NHTSA Complaint #11697161 — 2020 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

POWER TRAIN issue reported to NHTSA

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Complaint Details

ODI Number	11697161
Vehicle	2020 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
Component	POWER TRAIN
Date of Incident	October 8, 2025
Date Filed	November 3, 2025
Mileage	N/A miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	No
State	CA

Consumer Description

The car started making whining noises when pressing the gas pedal. Toyota reported "noise from transaxle final drive. recommend replace. vehicle ok to drive but noise will continue until transaxle is replaced." There are no warning lights, messages or other symptoms prior to the sound starting or currently. This is a known issue with its 8-speed automatic transmission (UA80E/UA80F) that can cause whining, erratic shifting, and premature failure. This issue is the subject of a Customer Support Program (CSP ZJC) and several lawsuits, but the program has limited coverage for VINs, leading to owner complaints about a lack of assistance from Toyota.

Related Complaints for the 2020 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

Other POWER TRAIN Complaints

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#11711712 — January 18, 2026 — I have experienced ongoing transmission problems, including but not limited to rough shifting, delayed acceleration, ...

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Recent Complaints for the 2020 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

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#11711802 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER — January 19, 2026 — Premature transmission failure. Vehicle had less than 100K miles. Took the vehicle in for an oil change before a lo...

#11711392 — BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA — January 16, 2026 — The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera screen displ...

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