2005 Toyota Highlander transmission problems

Filed Jun 5, 2017 · Transmission · 90,000 miles · NY

Transaxle vent is leaking transmission fluid onto exhaust, potential of catastraphic transmission failure due to total sudden loss of transmission fliud. Leak is cause by a defective seal

Filed Dec 2, 2016 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · CO

My highlander has 120,000 miles on it and the transmission suddenly gave out while driving on the highway. It started by downshifting suddenly, making it difficult to retain control of the vehicle. Then I lost all forward power and had to coast to a stop on the side of the interstate. I am now stuck paying a $3500+ repair bill despite keeping up on regular maintenance according to the manufacturers maintenance guide. After talking with several mechanics, I found out this is apparently a common problem on the transmissions used by the rav4s and highlanders, but toyota has only issued recalls for the rav4s? Very disappointing.

Filed Aug 14, 2016 · Transmission · 119,000 miles · VA

Bought the car and not even a week after owning it I had transmission problems, I took it back to the dealer they replaced the trans and updated the computer. The problem still persist, there is a huge hesitation in the transmission when slowing to an almost stop and re accelerating. The RPM's rev up but the car does not respond sometimes. This is very dangerous when going through intersections or merging into traffic. There are numerous complaints from people experiencing the same problem. I have a new trans in my car, fluid levels are perfect the computer has been updated and still having huge issues with my trans. This is dangerous very dangerous.

Filed Aug 11, 2016 · Brakes, Steering · 50 miles · NY · crash · 1 injury

When I was trying to park my toyota highlander 2005 in front of the building where I work, backing up, the engine iddle went extremely high and I tried to stop, but I could not do it because the steering wheel and the brakes locked. I tried to put the gear in neutral, but instead, it went straigh to drive, so it causes major damages to 2 vehicles behind mine, and other 3 in front of mine too. Also my vehicle destroyed a mail box and a tree, but I could not stop until my highlander stopped by itself totally destroyed. I ended up in the hospital with some trauma.

Filed Nov 11, 2015 · Transmission · SC

Have documented transmission problems since the purchase of the vehicle. Contacted toyota with my concerns, no help was provided. Transmission failed. Provided toyota with complaint on oct.14,2015. And many times before then. Afraid for my life to drive it. Turning, jerking, hesitation in take off. Etc.

Filed Nov 26, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 6 miles · KS

I'm the original owner & sole driver of the vehicle & ever since I test drove it the day I purchased it this car's had issues with "jerky/delayed" acceleration. During the test drive I was told that the car adjusts to how I drive & it'll get better. This happens pretty much every time I accelerate the vehicle after it's been stopped or the speed slowed substantially. Each & every time I try to gently accelerate the vehicle from a stop, there's a tiny delay in vehicle response from what I am inputting to the accelerator pedal. Then after the delay, it's like the vehicle tries to suddenly catch up with where it was supposed to be in the acceleration process & suddenly jerks forward with a lot of acceleration. This poses a safety problem when trying to pull out into traffic & needing the vehicle to respond to the gas pedal inputs that I'm giving it immediately as I'm giving them & not with even a small delay. That delay in response by the vehicle's acceleration has caused several near-misses with other traffic. I have tried taking it into my dealer at least a couple times to have the issue addressed but the technicians just wanted to brush it off saying they didn't notice it or blame it on the transmission & when I told them this isn't a transmission problem they just blew me off treating me like a dumb female who didn't know anything about cars, not knowing that I'm an engineer. Both of these times were within my warranty period, but it's obvious they didn't want to spend the time & effort to diagnose this issue. My safety was clearly not important to the people at my local toyota dealership. So I continue to have this problem every single time I accelerate from a stop and most times I re-accelerate after having slowed down substantially. After having this issue for the past 9 years, the jerkiness of the acceleration probably has caused other problems with the vehicle.

Filed Oct 17, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 25,000 miles · CO

I am the original owner of the vehicle and throughout my ownership since 2/2005 when it was bought this car has issues with acceleration. It usually occurs when you are sitting at a stop and try to accelerate the vehicle. The car does not recognize when you are pushing the acceleration pedal and has a delay when it finally responds. There have been numerous incidents where I have tried to cross a busy intersection or pull out into traffic and the vehicle hesitates when trying to accelerate, ending with a jerk of the vehicle. I have almost been t-boned a few times trying to cross busy intersections and the car doesn't want to move. I have brought this to the dealership numerous times and the only response they have is that the car adjusts to different drivers and it then programs itself based off your driving habits, so they reset the coding on it. Still have the issue, didn't fix anything and now I am reading where others have had issues, I just think they brushed it under the rug to not have to honor my warranty that was in place on the vehicle. I have also have had issues from day 1 on this car with the transmission pan leaking, they have had to replace the transmission pan gasket numerous times on the vehicle; claiming it just went bad. Really, that many times it just goes bad, I don't think so.

Filed Jul 6, 2014 · Transmission · 111,900 miles · NJ

Traveling at approx 35mph the vehicle suddenly and without warning decelerated rapidly to zero MPH and a loud gear - like crunching and grinding sound was heard under the engine compartment. The vehicle would only move at 1 MPH to pull off the road and was totally disabled. Vehicle had to be towed. Mechanics concluded the front drive differential suffered a major failure and then ruined the automatic transmission.

Filed Mar 6, 2014 · Transmission · 96,444 miles · NM

My transmission has failed on my toyota 2005 highlander after 96,000 miles. I have read other consumer complaints and I am convinced there is a serious problem with the2005 toyota highlander hybrid transmission. I spoke to toyota and they advised me to take my car to the dealership. I was told that the transmission had to be replaced and that it would cost $5060,00 to replace. Toyota offered me .10% off the cost of repairs. I was shocked as I have only owned the vehicle for 15 months and have a 4 year note. I am very fortunate that I did not have a horrible accident as I was coming down a very steep incline on the highway when the transmission began to fail. I am forced to repair the vehicle as I am not in the position to purchase another vehicle. I would like for the federal safety agency to look into this issue further.

Filed Nov 2, 2013 · Transmission · 90,000 miles · MA

Bought the car used with 49k miles approximately. Did not do this for the first 1.5 yrs we owned this now problems with the tranny and dealer told us it is suppose to do that. I dont think so by other people in the toyota highlander forums. There are thousands of owners with this tranny problem and toyota has no fix but to replace the tranny for $5000.00 wife's 2005 highlander is not shifting correct when she slows down and then tries to speed up or when she goes around a corner slow and speeds up the tranny has a delay and then shifts kinda hard. When starting from a dead stop shifts fine no problems just slowing down and then accelerating it will delay then shift. It kind of jerks the car and makes you wonder what is going on. Car has been doing this for about 6 months. This is very dangerous when in traffic with the delay shifting trying to merge in stop and go traffic. Many close calls of getting into an accident. Been on many forums and many people have been told by the toyota dealers that this is normal which I feel is a bull crap story just to get rid of the person/complaint. I'm putting in this complaint because it is a safety complaint in my judgment and toyota needs to fix these tranny problems. Thanks