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2023 Toyota Highlander Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 186 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Toyota Highlander, most often about the other or unspecified (21% of complaints). It is 16th of 26 Highlander model years by number of complaints and has 9 recalls.
Most common 2023 Toyota Highlander problems
Other or unspecified
39 complaints · 21%Body and structure
32 complaints · 17%Parts named most often: body.
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked,â unattended an unknown vehicle crashed into the front bumper. A police report was not filed. There was no air bag deployment, fire, or injury. The contact attached the bumper to the vehicle. At the local dealer, where it…
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH and hitting concrete, the lower front bumper cover mounting tabs detached and created holes on the lower front bumper. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the parts were ordered; however, the dealer declined to repair the vehicle…
Engine
28 complaints · 15%The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and the engine misfired. The secondary collision, braking system malfunction, brake ligation malfunction, and throttle control system advanced…
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at lower speeds, pulling into an uphill driveway, the vehicle had independently accelerated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. In addition, the contact stated that she was not able to depressed in time and had crashed into the…
Transmission
20 complaints · 11%Brakes
19 complaints · 10%Seats
19 complaints · 10%The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v128000 (seats); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer…
Fuel system
17 complaints · 9%The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the odor of gasoline was present inside and outside of the vehicle. The contact indicated that the failure had occurred intermittently after refueling the vehicle on extremely hot days. The vehicle was taken to the local…
Electrical
12 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 120,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, instrument cluster/panel.
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v595000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while the vehicle was running, the instrument panel was black and failed to display critical…
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the instrument panel had been inoperable for approximately 5 months. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v595000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2023 Toyota Highlander recalls
Seats: recliner
Risk: A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed september 9, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact toyotaâs customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26tb06 and 26ta06.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2025 highlander and highlander hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.
Backup camera: display function
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed january 2, 2026. Owners may contact toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25tb13 and 25lb06. Subaru's number for this recall is wre25.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 toyota, lexus, and subaru solterra vehicles equipped with a panoramic view monitor (pvm) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 111, "rear visibility."
Electrical: instrument cluster/panel
Risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-phev vehicles, free of charge. For phev vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed december 5, 2025. Additional letters will be sent, anticipated in may 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25tb08 and 25ta08. Lexus' numbers for this recall are 25lb05 and 25la05.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 toyota venza, 2023-2025 rav4 prime, rav4, highlander, gr corolla, crown, 2024-2025 lexus tx, ls, toyota tacoma, grand highlander, and 2025 lexus rx, toyota crown signia, camry, rav 4 plug-in hybrid (phev), and 4 runner vehicles. Due to an error in the instrument panel software at vehicle startup, the instrument panel may fail to display vehicle speed, brake system, and tire pressure warning lights.
Air bags: driver clockspring/spiral cassette
Risk: A deactivated driver's air bag will not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed march 17, 2025. Owners may contact toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 25ta02. Lexus' number for this recall is 25la02.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2023 toyota corolla, corolla cross, corolla cross hybrid, highlander, highlander hybrid, tacoma, lexus rx350, 2023-2024 nx250, and nx350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23v-480. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Equipment: labels
Risk: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gst will mail new labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed september 16, 2024. Owners may contact gst customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Gst's number for this recall is 24r2.
Full defect summary
Gulf states toyota, inc. (gst) is recalling certain toyota 2023 gr supra, 2024 4 runner, corolla, grand highlander, grand highlander hybrid, land cruiser hybrid, tacoma, tacoma hybrid, 2023-2024 bz4x, corolla cross hybrid, gr corolla, gr86, highlander, highlander hybrid, prius, prius prime, sequoia hybrid, tundra, tundra hybrid, venza hybrid, 2023-2025 crown, and 2025 camry hybrid vehicles equipped with gst accessories. The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 110, "tire selection and rims."
Wheels and tires: tires
Risk: Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Set will inspect and replace the tires and information placard, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed august 16, 2024. Owners may contact set's customer service at 1-866-405-4226. Set's number for this recall is set24a.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota distributors, llc (set) is recalling certain 2021-2024 highlander vehicles. The 20-inch accessory tires with an insufficient load rating for the vehicle's gross axle weight rating (gawr) were installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 110, "tire selection and rims."
Wheels and tires: tires
Risk: Tires with an insufficient load rating may be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gst will inspect and replace the tires as necessary, and install a new tire information label as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed august 8, 2024. Owners may contact gst customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Gst's number for this recall is 24r1.
Full defect summary
Gulf states toyota, inc. (gst) is recalling certain 2022-2024 model year highlander l and highlander le vehicles equipped with the blackout package that includes 20" black alloy wheels and tires. The installed tires have an insufficient load rating. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 110, "tire selection and rims."
Body and structure: bumpers
Risk: A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will repair or replace the upper and lower front bumper covers as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed april 22, 2024. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23tb12/23ta12.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2023 highlander & highlander hybrid vehicles. During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching.
Air bags: driver clockspring/spiral cassette
Risk: A deactivated driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed september 8, 2023. Owners may contact toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23ta08. Lexus' number for this recall is 23la02.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2023 corolla, corolla cross, corolla cross hybrid, highlander, highlander hybrid, tacoma, 2023 lexus rx350, rx350 hybrid, rx500 hybrid, 2023-2024 lexus nx250, nx350, and nx350 hybrid vehicles. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 208, "occupant crash protection."
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 2023 Toyota Highlander
- What are the most common problems with the 2023 Toyota Highlander?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: other or unspecified (39 complaints); body and structure (32 complaints); engine (28 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2023 Toyota Highlander have?
- 9 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from March 5, 2026 (seats). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2023 a bad year for the Toyota Highlander?
- It is 16th of 26 Highlander model years by number of complaints, with 186 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.