2022 Toyota Highlander Transmission Problems

Your transmission has failed at 82,329 miles, which could leave you stranded on the road. This is a safety concern because the vehicle may lose power unexpectedly while driving. The transmission will likely need to be rebuilt or replaced.

Your 2022 Highlander's transmission has failed at 3.5 years old with 89,000 miles on it. This is a major powertrain component failure that will prevent your vehicle from operating properly. The transmission will likely need to be rebuilt or replaced entirely.

Your transmission is making a high-pitched whining sound that's getting progressively louder during regular driving. The dealer has confirmed the transmission is failing but won't cover it under warranty because you're 2,500 miles past the 60,000-mile limit. If the transmission fails completely, it could lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control. The transmission will likely need to be rebuilt or replaced.

Your 2022 Highlander's transmission is causing dangerous problems: the vehicle unexpectedly brakes or drags at 35–40 mph, and loses power when accelerating from a stop, making it unsafe to merge or cross intersections. Two Toyota dealers have confirmed the issue and recommended replacing the entire transmission. The fix will require a complete transmission replacement.

Your automatic transmission completely stopped working at 62,800 miles, leaving your vehicle undrivable. Toyota offered to pay for only 50% of a replacement transmission, which is currently on backorder with a 4–5 month wait time. This issue matches a known technical service bulletin about internal transmission failures and unusual grinding or whining noises in certain Toyota transmissions. Fixing this will require replacing the entire transmission.

Your 2022 Toyota Highlander has experienced multiple safety issues including false front collision alerts that trigger unexpected emergency braking on freeways, unpredictable transmission hesitation and surging that can push the vehicle into traffic, and activation of windshield wipers with system failure warnings (including ABS) during heavy rain. You've also reported a seatbelt malfunction, difficulty starting when fuel is low, and various other defects including seat heater failure and coolant odor. Because these problems occur intermittently during normal driving but don't reproduce during dealer test drives, Toyota has denied warranty repairs. Resolving these issues will likely require comprehensive diagnostic testing and potential replacement of the collision sensor system, transmission control module, windshield wiper module, and seatbelt retractor components.

While your wife was slowly pulling into a parking spot with the wheels turned, your Highlander suddenly lurched forward on its own without her pressing the accelerator, causing it to go over the curb and hit a pole. You suspect the engine may have unexpectedly switched between hybrid and gas power modes, causing the sudden acceleration when her foot came off the brake. This issue could involve a problem with the hybrid system, engine control module, or brake-to-throttle transition logic that requires diagnostic testing.

Your 2022 Highlander hybrid experienced a catastrophic failure after displaying multiple warning messages about engine control and hybrid system malfunctions. The vehicle progressively reduced power from 70 mph to 20 mph, then thick brown smoke and flames emerged from under the hood on the driver's side while the car was slowing down. The fire spread through the vehicle and required over 30 minutes for firefighters to extinguish, resulting in total loss of the vehicle.

Your transmission failed while driving on the interstate at about 650 miles. The car shifted unexpectedly a few times while cruise control was on, and when you disengaged cruise control, the car wouldn't move afterward. You noticed transmission fluid leaking underneath and along the driver's side and rear of the vehicle. The dealer will need to inspect the transmission and likely rebuild or replace it due to the fluid loss.

Your transmission started making a whining noise around 70,000 miles and gradually became louder, even after a transmission fluid exchange at a Toyota dealer. At 75,196 miles, two different Toyota dealers confirmed the noise is coming from the transaxle and recommended replacing the entire transmission. You're facing a repair bill of $6,000–$8,000 or more to fix this problem.

Your 2022 Highlander made abnormal engine sounds when you pressed the accelerator pedal at various speeds, without any warning lights appearing. A dealer diagnosed the issue and determined your transmission needed to be replaced. The problem occurred at around 125,000 miles. Fixing this will require removing and installing a new or rebuilt transmission.

You're hearing an unusual sound from your transmission, and the dealership says it needs to be replaced at a cost of around $10,000 for a refurbished unit plus labor. The technician mentioned that this transmission model has had known issues and failures, particularly after the warranty expires, which is why Toyota issued recalls to extend transmission warranties on earlier model years. The dealership is replacing these transmissions frequently, indicating a widespread problem with this transmission line that's been in use since 2016.

Your transmission failed completely at 63,000 miles and required a full replacement. This is a significant mechanical failure that left your vehicle undriveable until the new transmission was installed.

Your 2022 Toyota Highlander has experienced transmission problems that have affected how it performs and drives. These issues have caused you inconvenience and safety concerns, required diagnostic visits and repairs, and left you without reliable use of your vehicle. A transmission repair or replacement may be necessary to restore proper operation.

Your 2022 Highlander experiences severe engine stuttering and jerking when accelerating from a stop, particularly when merging onto highways, with the transmission struggling to shift from first to second gear. The problem occurs intermittently (8 mornings and 1 afternoon over 10 days of driving) and lasts about 30 seconds before the vehicle evens out, but no check engine light appears. Toyota's service center has been unable to replicate the issue or find any diagnostic trouble codes, though an independent shop suspected a fuel pump problem based on the symptoms.

Your 2022 Highlander's transmission may have failed without warning while driving—when you pressed the accelerator, the vehicle didn't speed up as expected and made an unusual whining noise. A certified mechanic diagnosed that your transmission needs to be replaced. The manufacturer is aware of this issue and it was reported to NHTSA, but the repair was not covered under warranty. Transmission replacement typically involves removing and installing a new or rebuilt transmission unit.

Your transmission is whining and showing signs of failure at just 40,000 miles, which is well before normal wear would be expected. This suggests an internal transmission problem that will likely worsen over time. The fix will require a transmission inspection and potentially a rebuild or replacement.

Your transmission is making a whining noise that started at 63,000 miles. Toyota has identified this as a known manufacturing defect that can eventually lead to transmission failure, but they haven't issued a recall or extended your warranty to cover it. The only solution Toyota is offering is a full transmission replacement, which costs around $9,000.

Your transmission failed prematurely and required replacement. This is a significant issue that left your vehicle unable to drive properly. Diagnosis and repair will likely require transmission replacement or major internal repairs.

Your engine has started making a whining noise when you accelerate, especially in lower gears. A Toyota dealership service department says this is caused by a bearing failure inside your transmission that cannot be repaired, and the transmission may only last another 10,000–20,000 miles before it becomes undrivable or fails completely, which could create a safety hazard. The entire transmission will need to be replaced, which is a major repair.

Your transmission makes a loud whistling noise when you accelerate. This issue has been reported in 2018-2022 Toyota Highlanders with the UA80F/E transmission, and Toyota has acknowledged the problem exists but is refusing to repair it under warranty.

Your car makes a high-pitched whining sound when you press the accelerator pedal. Your dealer has diagnosed this as a problem with the transaxle and torque converter, both of which need to be replaced. This issue started just after 60,000 miles, putting it outside your warranty coverage. The repair will involve removing and replacing both the transaxle and torque converter assembly.

UA80 transmission failure

Your transmission is shifting erratically and causing jerking motions, though this problem comes and goes intermittently. This could indicate an issue with transmission fluid, sensors, or internal transmission components. The transmission may need to be serviced, flushed, or professionally diagnosed by a technician.

Your 2022 Highlander developed a whining noise from the transmission at 79,668 miles—just outside the warranty period. Both the Toyota dealership and an independent transmission shop confirmed the transmission needs replacement, which will cost over $10,000. Toyota declined to cover any of the repair costs despite your vehicle being properly maintained, and you've had to pay $5,000 upfront with the new transmission still not arriving after three weeks. Fixing this will require a complete transmission replacement.

Your transmission is making a whining noise, particularly when you reach 3rd gear or speeds above 35 mph. A mechanic has determined the transmission is failing and will need to be replaced. This issue has been reported on other 2021 and 2022 Toyota Highlanders as well.

Your transmission has developed an internal bearing failure that requires the entire transmission to be replaced. You may notice a whining or revving noise when accelerating, particularly starting around 20 mph. This problem was confirmed by the dealership but occurred just outside your warranty coverage. The repair will involve removing and replacing the entire transmission assembly.

Your Highlander won't start and displays a message that the hybrid system isn't functioning. Additionally, your TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) is malfunctioning—it recently showed all tires at 32 PSI when your right front tire was actually completely flat. These multiple computer system failures suggest a broader electrical or sensor issue that needs diagnosis. The fix will likely involve a full diagnostic scan of your vehicle's computer and sensor systems, possibly including hybrid system components and tire pressure sensors.

When you restart your engine after stopping with eco mode and the idle stop system active, your transmission may not respond properly to acceleration, limiting your speed to around 40 mph and causing the engine to rev between 2,000-3,000 RPM at low speeds. This happened to you at a traffic light when you needed to turn left through an intersection, forcing you to move to a slower lane. The dealership inspected the vehicle but found no mechanical issues and attributed it to driver error, though you believe a transmission malfunction caused the problem.

When you're driving around 35 mph, let off the gas to slow down, and then gently accelerate again, you feel a noticeable bump or jolt in the drivetrain that sounds like metal-on-metal noise. This happens after your car has been running for more than 30-45 minutes. The issue feels like there's extra play or slop in the transmission.

Transmission failed at 75K with no warning lights or prior evidence.

AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE WHINING FROM 35MPH-45MPH ACCELERATION. Needs to be replaced this is the third vehicle this week the dealership said had the same issue.

About 4 weeks a go I started hearing a whining noise from my Highlander. Thinking it was a belt we replaced. Whining continued to get worse only on acceleration.

The transmission on this vehicle has failed - I’ve been told by Toyota Dealer Maintenance that I need the transmission replaced on this vehicle with under 70,000 miles and just over three years old. I began hearing a whining noise while accelerating, and brought it in for service. No system warnings.