Toyota · Highlander · 2022
2022 Toyota Highlander: problems & reliability
NHTSA has logged 266 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls for the 2022 Toyota Highlander. The most-reported problem area is the transmission & powertrain (21% of complaints), followed by body & structure and brakes. Make sure every open recall has been fixed by a dealer before you buy.
Common 2022 Toyota Highlander problems
5-
Transmission & powertrain problems
55 owner complaints to NHTSA (21% of all complaints for this model year) involve the transmission & powertrain, including 4 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries. One owner reported: “Because I am not an expert, I cannot say with certainty what exact vehicle components contributed to this incident. On August 17, 2026, at approximately 12:40 PM, I was slowly driving my 2022 Toyota Highlander XLE in a parking garage where…”
-
Body & structure problems
43 owner complaints to NHTSA (16% of all complaints for this model year) involve the body & structure, including 1 crash, 4 injuries. One owner reported: “In the past 3 days, the trunk of the vehicle has opened on its own even though it was locked. This has also happened 3 additional times in the past since I have taken it to the Toyota service center in Fairlawn, NJ. I am concerned because…”
-
Brakes problems
39 owner complaints to NHTSA (15% of all complaints for this model year) involve the brakes, including 4 crashes, 1 injury. One owner reported: “My mother was killed on 5/27/22 by her brand new 2022 Highlander Platnum with about 2000 miles on it. There wasn’t anyone inside her car at the time of her wrongful death. No person’s car should kill it’s owner in her own driveway at…”
-
Airbags problems
32 owner complaints to NHTSA (12% of all complaints for this model year) involve the airbags, including 11 crashes, 13 injuries. One owner reported: “r 2022 Toyota Highlander was involved in a motor vehicle incident wherein the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and front airbags may not have functioned as expected.”
-
Electrical system problems
23 owner complaints to NHTSA (9% of all complaints for this model year) involve the electrical system, including 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury. One owner reported: “On October 22, 2026 at 7:55pm I was slowly pulling into a parking spot at our community building applying the brake when the engine started rapidly accelerating causing the car to jump over the curbing even as I continued to press on the…”
Owner complaints by area
| Area | Complaints | Share | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission & powertrain | 55 | 21% | |
| Body & structure | 43 | 16% | |
| Brakes | 39 | 15% | |
| Airbags | 32 | 12% | |
| Electrical system | 23 | 9% | |
| Forward collision avoidance | 22 | 8% | |
| Visibility & wipers | 17 | 6% | |
| Seats | 14 | 5% |
266 complaints filed with NHTSA in total, reporting 20 crashes, 1 fire, 16 injuries, 1 death. A complaint can involve more than one area.
2022 Toyota Highlander recalls
5-
Seats › Mid/rear assembly › Recliner
Risk: A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 9, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB06 and 26TA06.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.
-
Tires
Risk: Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will inspect and replace the tires and information placard, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 16, 2024. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET24A.
Full recall summary
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Highlander vehicles. The 20-inch accessory tires with an insufficient load rating for the vehicle's Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) were installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
-
Tires
Risk: Tires with an insufficient load rating may be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GST will inspect and replace the tires as necessary, and install a new tire information label as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2024. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R1.
Full recall summary
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2022-2024 model year Highlander L and Highlander LE vehicles equipped with the Blackout Package that includes 20" black alloy wheels and tires. The installed tires have an insufficient load rating. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
-
Structure › Body › Bumpers
Risk: A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace the upper and lower front bumper covers as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 22, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB12/23TA12.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Highlander & Highlander Hybrid vehicles. During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching.
-
Equipment › Other › Labels
Risk: An illegible label may allow the vehicle to be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GST will notify owners by mail, including a replacement load carrying capacity modification label for their vehicle and detailed replacement instructions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 22R1.
Full recall summary
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2022 4Runner, Tacoma, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification labels may not be permanent and can fade, becoming illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. To check whether a specific car’s recalls have been repaired, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
2022 Toyota Highlander crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2022 Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV AWD. Ratings can differ between body styles and drivetrains (2 versions tested or listed).
How fast will a 2022 Toyota Highlander lose value?
Enter what you'd pay and how much you drive to see the projected resale value.
Enter a purchase price to see the projection.
Estimate based on typical age-based depreciation, this model year's reliability score and mileage. Actual resale depends on condition, trim, location and history.
Specifications
- Drivetrains
- AWD, FWD
- Body styles
- SUV
Other Toyota Highlander years
About this data
Problems, complaint counts, recalls and crash-test ratings come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public databases, last checked 2026-11-03. Complaints are reports from owners and have not all been verified by NHTSA.
How we score reliability: every model year starts at 100. Points come off for the number of owner complaints (on a log scale, up to 40 points), for each safety recall (2 points each, up to 15) and for complaints involving crashes, fires, injuries or deaths (up to 15). Popular vehicles get more complaints simply because more are on the road, so compare scores between similar vehicles. More about our method.
Spotted a mistake? Tell us.