are covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the…
  • T-SB-0119-15 Rev2 · February 2026OBSOLETE NOTICE February 13, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete.
  • T-SB-0009-26 · February 2026This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries.
  • T-TT-0790-25 · August 2025Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free.
  • T-SB-0058-23 Rev1 · June 2025The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks.
  • T-SB-0103-20 Rev1 · June 2024This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
  • T-PANT-2024-004- · March 2024This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life Coolant, effective March 1, 2024.
  • TSB009223 · November 2023Toyota vehicles equipped with an A25A-FKS or A25A-FXS engine may exhibit reduced engine power and/or a MIL ON condition

All 2019 Highlander bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2019 Toyota Highlander reliable?
Owners filed 202 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Toyota Highlander in its first five years on the road, about 84 for every 100,000 sold: 1.2× the rate of a typical Highlander year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare Highlander years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2019 Highlander problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the fuel or propulsion system (46%), the engine (20%) and the electrical system (13%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2019 Toyota Highlander been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2019 Toyota Highlander, the most recent in November 2020 (fuel system, gasoline). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Toyota. The 2019 Toyota Highlander on NHTSA.gov · How we rate