2017 Toyota Highlander Safety Report
2017 Toyota Highlander Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2017 Toyota Highlander
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2017 Toyota Highlander. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (4) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (245) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 0 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Power Train | Compare power train issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2016 | Compare against the 2016 Toyota Highlander with 109 complaints and 3 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Toyota Highlander before buying across this generation. |
Toyota Highlander Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Toyota Highlander years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Toyota Highlander | 242 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Toyota Highlander | 109 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Toyota Highlander | 428 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Toyota Highlander | 184 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Toyota Highlander | 266 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2021 Toyota Highlander | 406 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2017 Toyota Highlander Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2017 Toyota Highlander, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Power Train
46 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Toyota onlyUnknown Or Other
25 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Toyota onlyEngine
15 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Toyota onlyFuel/Propulsion System
15 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Fuel/Propulsion System issues Toyota onlyVisibility/Wiper
12 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Toyota onlyElectrical System
11 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Toyota onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2017 Toyota Highlander
Reliability Score
The 2017 Toyota Highlander receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2017 Toyota Highlander
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2017 Toyota Highlander
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2017 Toyota Highlander:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline Recalled for fuel pump issues in 2018-2019 models. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Transmission Transmission failures have been reported, with some requiring replacement due to metal filings in the transmission fluid. |
Medium | Common | 60k-100k miles |
| Sunroof Sunroof has shattered during normal use. |
Low | Occasional | 0-10k miles |
| Electrical System Windshields have been recalled for issues. |
Medium | Common | 0-100k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2017 Toyota Highlander:
Transmission failures have been reported, with some requiring replacement due to metal filings in the transmission fluid.
Recalled for fuel pump issues in 2018-2019 models.
Sunroof has shattered during normal use.
Windshields have been recalled for issues.
Recall Details for the 2017 Toyota Highlander
The following 4 recalls have been issued for the 2017 Toyota Highlander by NHTSA:
Summary: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus I...
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota cust...
Summary: Fujian Wanda Automobile Glass Industry (Wanda) is recalling certain aftermarket Replacement Windshields sold for use in 2014-2018 Toyota Highlander vehicles. The windshields have an attached wire harness that water may leak into, possibly causing damage to the vehicle's Engine Control Module (ECM).
Consequence: The ECM damage may result in the engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Wanda will notify owners, and service centers will replace the windshields, and inspect the ECM for damage, having it replaced, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2019. Owners may contact Wanda customer service at 1-864-281-2760.
Summary: Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2017 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles equipped with accessory roof rail cross bars. The fasteners for the roof rails may not be torqued properly.
Consequence: The roof rails may loosen and possibly detach from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GST will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and properly torque the fasteners, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2017. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 17R3.
Summary: Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.
Consequence: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2017 Toyota Highlander
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2017 Toyota Highlander with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
My husband and I were driving down the highway when the front part of our sun roof shattered.
Transmission failed in May 2025, around 95,000 miles. Had to have entire transmission replaced. Shop said metal filings were found in the fluids, leading to the breakdown and need for full replacement. No other warning lights or lamps indicated a problem. A high pitched whining noise was the indicator, which then led to several visits to the shop, monitored the issue, changed fluids, but the trans...
Transmission yes it’s available for inspection rite now on vacation on a very steep hill the transmission quit pulling at the top of the hill in the middle of a very narrow street and we had to ease backwards down to a place on the hill to turn around and get to level ground all this happened with no previous warning
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that when the vehicle was taken to a dealer for routine maintenance, the dealer informed the contact that the rear main seal was leaking and needed to be resealed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,402.
Purchased my 2017 Highlander in June of 2017. At 4912 miles noticed the transmission was slipping. Contacted the dealership and was told from an employee that in his 20 plus years he had never had a transmission do that. Took it to the dealership and it was the transmission. It was replaced under warranty. In January of 2026 took it to the dealership after noticing a weird whinnying sound when run...
I had problems in gear shift the car when start moving it’s go very slow it’s need about 1 minute to change the shift. The Toyota dealership recommended me to change the transmission with the cost $11,000
-- What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? This report is regarding a premature transmission failure in our 2017 Toyota Highlander equipped with the UA80F 8-speed automatic transmission. Our highlander is currently stuck at High Tech Automotive in Wenatchee, WA 150+ miles from home after experiencing a transmission failure on the highway....
I own a 2017 Toyota Highlander with 6 cylinders (engine model 2GR-FKS). It has 107,000 miles. I brought it to my dealer for inspection and service, and noted that it was making a whirring/whining sound upon acceleration. There were no warning messages on the dashboard to alert me of any issues. The dealer reported back to me that the transmission was failing and quoted $11k to fix it. Upon researc...
I drive a 2017 Toyota Highlander and am having issues with the transmission. The issues and poor craftsmanship on the UA80 8-speed transmissions. Toyota offered Technical Service Bulletins T-SB-0160-18, T-SB-0008-21, and a limited Customer Support Program (CSP ZJC). But very few VINs were included and there are tons of Highlander owners with this transmission facing $10,000+ repair bills for what ...
Vehicle shurtter cause toque converter issue with all Toyota Highlander
Was on drive from work in 2017 toyota highlander XLE. Noticed low whining sound coming from transmission. Made appointment with toyota dealership. They identified transmission whine as requiring full replacement and projected to fail soon. Vehicle mileage was at 116k miles. There are no ua80 trans available in US and none coming in. Was told my VIN didn't qualify for CRP CJZ and TSB bul...
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for service, the contact was informed that the engine was leaking due to a timing chain failure. The contact was advised that the engine needed to be taken apart to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed....
The paint on the hood is flaking off. There is no reason other than the paint being defective for this to happen in this manner. We just noticed it today. 11/14/25
After less than a year of usage on a Highlander with 70k miles, the transmission began malfunctioning. The reverse function would work sporadically. The gears would shift only when using the power stick function and manually switching gears. The transmission would go into overdrive and once after an oil change the car came to an abrupt stop after traveling 25 mph hour.
Leaking fuel line due to deterioration of plastic liner in fuel line.
Transmission when the car first starts up is slipping. No dipstick for checking Transmission fluid.
The transmission is experiencing harsh and sometimes delayed shifting and sometimes reduction of power. This can result in unpredictability when going from a stop and then crossing traffic. If the transmission fails while I am making an unprotected left turn it pups leave me vulnerable to side impact from on coming traffic. The dealer was able to reproduce the issue when I took it in and quoted me...
My vehive has 122,000 miles...I recently received an airbag mafuction warning on the dash info system and to contact dealer. The dealer states this driver side airbag is now defective and needs to be replaced at a cost of $1100.00 The airbag has never been deployed. How is this noit covered under safety requirements on current vehicles? How do I know that the part was not defective when initally i...
Transmission failure causes vehicle to not accelerate in low gears. Toyota has a CSP for this issue on the same model year but this "Vin" Is not a part of it. This is a major safety issue.
Formal Complaint to NHTSA – Summary I am submitting this formal complaint regarding repeated mechanical and electrical failures involving my 2017 Toyota Highlander, purchased as a Toyota Gold-Certified vehicle with an extended Platinum Warranty. Despite strictly following Toyota’s maintenance guidelines and using only certified dealerships for all services, the vehicle has become inoperable multi...
Showing 20 of 245 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2017 Toyota Highlander
Has the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER been recalled?
Yes, the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER has 4 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER have?
The 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER has 245 complaints filed with NHTSA. None of the complaints involved crashes. 24 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
The 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER involve power train (46 complaints), unknown or other (25 complaints), engine (15 complaints). Other affected components include fuel/propulsion system, visibility/wiper, electrical system.
How many crash reports does the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER have?
There are no crash reports associated with the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER in the NHTSA database.
How many fire reports does the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER have?
There are no fire reports for the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER.
How many injuries are reported for the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
24 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 245 complaints, 4 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
The components with the most failures on the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER are: 1. POWER TRAIN (46 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (25 complaints), 3. ENGINE (15 complaints), 4. FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (15 complaints), 5. VISIBILITY/WIPER (12 complaints). POWER TRAIN is the single most-reported problem area with 46 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
Be cautious of transmission and fuel system issues, and check for recalls before purchasing. The 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER has 245 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
The 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 245 owner complaints, 4 recalls, and 0 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Fuel System, Gasoline and Transmission.
What are the known issues with the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
Known issues with the 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER include: Fuel System, Gasoline, Transmission, Sunroof, Electrical System. These are based on patterns found across 245 NHTSA complaints. 4 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?
Transmission and fuel system issues have been reported, and some are available for inspection.
How common are transmission failures in the 2017 Toyota Highlander?
Transmission failures are moderately common, with some requiring replacement due to metal filings in the transmission fluid.
What is the most frequent issue with the 2017 Toyota Highlander?
Engine and fuel system issues are the most common, with recalls for fuel pump and gasoline system problems.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of transmission and fuel system issues, and check for recalls before purchasing.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2017 Toyota Highlander
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2017 Toyota Highlander. The data includes 245 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 4 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 24 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2017 Toyota Highlander an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16