2022 Toyota Highlander problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (47) · Service Brakes (33) · Air Bags (15)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Highlander model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
32 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Seats:mid/Rear Assembly:recliner 2026-03-05 · campaign 26V128000 · 686,588 vehicles
Defect: 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. Owner letters were mailed September 9, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB06 and 26TA06.
Tires 2024-06-18 · campaign 24V452000 · 4,763 vehicles
Defect: 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. Owner notification letters were mailed August 16, 2024. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET24A.
Tires 2024-06-06 · campaign 24V419000 · 4,869 vehicles
Defect: 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. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2024. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R1.
Structure:body:bumpers 2023-10-26 · campaign 23V720000 · 750,795 vehicles
Defect: 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. Owner letters were mailed April 22, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB12/23TA12.
Equipment:other:labels 2022-05-06 · campaign 22V310000 · 661 vehicles
Defect: 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. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 22R1.
Service bulletins (160)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-06-25 · T-SB-0040-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2020 – 2026 model year highlander and highlander hybrid vehicles may exhibit a water leak from the roof rack attachment clips. this may be caused by the sealant in the roof channel obstructing the proper seating position for the clip gasket.
Electrical System 2026-03-18 · T-SB-0021-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2020 – 2024 model year highlander and highlander hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the air conditioner does not cool due to a leak and/or corrosion in the rear underbody air conditioner tube and accessory assembly. the anti-corrosion material has been updated to reduce the possib
Electrical System 2026-01-30 · T-SB-0106-22 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
obsolete notice january 30, 2026: this bulletin is now obsolete. please see t-sb-0001-26.
Electrical System 2026-01-28 · T-SB-0001-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2018 – 2024 model year toyota vehicles equipped with a premium audio with dynamic navigation system require a special service tool (sst) usb flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-07 · T-SB-0055-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2005 – 2026 toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. the purpose of this service bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures
Structure:body 2025-11-18 · T-SB-0086-25 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2020 – 2023 model year highlander and highlander hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the power back door (pbd) will not open or close and/or stops moving while opening or closing. a modified pbd unit assembly is available to address these conditions.
Showing the 6 most recent of 160 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-24 · Service Brakes · 💥 crash“on october 22, 2026 at 7:55pm i was slowly pulling into a parking spot at our community building applying the brake when the engine started rapidly accelerating causing the car to jump over the curbing even as i continued to press on the brake pedal. i wasn’t able to stop the vehicle before it crashed into the community building wall. the engine wa…”
2026-10-24 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings“headlight system malfunction, pre-collision system malfunction, lta malfunction, srs airbag system malfunction and srs malfunction lights came on after start up.…”
2026-10-21 · Power Train · 105,000 mi“the contact owns a 2022 toyota highlander. the contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. the contact stated that the transmission was shuddering however, the vehicle was able to be driven to the residence. the dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure.…”
2026-10-16 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“accident where toyota highlander was struck on the front driver’s side and airbags did not deploy. driver and passenger were injured. driver was hospitalized. need to have car inspected before destruction. …”
2026-10-09 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 8,000 mi“the contact owns a 2022 toyota highlander. the contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the brakes failed to respond causing the braking distances to be extended. the contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had occurred on several occasions almost causing a crash. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasi…”
2026-10-07 · Unknown Or Other“i am writing to formally express my dissatisfaction regarding a failure of the power liftgate on my toyota highlander and the fact that i was required to pay out of pocket to have it repaired. the liftgate is an important and frequently used component of the vehicle, and i did not expect it to fail under normal use. when the liftgate stopped funct…”
2026-10-05 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“the contact owns a 2022 toyota highlander. the contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 25-30 mph with the contact seated in the front passenger's side seat, another vehicle crashed into the passenger's side of the vehicle. the contact stated that the driver's and passenger's side front air bags and curtain air bags failed to…”
2026-09-30 · Air Bags“the airbag and the windshield piller a trim was not properly repaired by yark toyota in [xxx] after an accident prior to selling it to the next customer on xxx. inspection of car finding this out was on xxx information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)…”
2026-09-30 · Unknown Or Other · 💥 crash“on september 23, 2026, at approximately 7:30 am, i was driving the vehicle in a parking garage at an estimated speed of approximately 10 mph. while driving over a curve in the parking garage and applying the brakes to slow the vehicle and maneuver into a parking space, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own despite the brakes being applied. th…”
2026-09-26 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control“cruise control malfunction light illuminated.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.