2023 Toyota Highlander Transmission & Powertrain Problems
NHTSA lists 20 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2023 Toyota Highlander, 11% of its 181 total complaints. There are no related recalls, and no crashes, fires, or injuries tied to this problem area.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 20
- 11% of 181
- Crashes reported
- 0
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- —
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Owners report a high-pitched whining noise during acceleration, especially between 30-50 mph, that some dealers linked to transmission failure.
- Several drivers describe hesitation or a delayed response of a second or two when accelerating from a stop, followed by an inconsistent surge forward.
- Some complaints describe bucking, stuttering, or rough shifting as if the transmission cannot find the correct gear.
- A few owners report full transmission replacement under warranty, in one case followed by the replacement unit showing similar symptoms afterward.
- One owner described a persistent shudder while driving along with a loss of power affecting acceleration and turning.
When 2023 Toyota Highlander transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Jul 24, 2023, latest Sep 6, 2026.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2023 Toyota Highlander
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Highlander model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many transmission complaints does the 2023 Toyota Highlander have?
- NHTSA lists 20 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2023 Highlander, which is 11% of the 181 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a transmission recall for the 2023 Toyota Highlander?
- No. NHTSA shows no related recalls tied to transmission or powertrain issues for the 2023 Highlander.
- What transmission problems do 2023 Highlander owners report?
- Owners describe a whining noise under acceleration, hesitation from a stop, bucking or rough shifting, and in some cases full transmission replacement under warranty.
- Did the transmission issue cause any crashes or injuries?
- No. NHTSA data shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries linked to transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2023 Highlander.
- How does the 2023 Highlander compare to other years for this problem?
- The 2023 Highlander's transmission complaint share is 11%, lower than 2021 (43%), 2020 (40%), and 2019 (40%), which had much higher shares of this complaint type.