NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 517 owner complaints for the 2019 Toyota Highlander (including the hybrid).
Recalled components: fuel system and equipment. Most-described problem: transmission failure or replacement (118 complaints, 23%). Most-reported area: powertrain (217 complaints, 42%; median mileage when it happened: 65,000).
More complaints than a typical Highlander year
The 2019 drew 152 owner complaints in its first three years, against 114 for a typical Highlander year.
No Highlander year stands out enough to avoid; best years: 2016 and 2017. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
NHTSA listing: HIGHLANDER. Toyota campaign 20TA02, 20LA01.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
NHTSA listing: HIGHLANDER. Toyota campaign 20TB02/20TA02/20LB01.
Equipment
Mar 27, 2019
labels
Fails federal standard 110 (tire and rim labeling)
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 19R1.
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.
NHTSA listing: HIGHLANDER. Toyota campaign 19R1.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2019 Toyota Highlander.
What owners report
Owners have filed 517 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Highlander. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Transmission failure or replacement118 · 23%
Median 89,000 miles at failure, from 18 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off60 · 12%
Median 5,000 miles at failure, from 26 reports with mileage
Loss of power or limp mode45 · 9%
Check engine light44 · 9%
Median 19,000 miles at failure, from 20 reports with mileage
Hesitation or slow acceleration39 · 8%
Median 11,100 miles at failure, from 16 reports with mileage
Median 65,000 miles at failure, from 33 reports with mileage
Fuel and propulsion system89 · 17%
Median 6,300 miles at failure, from 42 reports with mileage
Engine73 · 14%
Median 13,000 miles at failure, from 31 reports with mileage
Electrical system56 · 11%
Median 5,100 miles at failure, from 17 reports with mileage
Brakes20 · 4%
Fuel system20 · 4%
Air bags14 · 3%
Unknown or other85 · 16%
Median 4,000 miles at failure, from 17 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Toyota Highlander recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2019 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2019 Highlander drew the most (152).
Owner complaints
2019: 517 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Toyota Highlander
Model year
Complaints
2010
238
2011
187
2012
191
2013
212
2014
138
2015
197
2016
117
2017
275
2018
281
2019
517
2020
332
2021
554
2022
273
2023
201
2024
43
2025
11
2026
4
Safety recalls
2019: 3 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Toyota Highlander
Model year
Recalls
2010
11
2011
5
2012
2
2013
3
2014
4
2015
1
2016
2
2017
3
2018
4
2019
3
2020
5
2021
5
2022
6
2023
9
2024
7
2025
4
2026
0
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
What are the most common 2019 Highlander problems?
In the 517 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Toyota Highlander, the problems described most are transmission failure or replacement (118), stalling or shutting off (60), and loss of power or limp mode (45). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2019 Toyota Highlander safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2019 Toyota Highlander earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2019 Toyota Highlander?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2019 Toyota Highlander.
How do I check if my Highlander has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Toyota dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.