The 2017 Toyota Highlander has many consumer complaints about powertrain problems, electrical issues, and rapid acceleration that reportedly led to fender benders.
Key Points
- Four recalls were issued for the 2017 Toyota Highlander, including a faulty fuel pump that may cause the car to stall while driving, and a bad windshield wire harness that may allow water to seep in.
- The 2017 Highlander has over 130 registered complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The most prevalent include 20 for the electrical system, 27 for the powertrain, and 24 for the engine.
- After scouring through complaints, we found several common problem areas that include odd noises while braking, a jerky transmission, engine stalling, and random electrical failures.
2017 Highlander’s Four Recalls are Notable, but not More Serious than a Weak Fuel Pump that Could Stall the SUV
The 2017 Toyota Highlander faced four NHTSA recalls, but none are too serious. They address issues related to improperly torqued roof rails, leaky windshields, and an underinflated spare tire. The biggest concern is a weak fuel pump that could potentially cause the vehicle to stall in traffic. Other than that, the four recalls are pretty light in regard to how much of a serious risk they pose. Here’s a more detailed look at the four recalls:
- Low-Pressure Fuel Pump (2017-2019 Highlanders): In Nov. 2020, Toyota issued a recall due to a low-pressure fuel pump that may fail to function, and thus cause the vehicle to stall. In some cases, it may fail to restart.
- Faulty Windshield Wire Harness (2014-2018 Highlanders): In Nov. 2018, Toyota issued a recall for the windshield wire harness, which has an ineffective design that may allow water to enter into the vehicle, leading to a risk of the engine stalling. The recall only affects vehicles that had an aftermarket replacement windshield installed.
- Improperly-Torqued Roof Rails (2017 Highlanders): Roof rails were not a standard feature, but vehicles that have them face risk of the rails easily detaching from the SUV, which can cause injury or property damage. An Aug. 2017 recall reports that the problem stems from the roof rail fasteners having been improperly torqued, which allows them to loosen over time.
- Incorrect Air Pressure in Spare Tire (2017 Highlander, Highlander Hybrid): A smaller and less serious but important recall was launched in May 2017, and relates to improperly inflated spare tires. The error can lead to poor performance and possible crashes.
Over 130 Owners Sound Off with NHTSA Complaints about 2017 Highlander’s Engine Stalls & Rapid Acceleration
The 2017 Toyota Highlander is recognized for its rugged exterior and advanced driver assistance features, plus a roomy-enough third row and above-average fuel economy. Still, there are concerns over the 2017 SUV’s fuel pump, roof rails, and windshield wires, which have led to recalls. Consumers also struggled with the electrical system, powertrain, and brakes.
As of late 2021, the NHTSA reports the 2017 Toyota Highlander has 131 complaints. The most common complaints involve the same problems: The car won’t start, stalls while driving, and weird noises coming from under the hood.
The most commonly reported issues, problems, and NHTSA complaints include:
- Powertrain problems: Twenty-seven registered complaints are about the powertrain and include transmission issues, vehicle stalling while driving, and shifting problems. “Automatic transmission quit working at a stop light, with only 25,000 miles on the vehicle,” reported one 2017 Highland owner. His experience was confirmed by many other owners, sometimes multiple times. “On three separate occasions–at 30,000, 40,000 and 42,000 miles–when driving at highway speeds (70 mph), the vehicle has suddenly, without warning, switched to a low-power limp mode, resulting in rapid deceleration in the midst of high-speed highway traffic.”
- Electrical issues: Twenty complaints involve electrical issues, with customers noting that the vehicle randomly shuts off, the engine fails to start, and in one case, the battery reportedly failed after less than three years of ownership and 44,000 miles on the odometer. One 2017 Highland owner claims, “The vehicle stalled twice on me at a red light. No power to steer. … almost got hit twice from behind because of the stalling.”
- Service brake failure: There is a total of 16 complaints about service brakes, noting the system’s failure, lack of power, starting difficulties, and unusual noises. One 2017 Highlander owner said that when unintended acceleration occurred, he depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle continued to move forward and ran into a sign. Another owner had a similar accident because of the same issue. “The car ahead of us stopped, so I tried stopping quickly, but the Highlander’s automatic collision avoidance kicked in and took control of my brakes, but it still didn’t stop,” he reports. “Ended up rear-ending the car in front of me.”
- Hard shifting and rapid acceleration: Among the 33 “Other” registered complaints are some of the same problems addressed under various other categories but with additional issues referenced, such as some owners finding metal shavings and dark gunk in the transmission fluid. One of the more serious issues was reported by a 2017 Highland owner who left the engine running while running a quick errand inside of a house, only to hear a crash. The car had jumped into gear and [crashed] into the garage.
2017 Toyota Highlander was Dinged with a Few Recalls, but it’s Still a Safe Ride and a Safe Bet
For the 2017 Toyota Highlander to have only received four recalls is not a bad thing for its age. The recalls and complaints covered every annoyance and risk, from hearing unusual noises emanating from under the hood to complete engine stall. All of this information should be scrutinized when considering a 2017 Highlander.
Still, the vehicle is also certifiably safe, with eight airbags and Toyota’s Safety Sense driver-assist technology that comes standard and includes pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, and automatic high beams. Plus, the 2017 model includes a powertrain upgrade via the new 3.5L D-4S Injection V6 with 295 horsepower and 263 lb.-ft. of torque.
Photos: Toyota
