YearToAvoid

2023 Toyota Highlander Fuel System Problems

NHTSA lists 17 Fuel System complaints for the 2023 Toyota Highlander, 9% of its 181 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 40,000. No related recall is listed for this problem area.

Fuel System complaints
17
9% of 181
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
40,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical fuel system symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a gasoline odor inside and outside the vehicle, especially after refueling on hot days, which dealers were sometimes unable to duplicate.
  • Some describe hesitation, jerking, or RPM swings when using 87 octane fuel, with the issue reportedly easing after switching to 93 octane.
  • Several owners report sluggish acceleration from a stop, where the pedal must be pushed further than normal before the vehicle lurches forward.
  • Drivers describe engine bucking or misfiring while accelerating through gears, which they say creates a hazard when merging or turning into traffic.
  • One complaint tied to a gas-odor concern was logged at 40,000 miles, matching the median mileage reported for this problem area.

When 2023 Toyota Highlander fuel system complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 27, 2023, latest Jul 30, 2026.

2023 Toyota Highlander fuel system complaints: complaints filed per month2Jul 2023Sep 2023Jul 2024Sep 2024Nov 2024Jun 2026
17 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2023 to Jul 2026; peak Jul 2023 (2).

Fuel System recalls for the 2023 Toyota Highlander

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Fuel System complaints by Highlander model year

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

  1. 20104 (2%)
  2. 20111 (1%)
  3. 20123 (2%)
  4. 201315 (7%)
  5. 20140 (0%)
  6. 20154 (2%)
  7. 20164 (4%)
  8. 201737 (14%)
  9. 201836 (14%)
  10. 2019106 (22%)
  11. 202020 (6%)
  12. 202131 (6%)
  13. 202210 (4%)
  14. 202317 (9%)
  15. 20248 (19%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 2023 Toyota Highlander have?
NHTSA lists 17 Fuel System complaints for the 2023 Highlander, which is 9% of the 181 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2023 Toyota Highlander fuel system?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2023 Highlander.
At what mileage do fuel system problems show up on the 2023 Highlander?
The median mileage at failure for Fuel System complaints on the 2023 Highlander is 40,000 miles.
Did any 2023 Highlander fuel system complaints involve a crash or fire?
NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 1 injury linked to this problem area for the 2023 Highlander, and 0 fires.

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.