2018 Toyota Highlander · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 25owner reports
- 43,100median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report May 13, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
139 of the 266 complaints on this car are about the engine. 25 of those describe stalling. Only brake wear is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 25 reports
Stalling on other Highlander years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the fuel pump (6 reports), the battery (4 reports) and the throttle body (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the engine cover the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
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.
The windshields have an attached wire harness that water may leak into, possibly causing damage to the vehicle's Engine Control Module (ECM).
All 5 recalls on the 2018 Toyota Highlander, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Highlander
Unintended and uncontrolled acceleration. Closed mar 1, 2011, led to recall 11V-112.
Engine seizure. Closed jun 20, 2002.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 16,000 and 72,000 miles, from the 14 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Driving on I75 at 75mph, while trying to adjust the steering wheel, as soon I unlocked steering wheel lock and put the steering all the way to lowest position it just stalled on highway. Lucky enough I was alone and was able to pull over safely. There is seriously something wrong with steering wheel electrical or ignition system or something with else.”
Filed Sep 4, 2023
“Low brake fluid pull over immediately warning â ï¸,vehicle engine shut off would not restart was on highway going 55 mph .Had to get vehicle towed . There was a recall on brake booster but my Vin was not included same model year 2018”
Filed Jun 5, 2022
“Fuel pump was replaced last year in October 2020 and was out of warranty when incident happened. Vehicle stalled again in the middle of my drive and was stranded in the middle of a busy road. Fuel pump found to be failing per my mechanic.”
Filed Nov 19, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 25 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 58 reports