2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (2) · Vehicle Speed Control (1) · Structure:body:bumpers:active Shutters/Grill (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Highlander Hybrid model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
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.
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.
Electronic Stability Control (Esc):control Module:software 2022-04-13 · campaign 22V239000 · 458,110 vehicles
Defect: 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 Vehic
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. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA03. Lexus' number for this recall is 22LA01.
Service bulletins (150)
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.
Engine 2026-08-20 · T-SB-0110-20 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
obsolete notice august 20, 2026: this bulletin is now obsolete. please see t-sb-0051-26.
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 2026-05-14 · 22TE09 · Warranty Program/Extension
although 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 the customers’ ownership experience. toyota is providing extended coverage under this customer suppo
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
Engine 2026-02-27 · T-SB-0104-21 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
obsolete notice february 27, 2026: this bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
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.
Showing the 6 most recent of 150 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-03-05 · Steering · 30,000 mi“the contact owns a 2022 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact stated that the second-row seats had been making an abnormal rattling sound. additionally, the contact stated that there was an abnormally strong foul odor inside the vehicle. the contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the car wash, the contact was informed that the foul odor wa…”
2024-10-21 · Electrical System · 23,000 mi“the contact's wife owns 2022 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact stated that while his wife was driving 70 mph, the vehicle shut off with the "maintenance required visit your dealer" message displayed. the contact’s wife restarted the vehicle and immediately pulled over to the shoulder. despite the failure, the contact's wife was able to drive ba…”
2024-10-10 · Vehicle Speed Control · 36,000 mi“the contact owns a 2022 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact stated while driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle independently accelerated while the brake pedal was depressed. no warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a dealer on several different occasions to be diagnosed; however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause …”
2024-09-17 · Structure:body:bumpers:active Shutters/Grill · 80,000 mi“the contact owns a 2022 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the driver’s side of the vehicle. the contact pulled over to the side of the road and became aware that the front lower bumper had detached on the driver's side and was dragging on the road. the bu…”
2024-08-20 · Service Brakes · 35,000 mi“the contact owns a 2022 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and approaching a traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the engine surged. there were no warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions, who was unable to determine the cause of…”
2023-07-27 · Service Brakes · 20,000 mi“the contact owns a 2022 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact stated while driving approximately 20 mph and slowing down for a traffic signal, the contact felt as if the brakes had failed. the contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle was still rolling forward. the contact stated that he depressed the brake pedal with more f…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.