2019 Toyota Highlander Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

68Engine complaints

14.6%Of all 465 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN182 · 39.1%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM86 · 18.5%

Unspecified / other76 · 16.3%

ENGINE68 · 14.6%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55 · 11.8%

Share of the 465 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2019 Toyota Highlander overview page.

What owners report

“RECEIVED NOTICE OF RECALL MORE THAN 60 DAYS AGO, NHTSA NO.20V-682 "LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP MAY STALL VEHICLE AND CAUSE CRASH" CALLED BOTH MY DEALERSHIP…”NHTSA complaint 11389859 — filed 01/25/2021

“ALTHOUGH MY CAR WAS NEW (ONLY 11 MONTHS OLD) AND LESS THAN 5000 MILES, IT HAD SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WHILE I WAS PULLING OUT OF…”NHTSA complaint 11384692 — filed 12/23/2020

“LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS IN ACCELERATION FROM A STOP; SLUGGISH RESPONSE TO PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR WHILE MOVING AND ATTEMPTING TO…”NHTSA complaint 11366807 — filed 10/28/2020

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2019 Toyota Highlander have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2019 Toyota Highlander: 68 of 465 complaints on file (14.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2019 Toyota Highlander have in total?

465 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 22 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, 18 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.