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moderate 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The ECM damage may result in the engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free. This is caused by the phone Hands Free volume being too low.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered keys will be erased. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to reset a vehicle Immobilizer or Smart Key system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: Some 17-22MY Highlander and 17-20MY Sienna vehicles may experience a MIL ON condition with DTC(s) P042000, and/or P043000. This issue could involve deteriorated catalyst material from the bank 1 or bank 2 catalytic converter.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: Some 2016 ? 2018 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with Entune? Audio (version 01013E), Entune? Audio Plus (version 010156 or 01015C), or Entune? Premium Audio (versions 010171, 010170, or 01017D) may exhibit one or more of the following conditions: ?Head unit reboots at a specific location. ?Abnormal Destination Search app operation. ?Rebooting caused by no songs on the USB-connected iPhone. ?A one-time reboot after ignition is cycled to ACC-ON. ?Audio stays muted after the key is cycled.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners report a cluster of electrical failures spanning drivetrain, convenience, and safety systems. The most serious issue is cruise control spontaneous acceleration—when drivers re-engage the resume function at speeds of 35, 50, or 60 mph, the vehicle accelerates well beyond the set speed, forcing manual disengagement to regain control. This happened to multiple owners on highways. Three reports cite auto start/stop malfunction: the engine cuts off at traffic lights or stalls unexpectedly, and in some cases the driver sees a "Brake Power Low" warning with an extremely stiff brake pedal that makes restart impossible without turning off climate control.
Battery failures occur prematurely; one owner replaced the battery twice in three years, and a dealership technician confirmed a "known issue with Toyota" involving a defective batch. Two owners got stranded when batteries died during light stops and drive-thru transactions. The lane departure warning system is unreliable, failing to activate for the first 1-4 miles or triggering false alarms when the car is a foot away from markers. Climate control won't retain settings between restarts and can't deliver the set temperature. Bluetooth calls drop after two minutes and require a full system restart. One owner reported the hatch opens by itself while parked and locked. A few owners describe lighting and radio failures, and one raised concern about the towing harness lacking the 7-pin connector needed for trailer brakes despite a 5,000 lb capacity rating.
Same Toyota Highlander electrical reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020
When resuming cruise control after disengaging, the vehicle accelerates significantly beyond the set speed, requiring driver intervention to disengage cruise control and regain control.
When: Multiple incidents reported; one at 35 mph (accelerated to 45 mph), one at 50 mph, one at 60 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates well beyond set cruise speed when resume function activated; Driver must manually disengage cruise control to stop unwanted acceleration; Happens during highway operation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Arbitration awarded replacement vehicle in Washington State lemon law case; Toyota requested jury trial
Engine shuts off unexpectedly at traffic lights or while braking, or fails to shut off properly when intended. Some reports include stiff brake pedal and 'Brake Power Low' warning messages.
When: At traffic lights and stop signs; one incident at ~50,000 miles; another with 'Brake Power Low' message on hot day after 2-hour parking
Symptoms owners cite: Engine cuts off during traffic light stops; Auto shutoff activates after as little as 30 seconds despite constant brake pressure; Brake pedal extremely stiff; 'Brake Power Low' warning message displayed; Electronics engage but engine will not start in some cases
Premature battery discharge and inability to start vehicle. Multiple owners report replacing batteries within short ownership periods; dealers acknowledge known defective battery batch.
When: Within 3 years of ownership; batteries go bad prematurely; one incident at McDonald's drive-thru, another at traffic light
Symptoms owners cite: Battery dies unexpectedly while driving or parked; Vehicle loses all electrical power mid-operation; Battery does not hold charge; Vehicle unable to start due to dead battery
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple battery replacements required; one owner replaced battery twice in 3 years; dealership acknowledged defective batch of batteries
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated 'known issue with Toyota' involving defective battery batch; stated issue covered under new vehicle warranty but replacement batteries unavailable
Lane departure indicator fails to operate consistently, either remaining non-functional for the first 1-4 miles of driving or activating incorrectly when vehicle is far from lane markers.
When: Inconsistent; sometimes disabled for first 1-4 miles of trip, sometimes throughout entire trip
Symptoms owners cite: Lane departure warning does not activate initially; Lane departure warning activates when vehicle is approximately 1 foot away from lane markers on either side; Warning deactivates and reactivates unpredictably during trips
Climate control system fails to retain user settings for fan speed, passenger-side temperature, and airflow direction between vehicle restarts. Actual cabin temperature does not match set temperature; airflow misdirects to torso instead of intended outlets.
When: Occurs on vehicle restart; ongoing throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Fan speed setting not retained after restart; Passenger-side temperature control not retained; Airflow direction setting not retained; Cabin temperature 7-11 degrees higher than set temperature (set 69°F, actual 76-80°F); Air directed to torso instead of windshield and feet when those settings selected
Bluetooth connection drops during phone calls after approximately 2 minutes, forcing phone to disconnect from vehicle system and requiring system restart to re-pair. Hands-free device operates intermittently.
When: During active phone calls; intermittent throughout use
Symptoms owners cite: Bluetooth drops call after ~2 minutes of conversation; Phone disconnects from vehicle system after call drop; Requires system restart to re-pair; Hands-free device stops working intermittently; Radio and hands-free reboot themselves during operation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer acknowledged compatibility issue between head unit, Bluetooth/radio unit, and software vendors; manufacturer instructed dealer to refuse hardware replacement; issue under warranty for nearly 2 years with no resolution
Headlights and dash lights shut off unexpectedly while vehicle is in motion; auto-dimming feature malfunctions. Manual re-engagement required.
When: During evening drive approximately 40 minutes after vehicle operation began
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights shut off while driving with auto-dim enabled; Dash lights shut off simultaneously; Radio remains operational; Navigation screen becomes excessively bright; Driver must manually adjust light control switch to restore headlights and dash lights
Blind spot monitor on passenger side activates sporadically and inconsistently, particularly on highway driving.
When: Intermittent; noted especially on interstate highways
Symptoms owners cite: Blind spot monitor not reliably detecting vehicles in blind spot; False blind spot alerts (alert given when vehicle multiple car lengths away); Monitor disengages without cause during driving
Open circuit in left front door harness causes SRS malfunction error and loss of communication with left-hand side airbag sensor. In accident scenario, side airbag will not deploy.
When: Identified through diagnostic code; appears to occur during vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: SRS malfunction error message displayed; Active DTC B1697 (lost communication with side airbag sensor LH)
Codes mentioned: B1697
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota refusing to address issue outside of covered warranty; no open recall for this issue
Engine control module fails, causing engine to stall and check engine light to illuminate. Misdiagnosed as ignition coil failure; diagnosis required $600 at independent shop after $140 dealer diagnosis.
When: At approximately 80,000 miles; vehicle suddenly jolted and stopped at ~40 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle suddenly jolts and stops moving while driving; Check engine light illuminates; Problem persists after ignition coil replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Replaced ignition coil (unsuccessful); later diagnosed as ECM failure requiring $600 diagnosis
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claimed no recalls for this vehicle's VIN despite acknowledging ECM recalls exist for 2018 Highlanders
Rear hatch opens spontaneously while vehicle is parked and locked. Door handle locking mechanism reduced sensitivity compared to new vehicle.
When: Vehicle locked, parked for several hours; hatch opened on its own
Symptoms owners cite: Hatch opens while parked and locked; Door handle lock button not as responsive as when vehicle was new; Door handle unlock function continues to work normally
Drowsy driver ('Need Coffee Break') alert activates inappropriately during short driving periods, despite driver being alert. Alert also activates correctly during long trips.
When: Triggered after as little as 2-4 miles of driving; also appeared twice on long trip before disappearing
Symptoms owners cite: 'Need Coffee Break' alert activates after 2-4 miles of driving; Alert disappears within ~1 minute; Alert activates during short drives when driver not fatigued; Alert activates sporadically during long trips
Digital speedometer reading displays 1-2 mph lower than analog speedometer dial when cruise control is active, creating confusion about actual vehicle speed.
When: When cruise control is engaged and functioning
Symptoms owners cite: Digital speed readout 1-2 mph lower than speedometer needle; Discrepancy only occurs during cruise control operation
Radio shorts out, disabling all integrated computer applications and requiring replacement unit.
When: During normal vehicle operation
Symptoms owners cite: Radio shorts out; All computer apps disabled
Repairs/costs cited: New radio unit needed; reported 1-week lead time for replacement
Climate control display cannot be switched from Fahrenheit to Celsius, limiting functionality for international drivers or those relocating from metric-system countries.
When: Persistent throughout vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Temperature display locked to Fahrenheit only; No option to switch to Celsius despite odometer having mile/km toggle; Owner must manually calculate conversions while driving, creating distraction hazard
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota dealership service consultant stated U.S.-produced 2018 Highlanders cannot be changed to Celsius; miles to km conversion available but not temperature units
Voice listening device/microphone integrated into headliner above driver's seat leaks water, likely from sunroof or associated windshield sealing.
When: Ongoing water intrusion
Symptoms owners cite: Visible water leakage at microphone location; Water damage risk to electrical components
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall noted for windshield but may not address sunroof-related leak
Vehicle is advertised with 5,000 lb towing capacity but OEM wiring harness only includes 4-pin connector, not the required 7-pin connector needed for trailer electric brakes. This creates a safety gap for trailers 3,000 lbs or more, which are legally required to have electric brakes.
When: Inherent design issue present at manufacture
Symptoms owners cite: Only 4-pin connector provided in OEM harness; No 7-pin connector for brake controller; No 12V output to charge trailer breakaway battery; No provision for trailer-mounted brake controller power
Vehicle collision safety features fail to operate as designed.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Collision safety features do not respond or activate
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
1.) Bluetooth connects without issue to iPhone (for both media and phone) however during a phone call (incoming/outgoing) the car system will drop the call after about 2 mins of talk time. The phone then disconnects from the car & will only re-pair once the system restarts. 2. ) The safety hazard is due to distracted, hands required operation of the phone due to Bluetooth system not…
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 18 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
Based on the 18 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 15,623 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover electrical issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.