2026 Toyota Highlander

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Grand Highlander Hybrid Max advertise larger fuel tanks but owners report only filling 11.5 gallons despite running low on fuel, resulting in much shorter range than e...

The owner's manual fails to clearly indicate the location of the manual disable button for the auto start-stop feature, frustrating owners seeking to turn it off.

Salespeople assured buyers that Toyota navigation would remain available after the one-year Connected Services trial expires, but it actually stops working.

Toyota scatters its privacy policies, notices, and statements across vehicles, apps, connected services, and cameras, making it difficult for owners to locate and understand full data collection pract...

The keyless entry system requires the key fob to be nearby to start the vehicle, but provides no dashboard warning or alert when the fob's battery is low or dead. Owners discover the issue only when t...

The crash or proximity sensor falsely activates during automatic drive-through car washes, blaring alerts for about a minute as brushes contact the vehicle. Owners report this happening despite foldin...

The auto start-stop system shuts off the engine at stops to save fuel and reduce emissions, but cannot be permanently disabled and must be manually turned off every drive using a button. Owners often ...

The Toyota mobile app allows remote features like lock/unlock and start but frequently glitches with login issues, password resets, verifications, black screens, and failure to connect after updates.

Apple CarPlay wired audio plays with static, distortion, or interference despite trying new cables and updates.

Wireless CarPlay, Android Auto, or Bluetooth connections frequently drop, fail to engage, or require restarts, sometimes asking for Toyota app login each time.

The vehicle's factory GPS fails to recognize addresses that work on phone maps or loses north-up orientation after maneuvers.

Driver profiles and seat memory settings do not automatically adjust seats to saved positions despite enabling the option.

USB ports and wireless charger stop charging phones after 30 seconds even while driving, regardless of cables or cases.

The infotainment screen is frustratingly unintuitive, lacking quick radio tuning, easy main menu access from CarPlay, split-screen, and overall ease compared to competitors.

Towing requires manually disabling nine separate safety systems each time with no dedicated Tow Mode; lane keep assist is hard to cancel without menus.

Digital key setup halts at 25% download progress without error, requiring specific phone tweaks to complete.

Brake hold feature requires manual button press every startup instead of auto-enabling.

Instrument cluster fails to remember tire pressure display; multi-info display shows wrong car color.

The Toyota Highlander infotainment system supports over-the-air (OTA) software updates to fix bugs and add features, but owners report never receiving any OTA updates. One case notes the head unit is ...

Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) rear camera may freeze or blank when reversing due to Parking Assist ECU software error (image fails if reverse selected shortly after ignition or ECU power-off during ali...

The Highlander includes a Data Communication Module (DCM) that is active by default and collects location, vehicle health, and driving data without owner opt-in. Owners must contact Toyota to deactiva...

Toyota collects name, address, phone, email, demographics, precise geolocation, biometric data, driving behavior, and vehicle data via the car, app, and connected services.

Toyota shares and sells personal information including location and driving data to third parties, affiliates, dealers, and services for marketing, targeted advertising, and driver analysis.

Highlander features like Advance Drive System and Facial Recognition use interior cameras and sensors to monitor driver posture, facial activity, steering grip, seatbelt, and store facial scans linked...

Some Toyota dealers install aftermarket GPS trackers like CarRX by ELO GPS or Apex Protect on new vehicles without clear disclosure, allowing remote tracking of location and mileage.

Owners report discovering undisclosed GPS devices or Toyota Connect modules that track driving data, potentially for insurance sales or warranty voiding if speed limits exceeded.

The Toyota app displays real-time vehicle mileage and maintenance status, raising concerns that dealers can remotely track this data to pre-schedule services.

Toyota has exposed location data of over 2 million users for 10 years and had other leaks affecting hundreds of thousands.

The Data Communication Module (DCM) enables remote connectivity and data transmission between your Toyota Highlander and Toyota's servers. Owners report that Toyota can remotely disable the DCM if you...

Toyota's remote services, including those reliant on the DCM for connectivity, can be terminated or suspended at any time. This includes termination without cause, potentially disrupting remote contro...

The 12.3-inch infotainment screen randomly goes blank while driving or starting the vehicle, often accompanied by audio cutoff or map glitches. Owners report this happening repeatedly, sometimes resol...

The infotainment system spontaneously reboots during drives, disconnecting wireless phone connections and forcing wired use. This disrupts navigation and media playback.

The infotainment screen locks unexpectedly, demanding a 6-digit privacy PIN or login credentials that owners cannot access or reset via the app. Requires dealer intervention or SOS call for reset.

The clock fails to update automatically despite 'auto set time' and daylight savings settings enabled, requiring manual adjustment. Often occurs post-TSB updates like fuel gauge fixes.

Custom display configurations, such as tire pressure modules or steering wheel settings, fail to persist after vehicle restart or shutdown. Owners cannot force-save preferences.

Toyota's Remote Connect app provides remote start, lock/unlock, and other features via smartphone, with a free trial (1-2 years) after purchase. Owners complain that after the trial, a $15/month subsc...

The built-in Toyota navigation system allows setting home/work locations and full map access, but requires an active Connected Services subscription after the free trial. Owners report inability to us...

After the Connected Services subscription expires, the infotainment screen displays persistent error messages related to the expired subscription instead of normal radio info or navigation when no pho...

Safety Connect emergency/response services require subscription after 5-year trial. Core Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (Toyota Safety Sense) and Facial Recognition/Driver Monitor Camera features ...