2019 Toyota Highlander reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 480 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Toyota Highlander over 8 years — 49 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 13 Highlander years on this site. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Fuel pump and Labels.

2017 Toyota Highlander — Photo by Bull-Doser, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons Public domain

Complaints

480

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (194 of 480), then Fuel and propulsion system (86) and Engine (69). Those filings include 22 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 12 that report an injury.

Next to 2018 and 2020

The 2018 Highlander has 265 complaints, 33 per year, and the 2020 has 315 complaints, 22 per year. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2020.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2019 Toyota Highlander. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (3)

Recall Fuel pump 2020-11-04 · NHTSA campaign 20V682000

Summary 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.

Remedy 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.

Recall Fuel pump 2020-01-13 · NHTSA campaign 20V012000

Summary 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.

Remedy 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.

Recall Labels 2019-03-27 · NHTSA campaign 19V244000

Summary 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."

Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (480 total)

Powertrain

194

Fuel and propulsion system

Engine

Electrical system

Fuel system, gasoline

Service brakes

Air bags

Speed control

Structure

Forward collision avoidance

Steering

Seat belts

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Seats

Suspension

Exterior lighting

Tires

Engine and engine cooling

Lane departure

Visibility

Visibility and wipers

Hydraulic brakes

Latches, locks, and linkages

Wheels

Back-over prevention

Diesel fuel system

Equipment

Fuel system, other

Show 20 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"My 2019 Highlander was driving totally normal, when all of a sudden the transmission started slipping and then would no longer accelerate. I was on a windy back road in Alaska with no service, so after letting it sit…"
Powertrain, Electrical system · filed 2026-09-14
"About two weeks ago I was driving and the car made a whinny noise and felt like it was shaking and slipping out of no where so I stop in a complex to check it out when I went to reverse the car wouldn’t move forward or…"
Unknown or other · filed 2026-09-11
"The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brakes failed to operate as intended. The contact stated that after taking the foot off the brake…"
Service brakes · filed 2026-09-08
"UA80 Transmission failure. Was driving on highway when the transmission failed and lost power to the vehicle. Car was taken to Sunshine Toyota (Batte Creek MI) in 2022 and the transmission was recommended to be replaced…"
Powertrain · filed 2026-09-08
"The transmission (power train) in this vehicle shows symptoms of a known defect in Toyota's UA80 8-speed. Since approximately (Aug 2026/~70k mileage), it has produced shining/grinding noised at increasing speed. these…"
Powertrain · filed 2026-09-05

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV AWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars
2019 Toyota Highlander SUV AWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars
2019 Toyota Highlander SUV FWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Highlander	2.7L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Front-wheel drive	20	24	22 MPG	$2950
Highlander	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	Front-wheel drive	20	27	23 MPG	$2800
Highlander all-wheel drive	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	19	26	22 MPG	$2950
Highlander all-wheel drive	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	20	26	22 MPG	$2950
Highlander all-wheel drive LE	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	20	27	23 MPG	$2800
Highlander hybrid all-wheel drive	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (AV-S6)	All-wheel drive	29	27	28 MPG	$2300
Highlander hybrid all-wheel drive LE Plus	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (AV-S6)	All-wheel drive	30	28	29 MPG	$2250
Highlander LE/XLE/SE/LTD	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	Front-wheel drive	21	27	23 MPG	$2800

Specs and fitment

4th generation, 2014–2019

Body styles SUV

Oil 0W-20 (SAE 5W-20 may be used; 0W-20 preferred) , 5.8 qt capacity

Tire size 245/60R18, P245/60R18, 245/55R19

Towing capacity 5,000 lbs

Known issues for this generation

Recall 14V-272 covers certain model year 2014 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles whose air bag electronic control unit may use the restraint setting designed for small occupants for all front passenger sizes; dealers install a software update in the air bag ECU, free of charge. Recall 14V-576 covers certain model year 2014 Highlander vehicles (with 2014 Toyota Avalon, Camry, and Sienna and 2015 Lexus RX350) where fuel may leak from one of the fuel delivery pipes in the engine compartment, increasing fire risk; dealers replace suspect fuel delivery pipes. Recall 20V-012 and its expansion 20V-682 cover certain 2017-2019 Highlander vehicles, among many other Toyota and Lexus models, where the low-pressure fuel pump may fail and stall the engine while driving; dealers replace the fuel pump, with 20V-682 specifying an improved assembly. Toyota Special Service Campaign 19TC04 addresses the engine oil cooler pipe on certain 2017-2019 Highlander Hybrid (Highlander HV) vehicles, where a manufacturing issue may allow a small oil cooler leak that can lead to low-oil warnings if ignored; dealers replace the pipe, free of charge.

Compare

Previous year 2018 Toyota Highlander Next year 2020 Toyota Highlander See every Toyota Highlander model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Toyota Highlander reliable?

What are common problems with a 2019 Toyota Highlander?

Is the 2019 Toyota Highlander more reliable than the years next to it?

Has the 2019 Toyota Highlander been recalled?

The 2019 Toyota Highlander has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2019 Toyota Highlander?

Owners have filed 480 complaints about the 2019 Toyota Highlander with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2019 Toyota Highlander get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2019 Toyota Highlander is 24 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Toyota Highlander take?

US gasoline Highlanders in these generations prefer 0W-20 (5W-20 may be used temporarily). Approx. capacities with filter: ~6.4 qt (2012-2013 3.5L), ~5.8 qt (2014+ 3.5L V6).

Does recall 20V-162 cover the Toyota Highlander?

It covers certain 2020 Highlander vehicles with the 3.5L V6: an ECU programming error may fail to supply fuel correctly during stop-and-restart; dealers update the ECU software.

What generation is the 2020 Toyota Highlander?

5th generation (2020 onward). 2014-2019 are 4th generation; 2012-2013 are late 3rd generation in this catalog.