Toyota Highlander Fuel/propulsion System Problems
Owners have filed 270 complaints with NHTSA about fuel/propulsion system problems on the Toyota Highlander across 22 model years. The 2019 model year has the most (88). The words owners use most often: “fuel pump” (20% of reports).
- 270fuel/propulsion system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 15mention a crash
- 8mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 24%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Fuel pump: mentioned in 54 of 270 complaints (20%)
At what mileage do fuel/propulsion system problems happen?
Based on 118 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 270 complaints, 15 mention a crash, 8 an injury.
Toyota Highlander fuel/propulsion system complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel/propulsion System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Highlander | 1 | 25% | — |
| 2024 Highlander | 7 | 16% | — |
| 2023 Highlander | 16 | 9% | — |
| 2022 Highlander | 10 | 4% | — |
| 2021 Highlander | 31 | 6% | 925 |
| 2020 Highlander | 19 | 6% | 4,550 |
| 2019 Highlander | 88 | 18% | 6,313 |
| 2018 Highlander | 22 | 8% | 17,500 |
| 2017 Highlander | 28 | 10% | 9,800 |
| 2016 Highlander | 3 | 3% | 834 |
| 2015 Highlander | 4 | 2% | 65,250 |
| 2013 Highlander | 12 | 6% | 16,000 |
| 2012 Highlander | 3 | 2% | 39,850 |
| 2011 Highlander | 1 | 1% | 59,000 |
| 2010 Highlander | 2 | 1% | 59,100 |
| 2009 Highlander | 1 | 1% | 90,000 |
| 2008 Highlander | 8 | 2% | 151,000 |
| 2007 Highlander | 2 | 2% | 175,500 |
| 2006 Highlander | 7 | 3% | 140,000 |
| 2005 Highlander | 1 | 0% | 38,750 |
| 2003 Highlander | 3 | 1% | 85,000 |
| 2002 Highlander | 1 | 0% | 167,630 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists fuel/propulsion system for the Toyota Highlander. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My car is stalling and stopping while driving both slow speeds and high speeds and all displays are going off, it may restart after several attempts, it seems a serious safety problems, however my VIN is not part of original Toyota Fuel pump recall, however it seems my issue is also related to Fuel…
The vehicle has a strong gas smell especially after using the car and coming to a complete stop. The gas smell comes from the gas tank. Tried putting less gas and still the problem persists.
Vehicle engine is running rough and threatened to stall in traffic due to a failed low-pressure fuel pump. This model year is under a major fuel pump recall, but my VIN was excluded. The gauge isn't reading correctly either
I have been experiencing a gas smell issue with my Toyota Highlander near the rear of the car by gas cap area upon putting in gas and driving. The smell starts typically when itâs a hot day outside and I only usually get half a tank worth of gas. After getting gas and driving about 15-30 mins. Is…
Driving the vehicle a strong smell of fuel vapor is noticeable coming from rear driver side of vehicle by rear door and fuel cap area. This happens when car is driven for long periods of time or on hot days. I drive my car daily and it happens every day. Smell gets so bad it gets in to the cabin…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Toyota Highlanders have fuel/propulsion system problems?
No. NHTSA has 270 owner complaints about fuel/propulsion system for the Toyota Highlander. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Toyota Highlander fuel/propulsion system?
No recall currently lists fuel/propulsion system for this vehicle.
What do owners say about fuel/propulsion system problems on the Toyota Highlander?
The most frequent phrase is “fuel pump”, in 54 of 270 complaints.
Other Toyota Highlander problems
- Power Train problems (1,041)
- Electrical System problems (634)
- Service Brakes problems (589)
- Engine problems (536)
- Structure problems (446)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (444)
- Steering problems (365)
- Air Bags problems (356)
See all Toyota Highlander problems.