2019 Toyota Highlander: ABS light or ABS activating

Filed Oct 20, 2025 · Transmission · VA

My car was having trouble shifting gears and then every single light came on indicating a big problem. The check engine light came on, it said ABS off and went through a bunch of different things saying they all turned off and would barely roll at 2mph. I took it in and it needs a full transmission replacement at barely 73,000 miles. Upon looking into it, I saw online that this is a common issue that Toyota still has not issued an official recall for despite it being a very common issue. It’s a 2019 Toyota Highlander XLE and should not be having these issues this early on.

Filed Sep 21, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · MI

Was stuck in traffic on a highway for about 25 minutes going 0 miles per hour because of an accident about 5 miles away. Then the traffic started to clear and began driving on the road again. About five minutes later, the vehicle lost full drive abilities and the check engine light came on, traction control light on, brake light was on, ABS light was on, stability control warning light on, and then on the info screen the vehicle stated, "Hybrid System Malfunction Stop in a Safe Place, See Owner's Manual", screen then showed within 2-seconds, "Pre-Collision System Malfunction Visit Your Dealer", then in about 2 additional seconds later the info screen stated, "Check Engine Visit Your Dealer", then most every waring light turned on, and there was no power for drive with either hybrid or gasoline engine. The vehicle basically came to a sudden halt in the middle of traffic with steering wheel locked and no control. Had to get police involved and a tow to get off the road. Had vehicle towed to a local toyota dealership and they do not open until Monday at 9am. This incident occurred on Saturday around 3pm.

Filed Aug 15, 2024 · Engine · 96,200 miles · VA · fire

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH the vehicle began to loose automotive power and stalled. During the incident, several warning messages were activated which included the check engine light and the ABS warning. While inspecting the vehicle smoke and fire began to stream from under the engine hood and moments later the frontend of the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed and later towed away. A police report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 96,200.

Filed Sep 11, 2021 · Brakes, Driver assistance · SC · crash

While driving threw a construction zone the car upfront of me stopped. Upon applying the brakes nothing happened. There was a tractor trailer beside us and I was at the reR and another car was at the front plenty of time to stop. Brakes didn't activate until right before impact and the nose dove down. ABS never activated and the collision avoidance never activated. I was traveling with my wife and two young kids lucky no one was hurt and I had no avenue of escape due to cement barriers and 18 wheeler.

Filed Mar 26, 2021 · Electrical, Fuel system · 11 miles · CA

I bought this car new with about 11 mile on it. The transmission immediately had shifting issues as it could not decide what forward gear to go into and shifted hard and felt as if it was going into two gears at one time and after a short drive the instrument cluster warning display indicated a check engine light and warning that the transmission was overheating and acted as if the engine was starving of fuel as it surged and did not deliver power to go beyond 35 MPH. After I bought it the dealer reassured me at least three times that the car was okay and that this is the way that the transmission shifts. I repeatedly had the dealer check it and the dealer reassured me that there was no trouble code and no problems found although the check engine light was on and the instrument cluster showed transmission overheating and they fixed a wiring connector to try and fix the running problem. A class action suit came out for the fuel pump failure recall and the 8 speed transmission. I feel that this is a very common problem that the dealer and manufacture are trying to hide. After 13 months and 2,800 total miles the transmission overheated, burned up the internal clutch set and I now have no forward and reverse gears. I feel that the surging and transmission problems are a software defect as the shifting defect comes and goes and vastly promoted if I drive it very gently from a cold start. Once warmed up it does not act up as often except when two gears seem to be engaged at the same time. The key also intermittently does not allow the car to start and instrument cluster also shows trac light , ABS failure light, bsm not available, smart key failure, and complete black out of the instrument cluster and shown to the dealer mechanic and service writers and photographed and videotaped for documentation and in the repair orders.