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2017 Toyota Highlander Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 270 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Toyota Highlander, most often about the transmission (28% of complaints, typically around 20,000 miles). It is 8th of 26 Highlander model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2017 Toyota Highlander problems
Transmission
76 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 20,000 miles. Parts named most often: driveline.
As I was turning left at a green arrow across a divided highway, the car stopped moving in the middle of the intersection. There were no warning lights or alarms in advance of the stop, nor were there any crunching or grinding sounds at the time the car stopped. I could tell when I stepped on the accelerator at the…
I stopped at my neighbors house to give her something,I left the engine running when I went in to her house as soon as I went into her house I heard a noise looked out and couldn't see the car,I went out side and the car had jumped in to gear and went into her garage ( the door was open) the car hit her bike,golf…
Other or unspecified
53 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 18,000 miles.
Twice in the span of 1 year and 6 months owned car for 2 years 1st- shattered windshield- glass came inside the car of hylander when rock hit winshield- only 1 year old. Car was in motion on a city road speed limit 35 MPH 2nd time: shatterd winshield 1 year 3 months later from another rock. The car was in motion on a…
I stopped at my neighbors house to give her something,I left the engine running when I went in to her house as soon as I went into her house I heard a noise looked out and couldn't see the car,I went out side and the car had jumped in to gear and went into her garage ( the door was open) the car hit her bike,golf…
Engine
50 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 23,000 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. Contact stated that while driving at various speeds, without warning the vehicle would violently shake intermittently, lurch and accelerate. The contact stated that while driving in a parking lot the vehicle inadvertently accelerated while driving through a crosswalk. The…
Hello, there. I want to share my experience about Highlander problem. My wife and me went to mystic,ct from my home for pleasure august 8. I used cruise control with 65 MPH on highway. After I finished traveling there, I tried to use the same cruise control on the way home. And then suddenly my car made problem in the…
Electrical
46 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 35,500 miles.
Auto stop/start malfunction. It will stop the engine while turning, and won't start the engine while release break. It happened occasionally at the beginning, now seems getting worse. The mechanics couldn't figured out the problem. I see there is a recall in 2020 model, but my 2017 Highlander has same issue.
Five different times failure to start the engine and battery appears drained with approx. 30k miles. Each time the vehicle was stationary and either in my garage or parked. Jumper cables used to start the car did the job the first two times, then a powerful portable battery jumper was needed the next two times and the…
Fuel system
37 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 37,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
On four separate occasions while driving down a major highway our Highlander has totally lost engine power; pushing the accelerator would cause the engine to cough an sputter; and we had to get off of the road and kill the engine. After a few minutes the engine would restart. Only once was the dealer able to pick-up…
At highway speeds or accelerating, a slight pause or loss of power is noticeable. It seems as if fuel is cut off or engine does not have maximum engine power to maintain speeds for very short periods of time.
Brakes
29 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 15,000 miles.
Since it has become colder in the midwest around november 2018, I can hear a clunk or a 'thunk' kind of sound when I make a complete stop or put the car in reverse. The sound is coming from the back, the area where the brakes are, both left and right side. This is in my 2017 Highlander AWD xle. I have addressed it…
Takata recall. Strange noises and flash green light appear on display, after 1/4 miles from parking lot, the car speed up by itself, the pre-collision system (pcs) is not working, brake assist is failed, the driver cannot manually brakes the car.
Visibility and wipers
15 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 6,000 miles. Parts named most often: sun/moon roof assembly, windshield, rearview mirrors/devices.
Bought this 2017 Highlander brand-new from the dealer. It had 67 miles on the odometer. Within a few thousand miles, a stone chipped the windshield and within days the windshield was a spider's nest of spreading cracks all across up and down the windshield. I bought a new 2015 Highlander from the same dealer and had…
Vehicle sustained a crack from two small stones hitting the windshield while traveling on a highway at approximately 55 MPH. Crack spread significantly from the initial impact site. Weather did not have a factor in this as it was summer. Crack continued to spread even after the vehicle was parked in a garage. Crack…
Speed control
13 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 14,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. While the contact was parking the vehicle, it suddenly sped forward, drove over a median, and crashed into a tree. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The manufacturer offered to inspect the vehicle or process a request for the vehicle to be repurchased.…
Cruise control on speed at 45 MPH, lifted cruise lever 5 times to posted 50 MPH speed going onto interstate apron/bridge. Lifted the cruise cont lever and held to accelerate to posted speed of 60. Released lever at 60 MPH, but noticed car still accelerating. Pulled on lever to cancel when car was at 75 MPH. Car has…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2017 Toyota Highlander recalls
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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
Full defect 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.
Equipment
Risk: The roof rails may loosen and possibly detach from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gst will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and properly torque the fasteners, free of charge. The recall began september 29, 2017. Owners may contact gst customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Gst's number for this recall is 17r3.
Full defect summary
Gulf states toyota, inc. (gst) is recalling certain 2017 toyota highlander and highlander hybrid vehicles equipped with accessory roof rail cross bars. The fasteners for the roof rails may not be torqued properly.
Wheels and tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
Risk: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gulf states will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began june 15, 2017. Owners may contact gulf states customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17r2.
Full defect summary
Gulf states toyota, inc. (gulf states) is recalling certain 2017 4runner , 86, avalon, camry, camry hybrid, corolla, corolla im, highlander, highlander hybrid, prius, prius c, rav4, rav4 hybrid, sienna and yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the tire pressure label.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2017 Toyota Highlander
- What are the most common problems with the 2017 Toyota Highlander?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (76 complaints, typically around 20,000 miles); other or unspecified (53 complaints, typically around 18,000 miles); engine (50 complaints, typically around 23,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2017 Toyota Highlander have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from November 4, 2020 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2017 a bad year for the Toyota Highlander?
- It is 8th of 26 Highlander model years by number of complaints, with 270 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.