2005 Toyota Highlander Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 224 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2005 Toyota Highlander overview page.
What owners report
“I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED FROM ABOUT 45,000 MILES WHEN IT SHIFT FROM 3RD TO 4TH. TAKEN IT TO…”NHTSA complaint 10328384 — filed 05/01/2010
“2005 HIGHLANDER V6 AWD. HAS A SURGING EFFECT SINCE DAY ONE. ALSO SURGES SLIGHTLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. IN TRAFFIC STOP AND GO SITUATION, VEHICLE DOES…”NHTSA complaint 10316713 — filed 03/04/2010
“I'VE OWNED A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SINCE NEW, ONCE IN A WHILE THIS CONDITION WOULD OCCUR, NOW IT IS ALL THE TIME. IT JUST TURNED…”NHTSA complaint 10313008 — filed 02/23/2010
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2005 Toyota Highlander have power train:automatic transmission problems?
Power Train:automatic Transmission is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2005 Toyota Highlander: 27 of 224 complaints on file (12.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2005 Toyota Highlander have in total?
224 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 35 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 20 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?
NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.
