Toyota Highlander fuel gauge problems

Filed Aug 27, 2024 · Fuel system · MD

Vehicle just turned 12,000 miles. When fueling the vehicle gas gauge does not read correctly. This may cause an unexpected loss of control and accident if out of gas when driving. Vehicle has not yet been to the dealer for repair but going soon. As far as I can determine there are no warning lamps for a faulty fuel gauge.

Filed Mar 30, 2023 · Fuel system · VA

My fuel pump has started going out causing my engine to slightly knock and my fuel gauge and range to read improperly

Filed Feb 28, 2022 · Fuel system · CT

Impossible to completely fill the gas tank on the Highlander Hybrid. 17+ gallon tank, yet car will accept at most 12-13 gallons of fuel. Fuel gauge reads between 3/4 and 7/8 full after each fill-up. This issue has persisted since the vehicle was new. Multiple requests to the dealer to fix this problem are largely ignored with them telling me that they aren't aware of any issues, research suggests that many other owners are experiencing the same problem.

Filed Feb 8, 2022 · Electrical, Fuel system · WA

Fuel gauge is inaccurate, leading to potential safety issues. The fuel gauge does not show as full, when the car is refueled, and likewise shows as empty when there is enough fuel to drive hundreds of miles. This has led to situations where the fuel light is on, and car is indicating no remaining miles left, but there is plenty of fuel. Toyota knows there is a problem. I started a Lemon Law claim with the Washington State Attorney's General office and notified Toyota. They have offered to replace my vehicle, which is currently in process.

Filed Feb 2, 2022 · Fuel system · MD

My concern has to do with an inability to completely fill the gas tank in my 2021Toyota Highlander Hybrid XLE (AWD), and the gas tank capacity has worsened over time. I purchased the vehicle new from a Toyota dealer in Maryland in April 2021. Initially, I could fill the gas tank to almost full per the gas gauge. Over time, the amount of gas the tank can hold has decreased. As of early 2022, I can only fill the tank to just above 3/4 full per the gas gauge. Please note that when filling the tank at a gas station, I always stop filling when the gas pump shutoff switch activates (1st click) - I never "top off" the tank. It is certainly annoying to not get anywhere close to advertised range of the vehicle (the vehicle display shows a range just over 400 miles/tank versus an expected 600+ miles). However, my main concern is safety-related - I don’t trust my fuel gauge and fuel monitoring system, and as a result I fill the tank whenever I approach 1/2 full per the gas gauge. This is so I don't inadvertently run out of fuel. In Sept 2021, I took my vehicle to the Toyota dealer where I purchased it to report this fuel tank issue. The dealer's service department "verified [customer's] concern that the fuel pup clicks off before gas tank was full." The dealer also "created a TAS Case #xxx and with the information give was informed there is an active investigation by Toyota on this concern and there is no repair available at this time." Since then, the dealer has not reported anything new from Toyota USA (they said "we'll hear about any fix the day before you do.."). I called Toyota USA last Fall and also got no indication on an impeding fix. Bottom line - Toyota USA has been silent on the matter, although there is certainly lots of online chatter from other owners and mention of a lawsuit against Toyota. I am wondering if this issue is similar to what was noted (and finally fixed?) for Toyota's late model RAV4 hybrid vehicles.

Filed Nov 15, 2021 · Fuel system · WA

Since purchasing this vehicle I began to notice that the fuel gauge is inaccurate. This issue is sporadic. Often after filling the gas tank completely, the gauge will only register as 3/4 full. Like wise, it is inaccurate when the tank gets low, showing that there is 1/4 tank, when in fact it is nearly empty. The "remaining miles" indicator that displays is likewise inaccurate and often the low fuel indicator light comes on when it shouldn't, and doesn't display when it should. I have had it to the deal 4 times now for repair. Initially they told me nothing was wrong, then indicated that a software update was necessary. When that didn't fix it, I returned the vehicle and they indicated an instrument panel sensor chip needed to be replaced. I waited a month for that to happen and it didn't fix the issue. I then opened a trouble incident with Toyota USA and after several weeks received a call back from the dealer indicating this is a known (presumably still developing) issue and has something to do with a faulty gas tank that causes the readings to be inaccurate. The dealer indicated that they know this will require the gas tank to be replaced but that they don't have parts to do this and will contact me at some point in the future. This is a serious safety issue, as it could lead to the vehicle running out of gas while driving, without any indication that the fuel is low. The only way to have any certainty regarding the fuel level is to do a calculation each time you drive based on the estimated fuel economy and # of miles driven since the last fill up.

Filed Apr 29, 2021 · Fuel system · 1,700 miles · CA

Highlander has same issue as the 2019-2020 toyota rav4 fuel issue identified by the federal safety agency: vehicle fuel gauges displaying less than full and/or total fuel dispensed is less than expected, when the fuel nozzle automatically clicks off. Noted the 'distance to empty' shown on the multi-information display is less than expected. While driving, vehicle abruptly comes close to shutting off because gauges are inaccurate. Vehicle cannot be driven to the full capacity of the stated range. Gas tank is 17.1 gallons but vehicle cannot take more than 12-13 gallons from empty.

Filed Mar 29, 2021 · Fuel system · CA

The 2021 toyota highlander hybrid gas tank is exactly 17.1 us gallons in size but even when the low fuel indicator light turn on and the the fuel gauge is at near empty it will only accept a maximum of 12.9 to 13.8 gallons. Toyota states that the maximum range on a full tank of the vehicle is 615 miles but when full the max-range always falls between 460 to 490 miles given my mpg of 34.5 to 36.5. There is an issues with the fueling system that does not allow the vehicle to be properly fueled or the system is defective. Other drivers have been having the same issues trying to fill their gas tanks to the indicated amount after the fuel indicator come on and having low rage left of about 25 miles. This is an issues that happens at various gas stations so the issue is not the pump but the vehicle.

Filed Feb 21, 2021 · Fuel system · 9,000 miles · CO

Unable to completely fill fuel tank. When fuel light comes on and I go to fill it, I get no more than 13 gallons in my tank. The fuel gauge only reads 3/4 full. Never completely full.

Filed Jan 25, 2021 · Fuel system · 5,000 miles · PA

When re-fueling the vehicle with dte of less than 30 miles, the fuel shuts off around 12 gal. 2nd click for fuel stoppage may yield another 0.5 gal. Nothing adds up to 17.1 gal of fuel in the tank. Going beyond the 1st click is bad for the system, yet only fills the car up to 7/8 full on the fuel gauge.