UsedScore

2022 Toyota Highlander: Too new to judge

The 2022 Toyota Highlander has been on the road for 59 months, short of the five years we need to rate it. Owners have filed 255 complaints with NHTSA so far. That's 1.4× the rate other Highlander years drew in their first 59 months, per vehicle sold.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (21% of complaints).

Complaint index
1.4×
partial: first 59 months
Rank
Not ranked
rated after five years
Complaints
255
in 59 months so far
Recalls
6
campaigns
4th generation, 2020–2026 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2020 Toyota Highlander XLE AWD

Photo: 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE AWD · Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Powertrain21% · 53 complaints
  2. Air bags9% · 23 complaints
  3. Brakes16% · 40 complaints
  4. Body and structure17% · 43 complaints · median 33,000 miles
  5. Driver assistance9% · 23 complaints
  6. Fuel and propulsion4% · 10 complaints
  7. Electrical7% · 19 complaints · median 23,000 miles
  8. Seats and belts7% · 19 complaints
  9. Engine5% · 12 complaints
  10. Visibility7% · 17 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

Air bags

Owners describe airbags that sometimes did not deploy during collisions, leading to injuries, while others report recurring SRS airbag malfunction warnings, some linked to water leaking into the airbag area or the vehicle sitting in the sun. Dealer visits in some cases resolved the warning temporarily or only partially fixed the underlying leak.

Warning signs:
Owners describe a high-pitched alarm, SRS/airbag malfunction alerts on the instrument panel, and water staining near the A-pillar headliner before or during issues.
What shops did:
Some owners report dealers reset the system after a restart, replaced roof rail clips on one side only, or could not find or resolve the malfunction after repeated visits.

“Parked in sun and the SRS system malfunctioned, after power reset the system reset ok,”

“Was in collision - front impact- vehicle was a total loss, airbags did not deploy for driver or passenger side”

Brakes

Many Highlander owners, especially hybrid drivers, describe the car surging or lurching forward when they brake to a stop, feeling as if the brakes momentarily let go before catching hard. Dealers frequently couldn't reproduce it, and some owners were later told about a technical service bulletin covering the issue.

Warning signs:
Many report the surge happens while braking gently at low speeds, going downhill, over bumps, or in a hybrid's regenerative-to-friction brake transition, with no warning lights.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate the issue and found no codes, though some later applied a software/TSB update on regenerative braking that owners say did not fully resolve the surge.

“Brake pedal takes a sudden plunge and car surges forward, forcing the driver to suddenly have to push hard on the brakes in order to stop.”

“The car will coast for a brief moment while braking increasing the stopping distance and time required to come to a complete stop.”

Powertrain

Many owners of this Highlander report a whining or grinding transmission noise that worsens with acceleration and eventually requires a costly transmission replacement, often just after the warranty period ends. Some also describe jerking, hesitation, or stalling during driving.

Warning signs:
Many owners report a whining or grinding noise that grows louder during acceleration, sometimes with jerking, hesitation, stalling, or erratic shifting.
What shops did:
Dealers typically diagnosed a failed or worn transmission and recommended full transmission or transaxle replacement, often costing thousands of dollars, sometimes only partially covered once out of warranty.

“engine started making a whining noise when accelerating, especially in lower gears. No warning signs.”

“Vehicle begin making grinding noises, and stalling during accelerating and also fuel smell.”

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

Recalls (6)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 26V128000March 2026686,588 vehicles

    Seats: mid/rear assembly: recliner

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.

    Risk: A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 24V452000June 20244,763 vehicles

    Tires

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Highlander vehicles. The 20-inch accessory tires with an insufficient load rating for the vehicle's Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) were installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Risk: Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: SET will inspect and replace the tires and information placard, as necessary free of charge.

  • NHTSA 24V419000June 20244,869 vehicles

    Tires

    Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2022-2024 model year Highlander L and Highlander LE vehicles equipped with the Blackout Package that includes 20" black alloy wheels and tires. The installed tires have an insufficient load rating. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Risk: Tires with an insufficient load rating may be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: GST will inspect and replace the tires as necessary, and install a new tire information label as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 23V720000October 2023750,795 vehicles

    Structure: body: bumpers

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Highlander & Highlander Hybrid vehicles. During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching.

    Risk: A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will repair or replace the upper and lower front bumper covers as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 22V310000May 2022661 vehicles

    Equipment: other: labels

    Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2022 4Runner, Tacoma, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification labels may not be permanent and can fade, becoming illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Risk: An illegible label may allow the vehicle to be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: GST will notify owners by mail, including a replacement load carrying capacity modification label for their vehicle and detailed replacement instructions, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 22V239000April 2022458,110 vehicles

    Electronic stability control (ESC): control module: software

    Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."

    Risk: Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will update the Skid Control ECU software, 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 198 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2022 Highlander. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 22TE09 · May 2026 · Warranty extensionAlthough the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about…
  • TSB010421 · February 2024TSB: Some 2018 ?
  • TSB005923 · August 2023TSB: Some drivers of 2020 ?
  • TSB003220 · August 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ?
  • T-SB-0094-21 Rev · November 2022TSB: Some 2005 ?
  • TSB004321Rev2 · July 2022TSB: Some 2020 model year vehicles equipped with Audio Plus (version 1021) or Premium Audio (version 1021) or earlier may exhibit one or more of the following conditions: ?Barge in function defaulted…
  • 22TC01 Team Memb · March 2022SSC: SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN 22TC01 Over-the-Air (OTA) pilot program.
  • 22TC01 Dealer Le · February 2022DL: Due to improper programming of the Data Communication Module (DCM), which provides cellular communication in various situations, including emergencies, the driver and Safety Connect operator may…

All 2022 Highlander bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2022 Toyota Highlander reliable?
The 2022 Toyota Highlander has been on the road for 59 months, short of the five years we need to rate it. Owners have filed 255 complaints with NHTSA so far. That's 1.4× the rate other Highlander years drew in their first 59 months, per vehicle sold. 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 2022 Highlander problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (21%), the air bags (9%) and the brakes (16%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2022 Toyota Highlander been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2022 Toyota Highlander, the most recent in March 2026 (seats). 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 2022 Toyota Highlander on NHTSA.gov · How we rate