2018 Toyota Highlander Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · 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 ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 255 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2018 Toyota Highlander overview page.
What owners report
“AS OF THIS DATE, MY 2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS DELAYED ACCELERATION, HESITATION, JERKING, LURCHING, ERRATIC THROTTLE RESPONSES, ETC. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THIS HAS…”NHTSA complaint 11360211 — filed 09/21/2020
“STEERING WHEEL LEATHER IS PEELING AND CAUSING ISSUES WITH GRIP. HAVE A 5 YEAR OLD AND FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING OUR HIGHLANDER WITH 20K ON…”NHTSA complaint 11242252 — filed 08/07/2019
“APON ACCESLARATION , CAR HESITATE FOR A FEW SECOND, RPM GOES TO 5000 UNTIL VEHICLE SLOWLY START TO MOVE. FEELS LIKEW THER IS NO PROPER…”NHTSA complaint 11210159 — filed 05/27/2019
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2018 Toyota Highlander have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the most-reported problem area on the 2018 Toyota Highlander: 58 of 255 complaints on file (22.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2018 Toyota Highlander have in total?
255 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 21 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, 24 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
