YearToAvoid

2019 Toyota Highlander Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

93/100

#2 most-complained of 16 Highlander years

The 2019 Toyota Highlander ranks 2nd worst out of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 93 and 482 complaints. Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 40% of complaints, and Toyota issued 3 recalls, none rated do-not-drive.

Complaints
482
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
22 / 1
Injuries / deaths
18 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22.5
20 city / 26.5 hwy

Top 2019 Toyota Highlander problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain195 (40%)
  2. Fuel System106 (22%)
  3. Engine82 (17%)
  4. Other80 (17%)
  5. Electrical System60 (12%)
  6. Brakes24 (5%)
  7. Structure & Body19 (4%)
  8. Airbags14 (3%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras12 (2%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (2%)

What owners report

  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration in parking lots or driveways at very low speeds, sometimes ending in a collision.
  • Some drivers report the brake pedal being ineffective while the engine revved up unexpectedly during low-speed maneuvers.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in several low-speed crashes, including collisions with poles, curbs, and other vehicles.
  • One owner reported an electrical fault causing the vehicle to jerk and accelerate backward unexpectedly while reversing.
  • A driver's seat and headrest reportedly broke apart during a rear-end collision, with one post snapping and the other pulling loose.
2019 Toyota Highlander complaints: complaints filed per quarter602018 Q42019 Q42020 Q42021 Q42022 Q42023 Q42024 Q42025 Q4
625 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2026 Q1 (60).

2019 Toyota Highlander recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V682000Nov 4, 2020Fuel System1,525,742 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    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: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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.

  2. NHTSA 20V012000Jan 13, 2020Fuel System1,830,752 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    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: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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.

  3. NHTSA 19V244000Mar 27, 2019Other3,634 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    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: If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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.

2019 Toyota Highlander fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
26.5 MPG
Combined
22.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,875
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2019 compared with other Highlander years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Caution60267322.5
2018Caution67265422.5
2019Avoid93482322.5
2020Caution73315423
2021Avoid100517423

All Toyota Highlander years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Toyota Highlander reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2019 Highlander ranks 2nd worst of 16 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 93 and 482 total complaints, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other Highlander years.
What is the biggest problem area for the 2019 Toyota Highlander?
Transmission & Powertrain complaints account for 40% of all reported issues (195 complaints), with a median mileage at failure of 54,471 miles.
Does the 2019 Toyota Highlander have a fuel pump recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists two fuel system recalls (20V682000 and 20V012000) covering the 2019 Highlander for fuel pump assembly and fuel pump replacement, and neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How many complaints and recalls does the 2019 Highlander have?
NHTSA lists 482 complaints and 3 recalls for the 2019 Toyota Highlander, along with 22 reported crashes, 1 fire, and 18 injuries.
What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Toyota Highlander?
The EPA rates the 2019 Highlander at 22.5 mpg combined (20 city/26.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,875.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.