NHTSA Complaint #11671784 — 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

I purchased a 2021 Toyota Highlander in June of 2024 with about 45k miles. The transmission completely failed at 67k miles, when I brought it in to have checked in April of 2024. This is not covered under warranty and is costing 7-8k in repairs and over 3k in rental vehicles. I'm told the transmissions are on back order for 3-6 months. No lights went off in the car warning me of this. I smelled burning fumes on and off and reported it to the service dept around 59k (January 2024) miles. I did feel a jump at times, but didn't report that. After my routine oil change at the end of March of 2025, I heard a whining noise only when accelerating and would immediately stop when I released my foot. Two Toyota Service departments diagnosed my car with a failed transmission. I haven't been able to drive my car for 2 months now. My family's safety has been at risk while this issue with this transmission failure has been known and not reported to the consumers prior to my purchase in June of 2024. Potential consequences to a failed transmission while driving are as follows: -Sudden Stop or Coast to a Stop: The car might stop moving entirely, especially if internal components seize or it just loses power and I coast to a stop. -No Response to Acceleration -Pressing the gas has no effect, which is dangerous if I'd be in traffic or on a highway. -Locked-Up Transmission -Rare but possible, especially in catastrophic mechanical failure which could cause wheels to lock briefly. -Stranded