TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ?Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Toyota Highlander steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2018 Toyota Highlander have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Highlander | 4 |
| 2015 Highlander | 25 |
| 2016 Highlander | 6 |
| 2017 Highlander | 4 |
| 2018 Highlander (this page) | 10 |
| 2019 Highlander | 8 |
| 2020 Highlander | 4 |
| 2021 Highlander | 8 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.
TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ? Difficulty to pair the phone. ? Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ? Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report steering failures ranging from sudden loss of power steering at highway speeds to complete steering wheel lockup. Several instances describe the vehicle shutting down entirely while driving, with the steering wheel locked and the dash going dark. One owner at 65 MPH saw an "ETS Failure - Steering Will Be Harder to Steer" warning before the steering wheel locked; another reported the same type of failure at 1,000 miles requiring forceful steering input to get to the shoulder.
A critical pattern involves complete electrical shutdown. One owner reported the brake pedal and steering wheel locking simultaneously upon startup, with a "braking power low" warning and total loss of electronic features. Another owner experienced the engine shutting down on the highway, dash and radio going blank, steering locking up—the truck restarted within seconds, but only after shuddering during idle 15 minutes prior.
Intermittent hard steering, sometimes paired with check engine lights and stalling, appears on multiple vehicles. One owner at 200,000 miles has had the issue recur several times despite repair attempts. One owner's alignment cannot be corrected despite five-plus Toyota service visits; immediately after the most recent "correction," the Highlander pulled the vehicle into oncoming traffic. One instance involved the vehicle stalling when the owner adjusted the steering wheel lock position on the highway.
Same Toyota Highlander steering reports on nearby years: 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Steering System Lock and Power Loss
Steering wheel locks or becomes extremely difficult to turn while driving, often accompanied by loss of power steering and engine shutdown. ETS (Electronic Throttle System) failure warnings appear on the dashboard. Occurs at highway speeds with no prior warning.
When: 1,000 miles; highway driving at 65-75 MPH; one instance at intersection during low-speed turning
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel suddenly locked or became very hard to turn; Warning message 'ETS Failure - Steering Will Be Harder to Steer' appeared; Engine lost power and shut down while driving; Difficulty restarting or long restart delay; Check engine light illuminated; Vehicle veered toward roadside or median
Codes mentioned: ETS Failure codes (unspecified), Check Engine Light (P-codes not specified)
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer diagnosed computer system malfunction but did not repair. Another instance had mechanic work on throttle body and air control system without resolving steering issues.
Complete Electrical Shutdown with Steering and Braking Loss
Vehicle experiences sudden total electrical failure with steering wheel lock, brake pedal lock, and all power steering/braking disabled while vehicle is shut down. Electronic features fail completely including power locks.
When: Occurred upon starting vehicle (mileage not specified); no prior warning
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal and steering wheel locked simultaneously; Warning message 'braking power low, stop in safe place'; Complete loss of all electronic features; Vehicle would not start at all after failure; Vehicle would not lock electronically
Steering Geometry Misalignment and Pullback
Vehicle exhibits severe front-wheel toe-out misalignment that cannot be corrected despite multiple Toyota dealer alignment attempts. After alignment correction, vehicle pulls vehicle into oncoming traffic on the drive home. Condition is particularly hazardous on wet roads.
When: After 5+ alignment attempts by Toyota; occurs immediately after most recent correction
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls to one side, especially on wet roads; Steering drift and instability; Vehicle pulled into oncoming traffic immediately after alignment service; Front driver-side wheel severely toe-out
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota specialists drove vehicle and deemed it safe after multiple failed correction attempts. Another dealership found front driver-side wheel toe-out and attempted correction; issue recurred immediately.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota headquarters specialists test-drove vehicle and deemed it safe after multiple failed attempts to correct alignment.
Intermittent Steering Hardness with Engine Stall
Steering becomes hard or impossible to turn intermittently, sometimes accompanied by engine stall. Check engine light comes on. Multiple occurrences over time, becoming more frequent.
When: 200,000 miles; occurred multiple times with increasing frequency
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel became difficult to turn when turning left or right; Check engine warning light illuminated; Vehicle lost power and shut down; Extended time needed to restart vehicle; Failures became more persistent and frequent
Codes mentioned: Check Engine Light (P-codes not specified)
Repairs/costs cited: Certified mechanic diagnosed body throttle, air control system, and battery sensor failures. Vehicle was repaired but failures persisted.
Steering Wheel Grip Degradation
Steering wheel leather cover peels and deteriorates, compromising grip and driver control, especially problematic for households with children.
When: At 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel leather peeling; Reduced grip on steering wheel
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota claims issue is cosmetic.
Unresponsive Steering Wheel Lock/Ignition Interaction
Vehicle stalls on highway when driver adjusts steering wheel position from locked to lowest setting. Suggests electrical interaction between steering wheel lock and ignition or electrical system.
When: Driving on I-75 at 75 MPH
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalled immediately after adjusting steering wheel position; Loss of power while driving at highway speed; No recovery until vehicle pulled to safety
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2018 Toyota Highlander?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2018 Toyota Highlander?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 56,154 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.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/Toyota/Highlander.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.