NHTSA Complaint #11661165 — 2019 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

ENGINE issue reported to NHTSA

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Complaint Details

ODI Number	11661165
Vehicle	2019 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
Component	ENGINE
Date of Incident	May 12, 2025
Date Filed	May 15, 2025
Mileage	N/A miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	No
State	NJ

Consumer Description

Upon acceleration, the engine revved high and a whine sound started once the car (2019 Highlander XLE) approached 25-40 miles per hour. It appears that this is a transmission issue that Toyota was aware about years before selling the 2019 (and later) Highlander and other models (according to consumer complaints online). The car has 92,700 miles on it and is thus out of warranty. It had a recall in 2020 though I do not know exactly what was allegedly fixed. Had Toyota disclosed these serious transmission issues, I would not have purchased the car. My local mechanic has advised that the transmission will need to be replaced at a high cost.

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