2019 Toyota Highlander · symptom sheet
Transmission fails or needs replacement
- 68owner reports
- 89,000median miles
- $10,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
199 of the 486 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 68 of those describe transmission failure. Only stalling is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 68 reports
Transmission failure 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, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024.
What this problem usually is
This is the end of the road for a transmission: the car stops moving under its own power, or a shop says the unit has to be replaced or rebuilt. Half of the owners here mention a warning light or message, and a quarter mention it happening again or to a second unit.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (68 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2019 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
21 of the 68 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $7,500 to $11,005.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 76,000 and 97,500 miles, from the 37 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“My car has been making a whining noise upon acceleration. It stops whining as soon as you release the acceleration I had a mechanic look at it who verified transmission failure.”
Filed Jun 12, 2026
“Transmission failure. Unexpectedly failed while driving. Failure to accelerate before total failure. Repaired with used transmission since new ones are unavailable. Called Toyota to report the failure. No acknowledgement of any failure mechanism.”
Filed Feb 16, 2026
“The car started making a wining noise while accelerating. The car was brought to my local dealer where I always have my service done and they said I need a new transmission. The cost will be approx. $9,300.00. The car has less than 84,000 miles on it and is just 6 years old. Every recommend service has been done to date.”
Filed Jan 23, 2026 · 84,000 miles
“Transmission failed at 143,000 miles. Initially vehicle lost acceleration and would not go over 60mph. Then vehicle would not go into drive, and instead rolled backwards. Vehicle was towed to dealership where they provided a report saying it needed a new transmission that would cost $9,000. No warning lights were ever present on vehicle, it just stopped operating.”
Filed Nov 8, 2025 · 143,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 68 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 83 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 41 reports
- Fuel pump failure 37 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 32 reports