YearToAvoid

2023 Toyota Highlander Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 32 engine complaints for the 2023 Toyota Highlander, 18% of its 181 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 30,500 miles. No related engine recall is listed. Two crashes and one injury are tied to this component.

Engine complaints
32
18% of 181
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
30,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle hesitates or stutters for a noticeable delay when accelerating from a stop, sometimes taking several seconds before power comes on.
  • Some owners report the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated on its own at low speed, leading to a crash into a fixed object.
  • Engine coolant temperature warnings spike from normal to maximum suddenly, with the gauge needle fluctuating or sticking at high in hot outside temperatures.
  • Owners describe engine bucking, misfiring, or losing power mid-acceleration, sometimes triggering check engine and brake system warning lights.
  • A few owners say the engine feels sluggish or jumps in RPM when using regular 87 octane fuel, with improvement reported after switching to 93 octane.
  • One owner reported the dashboard display stopped working, removing access to speed and fuel information while driving.

When 2023 Toyota Highlander engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 12, 2023, latest Sep 11, 2026.

2023 Toyota Highlander engine complaints: complaints filed per month5Jul 2023Oct 2023Jul 2024Oct 2024Jun 2025May 2026
32 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2023 to Sep 2026; peak Jul 2023 (5).

Engine recalls for the 2023 Toyota Highlander

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Highlander model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200550 (22%)
  2. 200683 (30%)
  3. 200724 (20%)
  4. 2008121 (30%)
  5. 200941 (31%)
  6. 201036 (17%)
  7. 201133 (18%)
  8. 201231 (17%)
  9. 201358 (28%)
  10. 20148 (6%)
  11. 201521 (11%)
  12. 201613 (12%)
  13. 201758 (22%)
  14. 201840 (15%)
  15. 201982 (17%)
  16. 202025 (8%)
  17. 202150 (10%)
  18. 202217 (7%)
  19. 202332 (18%)
  20. 20246 (14%)
  21. 20254 (40%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2023 Toyota Highlander have?
NHTSA lists 32 engine-related complaints for the 2023 Highlander, which is 18% of the 181 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there an engine recall for the 2023 Toyota Highlander?
No. The data shows no related recalls listed for this engine complaint category.
At what mileage do 2023 Highlander engine problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure for engine-related complaints is 30,500 miles.
Are the engine issues dangerous?
NHTSA data ties 2 crashes and 1 injury to engine complaints on the 2023 Highlander, including reports of hesitation and unintended acceleration.

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.