TT: Engine Oil Leak between the Lower Oil Pan and Crank Case
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2023 Toyota Highlander engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2023 Toyota Highlander have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 Highlander | 26 |
| 2020 Highlander | 3 |
| 2021 Highlander | 15 |
| 2023 Highlander (this page) | 10 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
The Engine Control Computer software has a programing error which can cause the exhaust variable valve timing (VVT) locking pin to temporarily get stuck. When this happens, an engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) can appear on the dashboard as well as diagnostic trouble code (DTC), P05CE00 to be set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The Engine Control Computer software has a programing error which can cause the exhaust variable valve timing (VVT) locking pin to temporarily get stuck. When this happens, an engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) can appear on the dashboard as well as diagnostic trouble code (DTC), P05CE00 to be set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN 24TC05 MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) IS ON WITH DTC P05CE00 SOFTWARE UPDATE CERTAIN 2023 & 2024 HIGHLANDER VEHICLES CERTAIN 2024 GRAND HIGHLANDER VEHICLES
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The Engine Control Computer software has a programing error which can cause the exhaust variable valve timing (VVT) locking pin to temporarily get stuck. When this happens, an engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) can appear on the dashboard as well as diagnostic trouble code (DTC), P05CE00 to be set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Ten owners of 2023 Toyota Highlanders report pronounced hesitation and bucking during acceleration, with delay times ranging from one to three seconds before the engine responds to throttle input. The condition appears immediately—some vehicles showed symptoms when purchased new in February 2023. Owners describe the engine as struggling like bad spark plug wires, sputtering, and then surging as it climbs through RPMs. The hesitation happens both from a dead stop and during traffic passing maneuvers, worsening noticeably when outside temperatures exceed 75°F.
Multiple owners report this creates genuine safety hazards: near-misses pulling into traffic, almost losing control on mountain roads and wet highways due to unpredictable power delivery. Several dealerships confirmed they can reproduce the problem but found no diagnostic trouble codes and told owners the vehicle operates as designed. One dealership suggested the issue was software-related but declined to address it. Toyota replaced one vehicle under lemon law; most other cases were denied or ignored. Owners who tried different fuel octanes and fuel additives saw no improvement. One owner reported a secondary issue: coolant temperature gauge hunting between normal and high in warm ambient conditions, despite dealer finding nothing mechanically wrong.
Same Toyota Highlander engine reports on nearby years: 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Hesitation and bucking on acceleration
Engine fails to respond promptly to throttle input, particularly during light-to-moderate and hard acceleration. Owners report a 1-3 second delay before power delivery, followed by surging or bucking as RPMs climb. Symptoms present from cold stop and during traffic maneuvers. More pronounced in ambient temperatures above 75°F. No diagnostic trouble codes present in most cases.
When: New vehicle purchase (Feb 2023 for complaint #1); appears throughout vehicle's early ownership and low mileage (3500-12000 miles on complaint vehicles)
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation on takeoff from stop; 1-3 second delay in engine response to throttle; Bucking or surging during acceleration through RPM range; Sputtering and stuttering during acceleration; Poor acceleration described as 'turbo lag'; Vehicle described as struggling like bad spark plug wires; Inconsistent power delivery - sometimes normal, sometimes severely delayed; More pronounced in warm ambient temperatures
Repairs/costs cited: One owner (#1) had VVT components on exhaust camshaft replaced without resolution. Dealers unable to identify cause or perform repairs; most state no fault codes present and vehicle 'drives as designed.' No successful repair procedures documented in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One complaint (#1) resulted in vehicle replacement after lemon law filing. Other owners report Toyota refusing warranty service, stating vehicle operates as designed. One owner (#3) contacted Toyota HQ and was told no remedy available. Owner #2 requested engineer evaluation via brand engagement center with no response after one week. Owner #5 reports Toyota repeatedly returns vehicle saying it's fine.
Engine coolant temperature hunting and overheat warning
Temperature gauge and warning system exhibit erratic behavior. Needle jumps suddenly from normal to maximum; sometimes hunts between normal and high. High-temperature warning activates despite normal operating conditions. Occurs in warm ambient temperatures (90-97°F).
When: Incidents reported on 7/5/2023 and subsequent date with 97°F outside temperature
Symptoms owners cite: Coolant temperature warning light illumination; Temperature gauge needle jumps from normal to maximum; Temperature gauge needle hunts (oscillates) between normal and high; Gauge may stay pegged at high despite vehicle operating normally
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspection found nothing wrong with vehicle. Owner photographed warning display for documentation.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The vehicle surges and hesitates when pressing on the gas. Several times I push on the gas and nothing really happens. Slow to move. Other times I push on the gas and it “bucks”. Like the turbo kicked in to max power all of a sudden. Almost lost control of the car a couple times. Once was on a mountain road. I am hesitant to drive it and even more so to let anyone else drive it. For fear of them…
Engine intermittently has no power on take off and causes an unsafe condition to turning into traffic where car will just not go until after flooring it and a 3-5 second delay!! Engine also looses power and bucks or misses while accelerating through gears. This has caused multiple near miss incidents when turning into or across traffic. Also have issues with the steering assist that it yanks the…
Had engine trouble with your 2023 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 engine problem on the 2023 Toyota Highlander?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2023/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.