2020 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Power Train Problems

Transmission is presenting a high-pitched whining noise.

The contact's wife owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that soon after purchasing a new set of tires, the vehicle made an abnormal rattling sound upon acceleration. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for an oil change and tire rotation, and the contact was informed that no defect was found on the vehicle. As the failure persisted, the vehicle was taken back to the shop, where the tires were purchased. The contact was informed that there was no defect in the tires, and the failure might be related to the differentials of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The manufacturer was then notified of the failure, and the contact was offered partial financial assistance towards the purchase of a new engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

Mileage: 55,000

My 2020 Highlander developed a whining or grinding noise consistent with the Technical Service Bulletin. I took it to a Toyota Dealership for diagnostic and they confirmed the whining and hissing sound. They said it would cost $9,000 to repair. I called Toyota to request a goodwill repair and they denied me. Toyota case number: 251229000423. The car does not feel safe to drive. We worry that at any moment the car could break down with our children inside. The problem was reproduced at a dealer and inspected. There were no warning lamps or messages, just the obvious sound coming from the transmission.

Shortly after the powertrain warranty expired, the automatic transmission in my 2020 Toyota Highlander began producing a loud whining/howling noise during normal driving. The noise appears to come from the transmission area and increases with vehicle speed. The issue was not present during the warranty period and began unexpectedly soon after expiration. The abnormal noise raises concerns about internal transmission failure and potential loss of drivability. This condition could pose a safety risk if the transmission were to fail while driving, especially at highway speeds or when merging into traffic. No warning lights or messages were displayed prior to or during the issue. The vehicle was inspected by a Toyota dealer, and the problem was confirmed to be related to the transmission.

Transmission stutters. Only has 32000 miles.

Transmission whines in low gear.

Transmission failure. Noticed whining when driving, took to local Toyota dealership and they diagnosed transmission failure. They quoted $12,000 for transmission replacement and confirmed that this is a known issue with certain years/models of Toyota Highlander. Ours is a 2020.

The vehicle’s automatic transmission (power train) has developed a loud whining/whirring noise under acceleration. This noise increases with engine load and indicates internal mechanical failure. The transmission is still installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. This issue poses a safety risk because it causes hesitation and unpredictable acceleration behavior while merging or crossing traffic. There is also concern that the transmission could suddenly fail while driving, resulting in loss of propulsion and potentially causing an accident. The problem has been inspected and confirmed by a Toyota dealership, which advised that the entire transmission needs to be replaced at a cost of over $8,000, despite the vehicle having only approximately 77,000 miles. The vehicle has been inspected by a Toyota manufacturer service center. They identified the transmission failure but stated there are no current recall programs covering this specific VIN. No warning lights or error messages were displayed at any time before or during the failure. The first noticeable symptom was the transmission whining/whirring noise during acceleration, which began around 77,000 miles and continues to worsen.

TRANSFER CASE MAKING ROTATIONAL BEARING NOISE FLUID HAVE LOTS OF METAL DEBRI

Road noise was very loud. I thought it was a bearing and I took it to the shop and found out that the 'transfer box' on the side of the transmission had to be replaced. I was told that not replacing it could lead to major transmission failure. This cost $6000. Mechanic said it's unusual. Upon reading the internet I'm learning that I'm not the only one this and similar problems.

While driving and/or accelerating you can feel some harsh shifts as well as slipping and shuttering with only 84k miles on this vehicle.

Transmission malfunction that left us on the highway with no power and in an unsafe situation. Not confirmed as of yet. At dealership tomorrow. No inspection completed by parties listed above. Check engine light appeared prior to malfunction.

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.

After my 75000 mile inspection at my Toyota dealership, which is required and I have been bring my vehicle in every 5,000 miles. I started hearing a slight whinny noise. I thought it was around my wheels or tires. Then I thought it must be a new wind noise. Which that is another issue. I took a short trip and by the time I got back it was louder. I took it to the dealership and the technician drove it and said I need a new transmission. I ask my service provider if he has seen any other vehicles having this problem? And I should not have any transmission issues at this mileage. My service provider stated that he knows of highlanders having this issues.

At around 45,000 miles, my 2020 Toyota Highlander started making a whining noise on acceleration. This condition seemed to get worse (whining got louder) I took it to a Toyota dealership and they said there are no codes left by the vehicle but the repair technician knows that this whine is related to a total transmission failure so the recommendation is to replace the transmission at a cost of approximately $8000, Toyota said the vehicle is out of warranty (by 4 months) so they will offer nothing to assist with the repair. Looking on the internet and this website, it is very clear that this is a common issue with this model of vehicle. Dealer said I can drive it but eventually the transmission will fail, leaving me stranded on the roadside.

UNKNOWN, dealers are reporting 1-2 2020-2022 Highlanders are needing completely transmission replacements at 8-10k in cost. They are all failing and toyota knows this.

I am filing a complaint with the NHTSA regarding persistent transmission slipping in my 2020 Toyota Highlander LE equipped with the UA80-E 8-speed automatic transmission. Since reaching approximately 55,000 miles, I have experienced noticeable slipping, characterized by delayed acceleration, erratic shifting, and occasional lurching, which align with documented defects in the UA80 platform as outlined in over 430 NHTSA complaints and Toyota’s Technical Service Bulletins (e.g., T-SB-0160-18 and T-SB-0008-21). These issues stem from a known manufacturing flaw involving a washer tab failing to secure the counter drive gear’s retaining nut, leading to gear movement, internal wear, and symptoms like mine. This defect, prompting Toyota’s Customer Support Program ZJC for 2017–2018 models and reported in later years like 2020, compromises vehicle safety and reliability, as slipping can cause unpredictable handling. I urge the NHTSA to investigate further and hold Toyota accountable for addressing this widespread issue across affected models.

Whining noise when accelerating. Took it to toyota dealership and confirm it was the transmission .toyota corporate would not assist repair cost as my warranty is 7k miles pass warranty mark..did a research about the transmission and there is a class action law suit about the faulty transmission

On September 2, 2025, the vehicle’s Hybrid System shut down on cold start and the vehicle would not start. A dealer inspection reported coolant had entered cylinder #4, allegedly causing the engine block to warp, the cylinder head to crack, and the head gasket to fail. This was a sudden catastrophic engine failure on a five-year-old vehicle with no prior overheating warnings, no dashboard alerts, and no performance issues in the days leading up to the failure. It is highly unlikely for an engine block to warp without sustained overheating, yet the failure occurred on a cold start. The dealership itself described this as a “premature failure” in their service report. At approximately 26,000 miles, the vehicle’s coolant thermostat failed and was replaced under warranty. If the thermostat stuck closed even briefly, the engine could have experienced one or more silent overheat events that never registered on the dashboard. In aluminum blocks, even short bursts of high localized heat can create latent distortion that doesn’t cause immediate problems but can eventually lead to catastrophic failure years later. Safety Risk: – Vehicle became disabled suddenly without warning. – Engine failure occurred without overheating symptoms, creating risk of sudden shutdown during use. Problem Confirmation: – Engine failure confirmed by a Toyota-authorized dealer. – Dealer service report explicitly called this a “premature failure.” Warning Lamps / Symptoms: – A check engine light appeared briefly three days before failure, then cleared on its own. – No overheating warnings or drivability issues were observed prior to failure.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, there was an abnormal whining sound coming from underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 78,000.

Mileage: 78,000

All of the sudden around 70K miles, the transmission started to make a "whining" noise. It does not sound right and I'm afraid the transmission could fail while I'm driving. I took it to the dealer and they acknowledged that it's a known issue but that in my case the noise is not loud enough to warrant replacing the transmission. A quick research on the internet revels that this is a very common problem.

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2020 less than 5 years 63,000 miles started making noise Dealer where i bought it; said my warranty expired with 60,000 miles , so i have to pay transmission replace close to $9,000 , obviously this is a Toyota fabrication problem they need to assume responsibility .

My 2020 vehicle has 75,000 miles on it. It started making a high pitched sound when accelerating. I brought my vehicle to the dealership where I bought it, to have it inspected. I was assuming it would be a belt or an easy fix. The service agent walked over and cooly explained that I need a new transmission. He continued to say that this is a common issue with this make and model. He stated that at the beginning of the year customers were having to wait a couple of months of transmission parts, but now because of the demand due to the well known power train failure, that the current wait time for transmission parts are only two weeks. He stated several times, that this is a common problem, one that car owners are expected to pay $9,000. to fix. A quick google search brings up a plethora of customers having the same exact problem. Toyota needs to make this right and issue a recall on their faulty product.

Transmission is defective. I do have a warranty that I purchased but I am aware that this is a faulty transmission for the 2020 and 2021 Highlander and Toyota refuses to do anything about it. Transmission is 2 - 3 months backordered and Toyota will not provide a rental.

TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT

2020 toyota highlander l Transmission..whining noise it gets louder when accelerating

The vehicle’s transmission makes an audible whining noise during acceleration and intensifies as the car increases speed. The vehicle has been diagnosed and inspected at the original dealer where the car was purchased and confirmed that the transmission needs to be replaced. The vehicle’s powertrain warranty has just expired and this issue is a major problem and concern with similar model years.

On August 3, 2025, the vehicle developed a loud humming noise. After an inspection on August 12, Heritage Toyota informed me that the transmission had failed and would require replacement at an estimated cost of $9,000. This failure occurred only days past the five-year warranty and just 8,834 miles beyond the 60,000-mile powertrain limit. I immediately contacted Toyota’s Brand Engagement Center (Case #250814000192). Despite speaking with multiple representatives over several weeks, my inquiries were repeatedly delayed, escalated, or dismissed. At one point, I was even informed that further follow-up on my case would be deleted through Toyota Website. Ultimately, I was offered 50% coverage of the transmission replacement. While I appreciate this offer, it does not fully address the seriousness of a transmission failure occurring under such circumstances. I also contacted Heritage Toyota directly to request assistance, but my calls to the service manager went unanswered, and the dealership declined to provide any additional support. I believe this situation raises concerns about both product quality and customer care. A transmission should not fail in under five years with fewer than 70,000 miles, especially on a well-maintained vehicle serviced exclusively by Toyota. I respectfully request that Toyota be held accountable for this failure and that further review be conducted to determine whether this issue represents a larger pattern of premature transmission failures in Highlanders.

A dealership has confirmed that the transmission in my 2020 Toyota Highlander is bad. It has 101k miles on it currently. I purchased this vehicle with the mindset that I would get 200,000 or 300,000 miles of use with it. I am now having to decide if I am going to trade it in or pay $9,000 to have the transmission replaced. I have been told that there are other 2020 Toyota Highlanders having this same issue. Has there been anything to determine what is causing this issue with the transmissions and will there be a recall?

Transmission whine Owners of 2017–2022 Toyota Highlanders, 2017–2020 Siennas, and 2018–2020 Camrys are experiencing serious transmission issues—including high-pitched whining, erratic shifting, clunks, hesitation, and premature failure. These vehicles are equipped with the UA80F (AWD) and UA80E (FWD) 8-speed automatic transmissions.

Transmission failure at 78,000 miles

Transmission Planetary Gears in 2020 Toyota Highlander. Makes a "whining" noise when accelerating. No warning lights or other symptoms. Many reported problems with this model but no recall. Many people are needing to pay out of pocket due to the 60k mileage powertrain warranty.

My 2020 Toyota Highlander is equipped with Toyota’s UA80 8‑speed transmission. At around 62, 000 miles, a loud whining noise developed. The dealership confirmed the transmission is defective. Toyota has issued multiple Technical Service Bulletins acknowledging this transmission defect across all 2020 Highlanders with the UA80, but they are refusing to cover my repair because I am slightly over the 60,000‑mile powertrain warranty. Impact: This is a confirmed design flaw that affects every 2020 Highlander with the UA80 transmission. I rely on this vehicle as my only means of commuting to work—if the transmission fails, I will lose my job.

Whining noise upon acceleration, replacement transmission recommended by Toyota dealer. Defective UA80F installed.

My wife was driving on the highway, felt a bump and the engine RPMs spiked. The check engine light came on as well as a error message that the secondary collision braking system was disabled. The vehicle was taken to the dealership and we were told there was a internal failure in the transmission. The vehicle has approximately 80K miles.

UA80E or UA80F Toyota transmission require a complete replacement at 65K miles. Not covered under warranty or Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0160-18, T-SB-0008-21

At approximately 72,000 miles, my 2020 Toyota Highlander Platinum was diagnosed by my dealership with a failing transmission that requires full replacement. I first began hearing a high-pitched whining noise during light acceleration shortly after a routine oil change, at some point between 60,000 and 70,000 miles. I did not immediately recognize it as a drivetrain issue until the symptoms worsened. This model uses Toyota’s UA80 8-speed automatic transmission, which has been the subject of Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0008-21 and a Customer Support Program (ZJC) for earlier Highlander models due to similar internal component failures. Despite clear continuity in the symptoms and transmission design, Toyota has not extended coverage or issued a recall for 2020 models like mine. The failure occurred shortly after the end of the 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, but symptoms began while the vehicle was still within warranty range. Toyota has not responded to my formal escalation through Customer Care for nearly three weeks. I am deeply concerned Toyota is not addressing what appears to be a systemic and known defect in a critical drivetrain component that can jeopardize vehicle safety. There was no warning light or dashboard alert at the time the failure developed, making this both a mechanical and safety concern. While this issue does not involve a catastrophic failure like the Takata airbag recall, Toyota’s lack of response to a known, widespread transmission issue raises broader concerns about safety, transparency, and accountability. A sudden transmission failure—particularly at highway speeds—could result in loss of power or control. Given that several owners have filed similar complaints, I respectfully urge NHTSA to investigate this issue further and assess whether Toyota should issue a recall or expanded service campaign for 2020 Highlander models equipped with the UA80 transmission, particularly in light of prior coverage for earlier model years.

My 2020 Toyota Highlander Platinum started having the well-known "whining" sound at just under 60,000k. This is coming from the transmission. The vehicle is now just over 60,000k and I did not know that the noise was a cause for concern, let alone something that was an issue (I am not tech savvy - I'm just a regular person). I will not drive this vehicle again, as it is my only transportation for my children. Toyota issued a service bulletin about this issue for 2021 Highlanders ONLY, but as I am now experiencing this problem, I see that this is something well known as a problem.

76,000 miles on my 2020 Highlander. Car was made in September 2020, less than 5 years old. Started to hear whining noise from transmission. Over past few days it has gotten louder. Took to Serra Toyota dealer today in Birmingham, Alabama. They confirmed a problem with transmission and told me I needed a new one for $8600. None are even available. I refuse to pay Toyota any money for this. This is a KNOWN issue with the UA80E transmission. The transmission may completely stop working at anytime now. Dealer was unwilling to do anything to help me since car is out of 60,000 mile warranty, and no TSB's or recalls are for my particular year 2020. There is a TSB for 2021 UA80E transmissions. I am so angry about this. This is a clear manufacturing defect. When this transmission dies which will be sooner than later the car will be worthless with no transmissions available.

I brought my 2020 Toyota Highlander to Round Rock Toyota in 09/2024 for a failed transmission, referenced in TSB T-SB-0008-21. As of today, the vehicle has been in Toyota’s possession for over 10 months and remains unrepaired. My assigned case manager (Case #241003001730) has confirmed that Toyota has no ETA for the replacement part. I’ve also confirmed through Toyota’s customer support line that their parts department cannot provide a timeline. Toyota acknowledged the issue is tied to a known defect, yet there is no resolution. I was denied a loaner vehicle until escalating the issue to the dealership’s upper management. Toyota’s delay has caused significant personal and financial hardship. This is a clear breach of their powertrain warranty and represents a systemic breakdown in their ability to support affected customers. I am seeking immediate federal review of this issue, as it affects vehicle safety, value, and reliability.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, there was abnormal whining sound coming from underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission assembly. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Support Program: POL 19-04. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 129,000.

Mileage: 129,000

Transmission failure- this affects the safety of others when the car decides it doesn’t want to accelerate and could potentially lead to car accidents when another vehicle runs into it. The transmission needs to be completely replaced. This issue started back in January and has been an ongoing problem since warranty and Toyota will not assist with issue of their faulty product.

Transmission making whining noise that increases with speed. Concerned about safety if transmission fails while driving Diagnostic done at Toyota and confirmed transmission is failing and needs new replacement. There are no warning lamps. Noise has increased intensity over short period of time

It’s been a known issue that Toyota Highlander has transmission problems under 100k miles from 2016-2021 or later (social media sites confirmed such). My vehicle require a trans axle replacement as well as the struts are leaking oil and my vehicle has less than 62k miles and is only 5 years old. This is being covered under my extended warranty but parts are on back order After doing research many owners complain about a whining noise showing acceleration of vehicle . If left unfixed this leads to transmission gears slipping and eventually needing an entire replacement Some owners also complain about leaky struts. My car has an issue with leaky struts and is being fixed under warranty Some owners say they need an entire new transmission and after that is replaced the rear transaxle goes and needs replacement Toyota is not putting a recall on this but it’s a known issue. Owners are asking to have this put out as a recall by toy. All parts are on back order and takes several months before transmission can be repaired or replaced. This tells me there are hundreds if not thousands of Highlander’s having the same issue This is a Toyota problem and is related to building transmission in the factory..recall the older vehicles and do better in the factory

At around 61,000 miles, I noticed a whining sound in the vehicle when accelerating. I took the vehicle in to a Toyota dealer for diagnostics and their technicians indicated that my vehicle had transmission failure and it needed to be completely replaced - quoted at $8,000 to do the replacement. Diagnostic appointment also cost $174. Parts are on back order and no one could tell me when parts would come in - guess was one month. In reality, parts are now finally in (I'm about to take it in to be fixed) after 2 months. I was told by the dealership that I could drive it at my own risk of failure - if it were to fail, I would be stranded wherever that may be putting my family and those around me at risk due to the unknown nature of when that could happen. This failure is recorded for the same model and same UA80 transmission on several online forums: [XXX] The vehicle has been inspected by a Toyota dealer as I stated previously. Diagnostic report says "Internal component failure. Recommend transmission" No other warning lights or messages from the car to warn me of this problem even now. Just the whining sound from the failure itself. Keep in mind, Toyota's powertrain warranty period is 5 years or 60,000 miles - this vehicle just surpassed both of those limits as this problem came about. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Whining noise from the transmission after 66K miles - Change fluids still no improvement - Known issue with UA80 transmission . Dealers knew of the issue but still sold cars

Final drive failing in transmisssion

8 speed automatic transmission started whining at 45k miles (purchased new), has been inspected, dealer confirmed transmission is bad and part is on back order (date keeps moving out),

Began hearing a high-pitched whining sound when I accelerated. Took it into the dealer and they casually told me that I needed a new transmission. My car was less than four years old, but had more than the 60,000 miles that would apply under a warranty. I am now reading online. This is a widespread problem involving Toyota Highlanders. Can’t get a new transmission for three months or more.

2020 Toyota Highlander l developed a whining noise and after extensively researching this sound it seems like its common on highlanders with the UA80 transmission and leads to transmission failure. There is a Toyota forum where owners have gathered about this issue not only for this year highlander but early models when the specific transmission above started being used. Quotes to replaced this transmission range from $6,000-$13,000 at the dealer. Toyota has been called and they have been of no help to anyone. Even worse it seems all places are backordered on these transmissions and owners are left without a car. To quote a toyota member who called to get hemp with the issue, this is what Toyotas response was: “ Toyota refuses any support stating that "we can't predict an average life expectancy for any specific part of component", This only means life expectancy on their parts does not exist? Shouldnt they have a target life expectancy on parts? A lot of dissatisfied toyota owners as toyota is hiding from this issue.

Around 90,000 miles, the transmission has started to whine really bad. This seems to be a common problem with this 2018 to 2021 Highlanders, but 2020 has no recall or service bulletin. My mechanic priced a transmission from a dealership and was told it would be 3 months at least to get a reman transmission. There is a good chance of catastrophic failure before we can get a new transmission installed.

At about 85,000 miles, the transmission developed a whine noise, and two dealers and a transmission shop all state it needs replacement. However, the backlog for replacement is enormous and I risk the transmission failing catastrophically while driving.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, there was a whining sound coming from the transmission. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the internal bearings had failed, and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced Technical Service Bulletin: TSB-0008-21 as a possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 99,000.

Mileage: 99,000

The transmission is making a whining noise at 104;368 miles. We own another 2020 Toyota Highlander and it had to have the transmission replaced for the same reason. It is available for inspection. It’s a safety hazard because it’s a bearings in the transmission that’s failing. The transmission will eventually stop working. The issue was confirmed by a Toyota dealer and one of our transmissions has already had to be replaced. Toyota has a service bulletin out for this known problem. There were no warning signs for the transmission noise.

There is a whining noise coming from the power train/transmission. It only happens when the accelerator pedal is pressed. We had a couple of mechanics look at it. The transmission oil was changed twice, with the vehicle less than 78,000 miles. Neither mechanic can find any issue with any other item, including the engine. The noise still persists. There are no warning lights on. We have researched the web. Toyota is aware of the problem and has replaced some transmissions still under warranty. They have issues a TSB (TSB008-21) in February 2021, but did not issue a recall or notify owners of a potential problem.

Around 92k miles my transmission started makining a whining noise while driving. Dealership diagnosed a transmission problem and it needed to be replaced. They said eventually the transmission will go bad and stop working, potentially leaving me stranded or causing an accident. Spoke with Toyota HQ who would not offer financial assistance or assist with getting a part. UA80F transmissions are on a nationwide backorder. They also would not acknowledge that there is a problem.

The 8-speed automatic transmission was making a whirring, whining noise. Transmission could failed completely and stranded occupants including children. Vehicle has been serviced every 5,000 miles and no warning lights or indicators ever came on. Dealer inspected and diagnosed an internal component failure necessitating complete transmission replacement. Vehicle is 4 years and 2 months old with 65,000 miles on it.

Transmission going out afraid it will come apart or lose power while driving. Toyota dealership told me that we could put new transmission in but it will be the same as the one that is in it and that problem with them has not been corrected and it probably won't hold up long either. Our vehicle only has 71000 miles and we bought it new.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle was making an abnormal whining sound. The contact stated that the failure occurred at various speeds. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: T-SB-0008-21 Whine Or Grind Noise from Transmission (Power Train). The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

Mileage: 98,000

Complete transmission and transfer assembly failure at 72,000. Just outside manufacturer warranty. Toyota Dealership and Corporate refused to acknowledge responsibility, stating that the transmission and transfer assembly met warranty requirements, and that they would not entertain assistance.

At 76000 miles my 2020 Highlander water pump began to fail. 20 days after the water pump was replaced at Kings Toyota dealership, the transmission is now failing at 79000 miles. The warranty only covers repairs on each up to 60000 miles. This car has been maintained by the dealership and no engine light ever came on. The water pump was $1200 to repair and I’m being quoted $10K to repair the transmission. I also don’t trust that dealership didn’t accidentally cause the transmission to fail bc they surprisingly have a new transmission in stock the day I came in. If it truly failed today, then Toyota needs to recall this car for safety reasons. It went from fine to not fine in just a few days of driving.

The transmission is starting to whine at 108,000 miles. Toyota service told me the only fix is a replacement and they have seen two failures within the same week. They also said this is a known issue with this model year. A Reddit thread shows many owners in the US and Canada with the same issue. If this is resulting in failures of the transmission in operation this is a safety issue and a reasonable recall being a known defect for this line of transmissions. The recommendation from the service department since this vehicle is paid off is to run it to failure.

Before hitting 100,000 miles the car started making a whirring/whine noise when accelerating. We mentioned it to the service advisor when taking the car in for an oil change. Initially the advisor said the service technicians took it for a drive and didn’t notice any noise; when we picked up the vehicle asked the advisor to sit in with us to point out the noise to him, he heard and acknowledged there in fact was a whining/whirring noise and said he would inquire about it to the shop foreman. The next day the advisor called me and said the shop foreman stated that noise is a transmission issue.

The transmission started slipping without any warning and then went into neutral while driving and I am not able to drive it anymore. The dealership said the transmission is bad. I see many complaints online about 2020 Toyota Highlander transmissions going bad for no reason. This is a new car only 4.5 years of normal driving and the transmission goes, this is not normal for such a high rated vehicle.

Highlander transmission broke down around 80,000 miles

The transmission in my 2020 Highlander XLE needs replacement at 64,000 miles.

Transmission whining around 38mph when accelerator is pressed. Goes away when foot is off pedal. No warning lights are on. I test drove 3 other 2020 - 2021 Highlanders in May before I purchased this one. All 3 of those had a very noticable transmission whine over 20mph. I opted for this Highlander because there were no noticeable issues/sounds. Just this month, I am noticing a more pronounced high pitch whine during acceleration. This certainly sounds like a much wider issue, especially calling around to multiple dealerships confirming they have other 2020-2021 Highlanders in getting transmission replacements (on 3+ months wait times for parts) This is absolutely a safety issue if a transmission fails while driving. There was a technical bulletin for this same issue with certain VINs, but I was told that my VIN fell outside of that range. To answer rest of questions: No confirmation from dealer on the whine, they are all charging $180 to diagnose the issue and I am not paying that. No further inspections by the above groups listed.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that there was an abnormal winding noise detected while accelerating. The failure increased over time. While the contact’s husband was driving approximately 60 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle lost motive power. While shifting to park, there was an abnormally loud, high-pitched winding sound detected. The vehicle was slow to shift from first to second gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the CV joint needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a transmission center, where the transmission was rebuilt. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that there was an abnormal winding noise detected while accelerating. The failure increased over time. While the contact’s husband was driving approximately 60 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle lost motive power. While shifting to park, there was an abnormally loud, high-pitched winding sound detected. The vehicle was slow to shift from first to second gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the CV joint needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a transmission center, where the transmission was rebuilt. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

I own a 2020 Toyota highlander and the car mileage is 68,000 and the dealer told me my transmission is dead and needs to replacement. The cost for replacement is $13,000.00! I’m the first owner of the car and how could a new Toyota car transmission fail at 68,000 miles and the warranty is 5 yrs or 60,000 miles. This issue have to be Toyota manufacture problems and they should have a recall on this and I researched online and a lot of highlander owners have the same problems as me! NHTSA PLEASE RESEARCH AND HELP HIGHLANDER OWNERS! Thank you

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH, there was an abnormal humming sound from the engine compartment. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the sound got louder. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.

Mileage: 67,000

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and accelerating, the vehicle made an abnormal buzzing and clunking sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times. The dealer repaired the brake pedal and an axle; however, the failure progressively became worse. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the rear differential was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced; however, the part was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

Mileage: 59,000

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and there was an abnormal whining sound underneath the vehicle on the driver's side. The contact stated that the sound was intermittent but was occurring at various speeds. The contact stated that there were no warning lights. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

Mileage: 107,000

With 55k miles on a 2020 Toyota Highlander, we began hearing a whine. On various on-line sources it appears that this is not unusual among late teens to early '20s Highlanders. I brought the vehicle to the dealer (with close to 56k miles) and the dealer decided the transmission needs to be replaced. Even though the dealer service center acknowledges this is an ongoing issue w/the Highlander of this (late teens/early '20s) vintage I'm told its a 1-2mo wait for a transmission repair/replacement. Warranty is 60k miles... I was told be safe and don't go over 60k miles or its possible the warranty might not be honored. While currently operable, a quick internet search indicates, transmission failure often occurs unexpectedly, leaving drivers stranded on the side of the road. This situation can be not only inconvenient but also dangerous.

Known transmission issue not being addressed. Internal parts issue and must be replaced after only a few years.

My vehicle is started making a loud whining noise at around 78K miles whenever you accelerate between about 25-60mph. The dealer said that a new transmission is the only thing that would fix it. The cost of the transmission is 8K. The dealer said that Toyota ought to cover it, but I called and their initial answer is that they will not. This part should be recalled, there are multiple people online saying they are experiencing the same exact issue. This is a very expensive problem for this car, and not one that consumers should shoulder at low mileages. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at speeds above 20 MPH, there was a loud whining sound coming from the transmission. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic and the contact was informed that the sound was an indication of transmission failure. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted or notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 73,000.

Mileage: 73,000

8AT transmission failure. Toyota is telling me that it will take 7 months to obtain a replacement transmission.

The transmission has gone out. We noticed a whining noise which prompted getting the vehicle inspected which led to the diagnosis. The vehicle is at the dealership and cannot be driven as driving it will void the warranty. The were no warning messages just the whining noise at about 30-40 mph. We were told it was good that we caught it as the car could have broken down at any time which could have been a safety risk if it had all of a sudden stopped in traffic. We have researched and found that others have had the same issue. The transmission is on back order with no set arrival date.

2020 Highlander XLE 8-AT: whining sound when the vehicle is in forward motion; any speed. No sound noticed when in reverse. At this time, there is no condition, noticed, while shifting gears. Sound is constant regardless of speed. Dealer (6/14/2024) has diagnosed the transmission is bad; needs to be replaced. T-SB-0008-21 & T-SB-0160-18 cover same sound condition this vehicle has now.

Loud whining noise after 55000 miles , Toyota saying i need a new transmission in my suv that now has 60785. I had alerted Toyota regarding the noise a month prior and they said it was a normal noise.

Transmission began whining and hesitating around 62K miles. Transmission is the 8AT.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound while failing to shift gear or accelerate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

Mileage: 72,000

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and it was determined that the sound was coming from the transmission however, the dealer was unable to provide a cause for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not assist. The failure mileage was 100,100.

Mileage: 100,100

The car is barely 3 years old with 74000 miles to it. The is a humming noise coming from the transmission which the dealer said I may want to replace it. It’s not cheap to do so and I don’t expect it to happen to a new car.

I pulled my vehicle into the driveway and stopped outside of the garage. I stepped out to fold my mirrors on both sides of the vehicle as the garage is very narrow. I also need to unload my belongings from the rear hatch. I walked around to the Right side mirror, folded it and headed to unload the hatch when the vehicle PULLED ITSELF INTO THE GARAGE; literally! I could not open the doors as they lock and the space is so narrow. The vehicle stopped when it hit the back wall of the garage. I immediately opened the door and turned the vehicle off. The Vehicle sounds an alarm and shows the message "Shift to park" if not in Park. This did not happen. I sat in the car putting my sunglasses away and unplugging my phone before exiting. If I had not put the vehicle in Park, I would have heard and seen the warnings immediately and the car would have moved immediately; not 30-60 seconds after exiting. Note: our driveway is flat

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND IN THE PARK POSITION IN ORDER FOR THEIR MOTHER TO UNLOAD THE TRUNK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THEIR MOTHER. ONCE THE INCLINE OF THE STREET WAS MORE OF A PLATO THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP. THEY WERE ABLE TO CATCH UP TO THE VEHICLE AND RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THEIR HOME THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEIR MOTHER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER FACE, RIGHT ARM, RIGHT HAND, LEFT RIB AREA, LEFT LEG, AND FOOT AREAS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER (HIGHLAND TOYOTA LOCATED AT 5500 45TH AVENUE DR, MOLINE, IL 61265; (309) 764-2481 ) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT NO DEFECT OR MALFUNCTION COULD BE DETECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SENT AN INVESTIGATOR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

Mileage: 500

THIS VEHICLE WILL LET YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF IN DRIVE WITHOUT SHIFTING TO PARK. IF YOU DO THIS AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, IT WILL ROLL AWAY AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET BACK TO IT AND INTO IT IN TIME TO GET YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THEN SHIFT IT INTO PARK. THIS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED. YOU SHOULD HAVE TO SHIFT TO PARK BEFORE THE ENGINE CAN BE TURNED OFF. *TR