2024 Toyota Grand Highlander power train problems

What owners report

• “Transmission Whining Noise Detected, Automatic Shifting Difficulties, Reduced Power & Acceleration Concerns. Dealer inspected and confirmed transmission failure. Required Dealer replacement under power train warranty. Defect known to exist in Toyota 6 speed Automatic U80A transmissions. Transmission is known to be defective and unreliable, potentially causing catostrophic injury to persons and property with use and operation.”

  NHTSA complaint · filed 10/24/2026

• “Incident occurred on XXX at 9:46AM PST, [XXX]. When applying brakes normally to come to a gradual stop behind another vehicle stopped at a stop sign on a slight decline, PCS collision warning lights enabled and vehicle lurched forward while my foot was on brake. This is not to be confused with automatic braking behavior as front collision warning lights in driver information center flashed red. Rather, vehicle lurched forward as if accelerating once within feet of vehicle in front. Then, …”

  NHTSA complaint · filed 10/20/2026

• “2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid AWD. Vehicle exhibits a severe metallic "clunk" or "boom" noise and impact from the undercarriage specifically when reversing under moderate to firm acceleration. This is a recurring issue reported by numerous owners of this model, related to harsh powertrain engagement and movement when changing direction under load. This issue is NOT related to wheel rotation, brakes, or CV axles. The vehicle has approximately 70,000 miles, has been driven strictly on pave…”

  NHTSA complaint · filed 09/26/2026

• “2024 Toyota Grand Highlander XLE FWD. At approximately 38,000 miles I began hearing a roaring/humming noise that varied with vehicle speed. The condition initially progressed slowly but then became much worse within several days. At 41,510 miles a Toyota dealer diagnosed and replaced the right rear hub/wheel bearing assembly. I was advised that the failed bearing was nearly seized when removed. After replacement the noise was reduced but remained present. The dealer was uncertain whether another…”

  NHTSA complaint · filed 09/09/2026

• “When ambient temperature are over ~90 the vehicle will lose power during acceleration. This happens typically in the speed range of ~20-35mph. The vehicle’s rpm will spike high but lose the ability to increase speed or shift gears. This occurs ~ 40-50% of the time when over 90 degrees. On several occasions we were forced to abandon merging onto the highway because the vehicle wasn’t safely able to accelerate to match the speed of vehicles on the highway. We reported this issue to our local Toyot…”

  NHTSA complaint · filed 09/04/2026

• “At 5:16 pm, CST. I was stopped at a stop sign headed west on a 25 mph road crossing a 30 mph road (that does not have a stop sign) in Illinois. After waiting for a an appropriate gap in traffic, I attempted to accelerate though the interesting. I released the brake pedal and attempted to accelerate. The vehicle barely accelerated. The engine seemed to minimally climb in RPM and only accelerated minimally out into the cross road. This lasted approximately 1-2 seconds. AT this point I was fully in…”

  NHTSA complaint · filed 09/01/2026

• “Sometimes, when trying to accelerate in certain situations, the vehicle accelerator pedal will not respond or the engine stutters and won't immediately respond to input and the vehicle seems to stall. This has been scary several times in traffic. The vehicle originally would throw an engine code on the dash about system failure and was taken into the dealer after several of these incidents and a software updates was performed, but it still happens randomly although now with no code.”

  NHTSA complaint · filed 08/25/2026

• “The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander. The contact stated that while making a right turn from a complete stop to merge into traffic, the vehicle hesitated and failed to exceed 7–10 MPH. The contact released and then depressed the accelerator pedal again, and the vehicle responded as intended. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where software updates were performed on several occasions; however, the failures persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. Th…”

  NHTSA complaint · filed 08/24/2026

Unverified owner reports from NHTSA's public complaint database.

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