Third generation (XU50)
2019 Toyota Highlander
The most reported problem on the 2019 Toyota Highlander is stalling, with 83 complaints, usually around 16,000 miles.
- 486owner complaints
- 3recalls
- 22involved a crash
- 52,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Highlander doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2019 model year.
Is the 2019 Toyota Highlander reliable?
The 2019 Toyota Highlander has 486 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, 1.7 times the median of 281 for 2019 SUVs on this site. Of the 12 Highlander model years since 2014, it has the 2nd most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2018 and 2020
- At 61 complaints for each year on the road, the 2019 runs 2.1 times the 2018 (30) and above the 2020 (45).
- Top problem
- Two problems run close. Stalling has 83 complaints and transmission failure has 68, out of 486 in all. A quarter of the 44 owners who gave a mileage for stalling saw it by about 5,000 miles, and half by about 16,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 24 of the 486 complaints (5%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, about the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 22 reports mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire and 18 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 8 of 22, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as stalling, transmission failure and misfire. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Complaints are still climbing. 2025 brought 115, the most of any year so far. So far in 2026, 105 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine stalls or loses power while driving, 83 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
486 complaints is 2.1 times the median 2019 model on this site and 1.7 times the median 2019 SUV. Among the 11 Highlander model years here it ranks 2nd for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2019 Toyota Highlander
Toyota filed 162 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2019 Toyota Highlander. 18 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Check engine light or misfire 1 bulletin · 41 complaints
Some 2017 ? 2019 model year Highlander HV vehicles may exhibit a MIL ON condition with one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): ? P0301 ? Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected ? P0302 ? Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected ? P0303 ? Cylinder 3 Misfire ...
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 8 bulletins · 20 complaints
Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free. This is caused by the phone Hands Free volume being too low.
TT: Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free. This is caused by the phone Hands Free volume being too low.
6 more on this problem
TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle.
TT: The microphone circuit passes through the DCM before reaching the radio/navigation system. To simplify the diagnosis of the microphone, Safety Connect SOS button lights, and DCM (Data Communication Module/telematics transceiver) inoperative conditions, ...
TT: Some customers who have upgraded their iPhone® to iOS13 are experiencing a condition where the Bluetooth connection disconnects and reconnects.
TT: Some customers may experience poor outgoing Bluetooth sound quality, this can occur for various reasons. Current multimedia systems are designed with the ability to adjust Bluetooth sound quality to compensate for echo or excessive background noise.
TT: Voice navigation prompts and feedback beeps are inoperative after starting the engine. This condition only occurs on Platinum grade vehicles.
Some 2019 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles equipped with JBL audio may exhibit inoperative navigation voice prompts and/or button beeps with the setting ON.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 2 bulletins · 20 complaints
TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
Some 2014 ? 2019 model year Highlander vehicles may exhibit a vibration from the front brakes during light application of the brake pedal at highway speeds. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power 2 bulletins · 17 complaints
Some 2004 ? 2020 model year Hybrid vehicles may exhibit an excessive buildup of dust, lint, or debris in the HV battery intake filter or cooling fan. The condition could reduce the efficiency of the HV battery cooling system.
Some 2003 ? 2020 model year Prius, Prius C, Prius V; 2006 ? 2019 model year Highlander Hybrid Vehicle; 2007 ? 2020 Camry Hybrid Vehicle; 2013 ? 2020 model year Avalon Hybrid Vehicle; 2016 ? 2020 model year Mirai and RAV4 Hybrid Vehicle;
Airbag warning light or recall 1 bulletin · 14 complaints
Some 2005 ? 2022 model year Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition.
Seat belt or seat problems 2 bulletins · 12 complaints
Some 2010 ? 2022 model year Toyota vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard?. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard?.
Some 2010 ? 2021 model year Toyota vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard?. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard?.
Battery dies or the car will not start 1 bulletin · 10 complaints
TT: When customers have a concern about a discharged battery, no start, or general battery concern, the DCA-8000 is the only appropriate tool to use for diagnosis
Driveshaft, axle or transfer case problems 1 bulletin · 7 complaints
TT: Some 2014-2021 model year vehicles equipped with Dynamic Torque Control AWD system may experience a ?Noise? or ?Abnormal Operation? condition from the rear differential front coupling.
Complaints filed by year
115 complaints came in 2025, 1.9 times the year before. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2019 Toyota Highlander
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
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 and remedy
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.
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."
Risk and remedy
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.
All 3 recalls on the 2019 Toyota Highlander, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
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Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2019 Toyota Highlander?
Stalling, with 83 of the 486 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 16,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2019 Toyota Highlander problems start?
Of the 222 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 10,000 miles and half by about 52,000.
Is the 2019 Toyota Highlander better or worse than the 2018 and 2020?
Counted per year on the road, the 2019 has more complaints than both the 2018 and the 2020: 61 a year against 30 and 45.
How many 2019 Toyota Highlander complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
24 of them (5%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for stalling on the 2019 Toyota Highlander?
No recall on file for the 2019 Toyota Highlander is on the same system as stalling. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.