DP: Although the high-pressure fuel pump is covered by Toyota?s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers? ownership experience. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to the presence of a fuel odor in or around the engine bay originating at the high-pressure fuel pump of the subject vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Toyota Highlander fuel system problems
moderate Owners of the 2019 Toyota Highlander have filed 21 NHTSA complaints about the fuel system at roughly $1,200 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See fuel system across all vehicles →
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,200
| Model year | fuel system complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 Highlander | 8 |
| 2018 Highlander | 14 |
| 2019 Highlander (this page) | 21 |
What stands out
Of the 8 model years of Toyota Highlander we track for fuel system problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 21.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering fuel system 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.
TSB: Some 2019 ? 2022 model year Avalon, 2018 ? 2023 model year Camry, 2017 ? 2022 model year Highlander, and 2017 ? 2020 model year Sienna vehicles equipped with a 2GR-FKS engine may exhibit a knocking noise from the vacuum pump at idle.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: Some 2019 ? 2022 model year Avalon, 2018 ? 2023 model year Camry, 2017 ? 2022 model year Highlander, 2017 ? 2020 model year Sienna, and 2016 ? 2023 model year Tacoma vehicles equipped with a 2GR-FKS engine may exhibit a knocking noise from the vacuum pump at idle. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: Some 2017 ? 2019 model year Highlander vehicles may exhibit a knocking noise from the fuel tank area at idle, vehicle stationary, with a full tank of gasoline. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2019 Highlanders report stalling and power loss without warning, typically at normal highway and city speeds (35–60 mph). Several incidents occurred early in vehicle life: one at 5,000 miles, another at 13,000 miles, and others at higher mileage. When stalling occurs, the vehicle sometimes restarts on its own; other times it needs jumpstarting. Check engine lights illuminate in some cases but not all—one owner reported no warning lights at all before stalling.
Dealers have diagnosed the problem as fuel pump and fuel pressure issues under recall campaign 20V012000 (some references to 20V682000). However, the dominant complaint is parts unavailability. Multiple owners report waiting months for recall repair parts that never arrived, with Toyota unable to provide ship dates. One owner had the fuel pump replaced but experienced jerking and stalling again afterward. Another owner reported jumpstarting the vehicle resolved stalling once, but the failure recurred. No owner reports permanent resolution. Owners describe the unpredictable stalling as dangerous—one specifically noted it as a potential death trap at highway speed.
Same Toyota Highlander fuel system reports on nearby years: 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Stalling and Power Loss in Motion
Vehicle stalls or loses motive power without warning while driving at normal speeds (35–60 mph), sometimes requiring jumpstart to restart.
When: Reported from 5,000 to 85,000 miles; several cases in first 15,000 miles on new vehicles.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle jerks or stalls without warning; Loss of motive power while driving; Check engine light may or may not illuminate; No warning lights in some cases; Vehicle may restart on its own or require jumpstart
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (specific codes not provided by owners)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replaced fuel pump in at least one case; one owner reported fuel pump replacement did not resolve stalling (jerking and stalling recurred afterward).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA recall campaign 20V012000 and 20V682000 issued for fuel system. Repair parts unavailable for extended periods; Toyota unable to confirm delivery dates. One complaint references class action settlement.
Recall Parts Unavailability
Recall notification issued but repair parts not available; owners unable to complete recall repairs after multiple months of waiting.
When: Spanning multiple months; no specific timeline provided for parts arrival.
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received; Dealer confirms parts not in stock or available; Toyota unable to provide estimated ship date; Owners left without remedy
Repairs/costs cited: Parts not available at multiple dealerships across different regions and time periods; VIN tool confirms parts unavailable or not yet available.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA recall campaign 20V012000 and 20V682000; Toyota acknowledged to some owners that parts were not available but could not provide timeline. Manufacturer stated it exceeded reasonable repair time in owners' assessments.
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had fuel system trouble with your 2019 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 fuel system problem on the 2019 Toyota Highlander?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 21 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,200 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the fuel system typically fail?
Based on the 21 complaints filed, fuel system issues most often appear around 24,850 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 $1,200 for fuel system 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 fuel system?
No active recalls currently cover fuel system 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/2019/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.