TOYOTA HIGHLANDER · model year

2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

343 NHTSA complaints, 32 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

5 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2017TOYOTAHIGHLANDER carries 343 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 32 crashes, 2 fires, 36 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2017 HIGHLANDER is power train with 58 filings, followed by unknown or other (47) and electrical system (45). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2017 HIGHLANDER. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

343
Complaints
32
Crashes
2
Fires
36
Injuries
0
Deaths
2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. Overall composite: 5.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 5.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 4.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 4.0 ★
NHTSA overall 5.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

343 filings

Crashes Reported

32 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 5/5 — Top NCAP rating · Front: 4/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN58
UNKNOWN OR OTHER47
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM45
ENGINE43
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM27
SERVICE BRAKES27
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL12
VISIBILITY/WIPER12
STRUCTURE:BODY8
AIR BAGS8
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE8
WHEELS6
STEERING4
SEATS3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING3

Recalls (4)

18E10700027/11/2018

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Fujian Wanda Automobile Glass Industry (Wanda) is recalling certain aftermarket Replacement Windshields sold for use in 2014-2018 Toyota Highlander vehicles. The windshields have an attached wire harness that water may leak into, possibly causing damage to the vehicle's Engine Control Module (ECM).

17V52000023/08/2017

EQUIPMENT

Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2017 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles equipped with accessory roof rail cross bars. The fasteners for the roof rails may not be torqued properly.

20V68200004/11/2020

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 20

17V29500002/05/2017

TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as state

Recent Complaints

20260119UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Transmission yes it’s available for inspection rite now on vacation on a very steep hill the transmission quit pulling at the top of the hill in the middle of a very narrow street and we had to ease backwards down to a place on the hill to turn around and get to level ground all this happened with no previous warning

20260119POWER TRAIN

Transmission yes it’s available for inspection rite now on vacation on a very steep hill the transmission quit pulling at the top of the hill in the middle of a very narrow street and we had to ease backwards down to a place on the hill to turn around and get to level ground all this happened with no previous warning

20260115POWER TRAIN

Purchased my 2017 Highlander in June of 2017. At 4912 miles noticed the transmission was slipping. Contacted the dealership and was told from an employee that in his 20 plus years he had never had a transmission do that. Took it to the dealership and it was the transmission. It was replaced under warranty. In January of 2026 took it to the dealership after noticing a weird whinnying sound when running. After running a diagnostic test I was informed that my transmission needed replaced again. It only has 72,426 miles. Was told that the transmission was on back order and when asked if safe to drive, told yes.

20260115ENGINE

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that when the vehicle was taken to a dealer for routine maintenance, the dealer informed the contact that the rear main seal was leaking and needed to be resealed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,402.

Mileage: 95,402

20260109POWER TRAIN

I had problems in gear shift the car when start moving it’s go very slow it’s need about 1 minute to change the shift. The Toyota dealership recommended me to change the transmission with the cost $11,000

20260105POWER TRAIN

-- What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? This report is regarding a premature transmission failure in our 2017 Toyota Highlander equipped with the UA80F 8-speed automatic transmission. Our highlander is currently stuck at High Tech Automotive in Wenatchee, WA 150+ miles from home after experiencing a transmission failure on the highway. -- How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? During the transmission failure while driving on the highway the Check Engine Light came on as well as ABS light and vehicle went into a limp mode. The transmission failure and subsequent limp mode rapidly decreased our speed while traveling on the highway and forced us to limp the vehicle at low speeds across traffic putting ourselves and others traveling on the highway at risk. This vehicle has been well maintained and serviced in accordance with Toyota’s recommended maintenance schedule. Despite this, the transmission failed

20260105VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

-- What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? This report is regarding a premature transmission failure in our 2017 Toyota Highlander equipped with the UA80F 8-speed automatic transmission. Our highlander is currently stuck at High Tech Automotive in Wenatchee, WA 150+ miles from home after experiencing a transmission failure on the highway. -- How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? During the transmission failure while driving on the highway the Check Engine Light came on as well as ABS light and vehicle went into a limp mode. The transmission failure and subsequent limp mode rapidly decreased our speed while traveling on the highway and forced us to limp the vehicle at low speeds across traffic putting ourselves and others traveling on the highway at risk. This vehicle has been well maintained and serviced in accordance with Toyota’s recommended maintenance schedule. Despite this, the transmission failed

20260102POWER TRAIN

I own a 2017 Toyota Highlander with 6 cylinders (engine model 2GR-FKS). It has 107,000 miles. I brought it to my dealer for inspection and service, and noted that it was making a whirring/whining sound upon acceleration. There were no warning messages on the dashboard to alert me of any issues. The dealer reported back to me that the transmission was failing and quoted $11k to fix it. Upon researching this issue, I learned that this is a known problem with 2017 model Highlanders.

20251223ENGINE

I drive a 2017 Toyota Highlander and am having issues with the transmission. The issues and poor craftsmanship on the UA80 8-speed transmissions. Toyota offered Technical Service Bulletins T-SB-0160-18, T-SB-0008-21, and a limited Customer Support Program (CSP ZJC). But very few VINs were included and there are tons of Highlander owners with this transmission facing $10,000+ repair bills for what is supposed to be one of the most reliable cars and car brands on the planet. This is very wrong. Toyota has not stood by its customers and have not done right by owners. Toyota needs to recall the transmissions and offer a remedy at no cost to the customer. This needs to be done now. It's completely unacceptable. Thanks for what you do and for reading! Appreciate you guys very much.

20251211POWER TRAIN

Vehicle shurtter cause toque converter issue with all Toyota Highlander

20251210POWER TRAIN

Was on drive from work in 2017 toyota highlander XLE. Noticed low whining sound coming from transmission. Made appointment with toyota dealership. They identified transmission whine as requiring full replacement and projected to fail soon. Vehicle mileage was at 116k miles. There are no ua80 trans available in US and none coming in. Was told my VIN didn't qualify for CRP CJZ and TSB bulletin. The UA80 trans has known failure of this type. Replacement cost is 10K, use is dangerous, and failure is unacceptable.

20251120ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for service, the contact was informed that the engine was leaking due to a timing chain failure. The contact was advised that the engine needed to be taken apart to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

Mileage: 60,000

20251114STRUCTURE:BODY

The paint on the hood is flaking off. There is no reason other than the paint being defective for this to happen in this manner. We just noticed it today. 11/14/25

20251113POWER TRAIN

After less than a year of usage on a Highlander with 70k miles, the transmission began malfunctioning. The reverse function would work sporadically. The gears would shift only when using the power stick function and manually switching gears. The transmission would go into overdrive and once after an oil change the car came to an abrupt stop after traveling 25 mph hour.

20251031FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Leaking fuel line due to deterioration of plastic liner in fuel line.

20251020POWER TRAIN

Transmission when the car first starts up is slipping. No dipstick for checking Transmission fluid.

20251014POWER TRAIN

The transmission is experiencing harsh and sometimes delayed shifting and sometimes reduction of power. This can result in unpredictability when going from a stop and then crossing traffic. If the transmission fails while I am making an unprotected left turn it pups leave me vulnerable to side impact from on coming traffic. The dealer was able to reproduce the issue when I took it in and quoted me $11k for repair. Toyota is an aware of issues with this specific transmission (UA80) and issued a Service Bulletin for it. My transmission fell within the serial number range for replacement but didn’t pass the third gate for coverage related to a speed sensor issue. That said, there is massive back order on this transmission highlighting a much broader problem with the part. To answer the final question, I never saw a warning light.

20251008AIR BAGS

My vehive has 122,000 miles...I recently received an airbag mafuction warning on the dash info system and to contact dealer. The dealer states this driver side airbag is now defective and needs to be replaced at a cost of $1100.00 The airbag has never been deployed. How is this noit covered under safety requirements on current vehicles? How do I know that the part was not defective when initally installed?

20251003POWER TRAIN

Transmission failure causes vehicle to not accelerate in low gears. Toyota has a CSP for this issue on the same model year but this "Vin" Is not a part of it. This is a major safety issue.

20250911ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Formal Complaint to NHTSA – Summary I am submitting this formal complaint regarding repeated mechanical and electrical failures involving my 2017 Toyota Highlander, purchased as a Toyota Gold-Certified vehicle with an extended Platinum Warranty. Despite strictly following Toyota’s maintenance guidelines and using only certified dealerships for all services, the vehicle has become inoperable multiple times, requiring five separate tows and resulting in repair costs exceeding $10,000. In June 2025, a Toyota dealership replaced the engine after diagnosing a warped head due to water pump failure. Following this, the vehicle began experiencing repeated charging system failures and electrical malfunctions. Multiple components—including the alternator, battery, and sensors—were replaced at another Toyota dealership based on ongoing issues, but the problems persisted. On September 2, 2025, a Toyota technician identified a missing ground wire nut as the likely root cause of these ele

Compare 2017TOYOTAHIGHLANDER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER have?
The 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER has 343 NHTSA complaints, 32 crashes, 2 fires, 36 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
The 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 5/5, front crash rating of 4/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
Yes, the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
The most-complained component for the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER is POWER TRAIN with 58 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER has an NHTSA safety rating of 5/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.