2022 Toyota Highlander 8 speed transmission started making noise at highway speed. Vehicle has 61,000 miles on it. Also has erratic shifting. Toyota dealer said it needs a new transmission. Just out of warranty so Toyota only agreed to pay 25% of the bill.
2022 Toyota Highlander: complete transmission failure
21 of the 267 complaints about the 2022 Toyota Highlander describe complete transmission failure.
- owner complaints
- 21
- of this car's complaints
- 8%
- typical repair cost reported
- $9,400
- recalls
- 0
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.
Complete transmission failure by model year
What owners say
Transmission was replaced at 62,000 miles, along with the passenger headlight. Transmission had the dreaded "whine" at 60k miles. Headlight led lights were dead at 61K miles. All service work was completed at the local Toyota dealership.
Transmission failure at 38,896 miles
I am reporting a premature transmission failure on a 2022 Toyota Highlander LE at approximately 85,000 miles. The vehicle began exhibiting a whining noise. When brought into the Toyota Dealership, I was notified that it needs a full transmission replacement. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Toyota dealership, which determined that the transmission has failed and requires full replacement at an estimated cost of approximately $9,400. There were no warning lamps or messages of the problem prior to the failure. A transmission failing at this mileage creates a significant safety risk, especially when merging into traffic, accelerating from a stop, or maintaining highway speeds. This vehicle has been regularly maintained, with service performed through authorized Toyota dealerships. Despite this, Toyota has declined to provide assistance for the repair. This has caused a massive financial stress and strain. There is a documented pattern of similar transmission failures involving Toyota Highlander vehicles equipped with the 8-speed automatic transmission (UA80 platform) across multiple model years.This appears to be part of a broader pattern of premature transmission failures that may indicate a defect affecting vehicle safety. The consistency of complaints across multiple vehicles and model years suggests this is not an isolated incident. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate this issue for potential safety defects and determine whether further action, including recall or manufacturer accountability, is warranted.
Transmission failure of 2022 Toyota Highlander LE at 82,329 miles. Safety compromised due to possible roadside failure.
Transmission failed at 63,000 miles, new transmission was installed.
UA80 Transmission failure @ 3.5 yrs old and 89k miles.
Transmission failed at 75K with no warning lights or prior evidence.
early transmission failure and whining at 40,000 miles
Car developed a whining noise coming from transmission at 63,000 miles. Known manufacturing defect that will lead to transmission failure. No recall issued and Toyota would not extend warranty. I do not feel safe driving the car pending a transmission failure. Toyota’s solution is to replace the transmission at a cost of $9000.
Premature transmission failure
Four days ago, engine started making a whining noise when accelerating, especially in lower gears. No warning signs. 2022 Highlander Platinum is 3 years old, 80K miles, out of warranty; no extended warranty purchased due to historical, stellar Toyota reliability. Toyota service department at Toyota dealership today said whining is due to a bearing issue within the transmission (my personal mechanic inspected and said that is also likely) and cannot be repaired. Transmission could last another 10K-20K miles they said, before it becomes undrivable or just drops, causing a potential safety issue. Net, the entire transmission needs to be replaced to the tune of $9186. Just shocking.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2022 Toyota Highlander transmission failure
Is complete transmission failure a common problem on the 2022 Toyota Highlander?
21 of 267 owner complaints about the 2022 Toyota Highlander (8%) mention complete transmission failure. The model year with the most reports is 2021.
How much does it cost to fix complete transmission failure on the 2022 Toyota Highlander?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $9,400 (median of 6 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2022 Toyota Highlander?
There is no recall or service bulletin for this area of the car on record.
Other symptoms on the 2022 Toyota Highlander
Whining noise 26Headlights 22Collision warning 15Airbag light 14Jerking 13Sudden acceleration 10No deployment 9Grinding brakes 7Sunroof shattered 6Brake failure 5Check engine light 5
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