Severe Issues

2023 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Problems

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2023 Toyota Highlander. This model year has 146 NHTSA complaints β€” top issue: Uncategorized Issues.

146
Complaints
10
Crashes
β€”
Fires
10
Injuries
β€”
Deaths
9
Recalls

Before you buy β€” check the actual VIN

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.

Worst 2023 Toyota Highlander Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1
36
complaints

Uncategorized Issues

#2
29
complaints

Structural Problems

Crash-related:2
Injuries:1
#3
26
complaints

Engine Problems

Crash-related:1
Injuries:1

Considering a 2023 Toyota Highlander?

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2023 Toyota Highlander. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
Uncategorized Issues36β€”β€”β€”
Structural Problems292β€”β€”
Engine Problems261β€”β€”
Brake System142β€”β€”
Fuel/Propulsion System141β€”β€”
Transmission / Drivetrain13β€”β€”β€”
Airbag Malfunctions117β€”β€”
Electrical Faults11β€”β€”β€”
Unintended Acceleration8β€”β€”β€”
Lane Departure61β€”β€”
Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB53β€”β€”
Tire Issues5β€”β€”β€”
Wheel Issues4β€”β€”β€”
Seat-Related Issues3β€”β€”β€”
Seat Belt Issues3β€”β€”β€”
Door Lock Issues3β€”β€”β€”
Visibility/Wiper2β€”β€”β€”
Visibility2β€”β€”β€”
Back Over Prevention2β€”β€”β€”
Steering Defects2β€”β€”β€”
Chest Clip1β€”β€”β€”
Buckle1β€”β€”β€”
Harness1β€”β€”β€”
Fuel System1β€”β€”β€”
Gasoline1β€”β€”β€”

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2023 Toyota Highlander. Type a keyword (e.g. β€œtransmission”, β€œstalling”, β€œbrakes”) to filter.

πŸ”

Showing 146 most recent complaints

Wheel IssuesApr 24, 2026

I was at a gas station and enter car wash, the machine didnt wash my car and distriy my front right tire

Seat-Related IssuesApr 24, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V128000 (Seats); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the…

Airbag MalfunctionsπŸ’₯ CrashApr 22, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at 60–65 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into the passenger's side of an oncoming vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. In addition, the contact stated that it was a very hard impact on an older m…

Airbag MalfunctionsπŸ’₯ CrashApr 21, 2026

I was in an accident today in this vehicle . Upon impact, traffic was suddenly stopped on the highway. The air bags didn’t deploy and the automatic emergency breaks didn’t engage. Impact was so hard three vehicles were Involved.

Seat-Related IssuesApr 2, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V128000 (Seats); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed t…

Brake SystemMar 31, 2026

2023 Highlander Hybrid braking suddenly changes at low speeds when coming to a stop. Vehicle's brakes work properly (Regenerative and hydraulic combined) until it slows to make a stop or slows in heavy traffic. Suddenly the brake pressure changes and the vehicle "lunges" forward …

Seat Belt IssuesMar 27, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, and driving at an undisclosed speed, the seat belt alarm chimed while the seat belts were properly buckled. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and released and fastened t…

Uncategorized IssuesMar 9, 2026

Some times when I request the rear hatch to open is does nothing but most of the time when I depress the close button, it moves less than an inch and then beeps. I have had to depress the button up to 6 times before the hatch closes. The car is only 3 years old as of this month a…

Uncategorized IssuesMar 7, 2026

While driving down the highway I went over a bridge joint and my sunroof suddenly exploded sending glass both into and off the back of the vehicle. I was able to find the moment of the explosion on my rear dashcam (saw the falling glass) and checked the front dashcam for any evid…

Unintended AccelerationMar 6, 2026

It takes time to accelerate. The car jerks and shakes before moving

Uncategorized IssuesMar 6, 2026

I bought this vehicle new in March 2024. I normally use Apple CarPlay for music and more importantly maps. Approximately 1 year after purchase, I was driving along and all of a sudden a new screen appeared with a keyboard requesting that I sign in with my email address. To clear…

Transmission / DrivetrainMar 1, 2026

Delayed acceleration, jerking shifting between gears and whining noise

Visibility/WiperFeb 26, 2026

The rear window on my car spontaneously shattered as I was driving. This was in light rain on the freeway. I had turned the rear-window defrost on at the beginning of my 20 minute drive to work in the dark at 5:30AM . When I was almost at my destination, I heard a noise and loo…

Electrical FaultsFeb 17, 2026

My Toyota Highlander 12.3 inch display of the instrument panel may be blank at startup. Operating the vehicle with this display blank reduces the ability to see certain malfunction indicators. This Safety Recall that has been active since September 11, 2025. The problem been ac…

Uncategorized IssuesFeb 16, 2026

The vehicle's tailgate motor has started to malfunction and is failing prematurely. When opening the tailgate it makes a loud squealing noise. When attempting to close utilizing all automatic features it will stop and beep twice. After multiple attempts the tailgate remains open …

Airbag MalfunctionsJan 27, 2026

Air bags did not deploy during accident Black box did not record any incident occurred and vehicle was totaled vehicle black box data was downloaded by manufacturer representative accident report was submitted On October 28 2025 a deer ran in front of us and we hit it at approxim…

Electrical FaultsJan 23, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V595000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the instrument panel fai…

Uncategorized IssuesJan 20, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Emission Recall Remedy not available. 2.3 in display of the instrument panel may be blank at start up. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?/operating the vehic…

Electrical FaultsJan 12, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V595000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while the vehicle was running, the instrument panel was b…

Transmission / DrivetrainJan 11, 2026

The transfer case blew out when I stopped at a red-light, within the first 3 years of original ownership. Only 65,000 miles on the odometer, mostly from highway driving. The car is now inoperable and repair quotes are prohibitively expensive.

Page 1 of 8

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2023 Toyota Highlander.

Recalls for 2023 Toyota Highlander

9 campaigns

NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2023 Toyota Highlander. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

23V480000Dec 7, 2023
STEERING:COLUMN

23V720000Invalid Date
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

24V419000Jun 6, 2024
TIRES

24V452000Invalid Date
TIRES

24V548000Invalid Date
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

25V040000Invalid Date
STEERING:COLUMN

25V595000Nov 9, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

25V744000Invalid Date
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

26V128000May 3, 2026
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

2023 Toyota Highlander β€” FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2023 Toyota Highlander reliable?β–Ύ

Severe Issues. The 2023 Toyota Highlander has 146 NHTSA owner complaints, 10 crash-related, and 9 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Uncategorized Issues (36 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.

What are the most common problems with the 2023 Toyota Highlander?β–Ύ

#1: Uncategorized Issues (36 complaints). #2: Structural Problems (29 complaints). #3: Engine Problems (26 complaints)

At what mileage do problems start on the 2023 Toyota Highlander?β–Ύ

Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.

How safe is the 2023 Toyota Highlander?β–Ύ

The 2023 Toyota Highlander has 10 crash-related complaints and 0 fire reports out of 146 total NHTSA complaints. 10 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Does the 2023 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?β–Ύ

Yes β€” 9 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2023 Toyota Highlander. The largest issue: STEERING:COLUMN. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

Should I buy a 2023 Toyota Highlander?β–Ύ

The 2023 Toyota Highlander has severe issues β€” review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Uncategorized Issues issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.

Wider context: See the full Toyota Highlander reliability report with year-by-year comparison.

Check Your Specific 2023 Toyota Highlander

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.