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Equipment:Other:Labels Recall — Recall 22V310000 (2022, Gulf States Toyota)
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
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2021-2024 Toyota Highlander transmission failure, 12 recalls, seat defect recall 26V128. California lemon law options — free case review.
You bought a Toyota Highlander because you trusted the badge. Three rows of seats, a powertrain reputation built over decades, and the promise that this one would not let you down. For many fourth-generation Highlander owners, that trust has been tested in ways Toyota's marketing never mentioned. The 2021-2024 XU70 Highlander carries twelve documented NHTSA recall campaigns and a TSB-acknowledged transmission defect that has generated nearly 700 complaints in the agency's database, more than almost any midsize SUV in recent memory. The dominant story is the UA80E 8-speed automatic transaxle. Toyota issued Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0008-21 in February 2021, barely months after the new generation went on sale, confirming a manufacturing defect in the transmission bearing assembly. Despite this acknowledgment, Toyota never issued a safety recall. Instead, owners who hit 60,000 miles, call the dealer to report the whining noise, and produce the TSB themselves have been presented with repair bills of $8,000 to $11,500. Meanwhile, a separate set of recalls has touched almost every safety system on the vehicle: the driver's airbag (twice, for the same spiral cable defect), the front bumper cover, the passenger airbag sensor, the instrument panel display, the rearview camera, the third-row seat belt anchor, and the second-row seat recliner. The last covers 550,000 vehicles whose seat backs may not lock in a crash. If your Highlander has been to the dealer for any of these issues, California law may give you more options than your service advisor has suggested.
The issues owners report most, ranked by severity — each one verified against a cited NHTSA source.
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
sticky steering; steering wheel feels stuck; increased steering effort; steering recall
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
airbag warning light; passenger airbag may not deploy; SRS warning; occupant detection fault
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
A settled Margarian Law case on this exact model, published with the actual settlement math.
Open any defect for the symptoms and why it matters for a California lemon-law claim. Each is tied to a cited NHTSA source.
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall 22V310000 requires dealers to supply replacement load-carrying-capacity modification labels for 2022 Highlanders distributed by Gulf States Toyota. While a label recall alone rarely forms the basis of a lemon-law claim, it demonstrates Toyota's knowledge of a vehicle condition requiring correction. If a dealer refused to perform the label remedy on request within the warranty period, that refusal is documented on the repair order and forms part of the owner's recall compliance history.
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
sticky steering; steering wheel feels stuck; increased steering effort; steering recall
Recall 23V480000 addresses a steering column spiral cable whose electrical weld may separate, disabling the driver's airbag in a collision. Toyota's failure to deploy an airbag in a crash can directly increase injury severity. Vehicles repaired under this recall that subsequently experienced an airbag failure in a collision, or owners who were denied repair parts under this recall while the vehicle remained in use, have a particularly strong Song-Beverly claim because the safety impairment is documented by the manufacturer's own recall filing.
Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TA08. Lexus' number for this recall is 23LA02.
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall 23V720000 covers 2021-2023 Highlander vehicles where the front bumper cover can detach at highway speed and become a road hazard. NHTSA complaint data documents incidents at 60-65 mph where the bumper tore free and caused undercarriage damage. Owners who experienced bumper detachment before the recall was announced, or who were placed on extended backorder for parts and drove a vehicle with a damaged bumper, may have grounds for a Song-Beverly claim based on the documented safety impairment and the manufacturer's inability to repair within a reasonable time.
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.
airbag warning light; passenger airbag may not deploy; SRS warning; occupant detection fault
Recall 23V865000 covers a short circuit in the Occupant Classification System sensor that prevents the front passenger airbag from deploying in a crash. A non-deploying airbag for a front passenger is a life-threatening defect. Under Song-Beverly, an owner whose 2021 Highlander was subject to this recall and who (a) was not promptly notified of the remedy, (b) was placed on extended backorder, or (c) whose vehicle experienced an OCS-related fault warning during normal use may have a well-documented claim — particularly because the recall remedy letters were not fully distributed until January 2026, leaving vehicles with a known safety defect for years.
Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may cont
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall 24V419000 identifies tires installed by Gulf States Toyota dealer-added Blackout Package that have an insufficient load rating for the vehicle's gross axle weight rating. An overloaded tire may fail at highway speed, creating a blowout and crash risk. If the selling dealer installed this package and refused to remedy the tire defect, or if the owner experienced a tire failure attributable to the insufficient load rating before the recall remedy, Song-Beverly provides a cause of action for both the tire defect and any resulting damage.
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.
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall 24V452000 covers 2021-2024 Highlander vehicles in Southeast Toyota's distribution territory where dealer-installed 20-inch accessory tires have insufficient load ratings. The failure mode — tire rupture under normal load at highway speed — is directly safety-relevant. This recall is especially significant for owners who purchased a Highlander from a SET dealer with the accessory package already installed and who were not informed of the tire defect at the time of sale. Under Song-Beverly, selling a vehicle with a known safety defect may trigger immediate lemon-law eligibility without multiple repair attempts.
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.
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall 24V548000 corrects load-carrying-capacity labels displaying inaccurate added weight values on Gulf States Toyota vehicles. Although a labeling error is lower severity than a mechanical defect, it forms part of the documented recall history for the vehicle and demonstrates Toyota's ongoing quality-control issues with accessory-equipped Highlanders distributed through the GST region. Owners with multiple GST-region recall actions on a single vehicle may find the cumulative recall history supports a broader Song-Beverly claim.
GST will mail new labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2024. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R2.
sticky steering; steering wheel feels stuck; increased steering effort; steering recall
Recall 25V040000 exists because the remedy performed under the prior recall 23V480000 was executed incorrectly on some vehicles, leaving the same airbag-disabling spiral cable defect unresolved. This is Toyota's second recall for the same defect on the same 2023 Highlander population. Under Song-Beverly, a second repair attempt for the same safety defect that fails to resolve the problem is strong evidence supporting a lemon-law buyback claim. Owners of 2023 Highlanders who received both recall notices and had their vehicle in for both repair procedures have documented at minimum two attempts for the same steering/airbag defect.
Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 25TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 25LA02.
brake pedal problem; reduced braking; unexpected braking; brake warning light
Recall 25V595000 addresses a software error that prevents the instrument panel from displaying vehicle speed, braking system warnings, and tire pressure alerts. A driver who cannot see their speed or brake system warning is operating the vehicle with materially impaired safety information. If an owner's vehicle displayed this software failure within the warranty period and the dealer was unable to remedy it in a single visit — or if an over-the-air update was not available — each documented visit for this complaint counts toward the lemon-law repair attempt threshold.
Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 5, 2025. Additional let
backup camera blank; screen goes black in reverse; rearview camera distorted
Recall 25V744000 covers a software defect that causes the rearview camera to display a frozen image or blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. A non-functional rearview camera on a vehicle marketed with a panoramic view monitor system substantially impairs the driver's ability to safely reverse and creates a back-over risk. California's lemon law protects against exactly this class of defect — a safety system that fails intermittently and cannot be relied upon. If a software update did not permanently resolve the frozen display, each return visit for this same complaint is a counted repair attempt.
Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE25.
driver seat cushion loose; seat fastener recall; seat may not stay secured
Recall 25V872000 addresses a 2024 Highlander manufacturing defect where the third-row center seat belt roof anchor was installed at the wrong angle, compromising occupant restraint in a crash. For families with children in the third row, this is a life-safety defect. Under Song-Beverly, a vehicle delivered with a manufacturing defect that impairs occupant safety and requires a recall repair may qualify for relief even if the dealer remedied it on the first visit — the severity and the fact the defect existed at the time of sale are both relevant factors.
Dealers will reinstall the seat belt anchor with a new bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 25TA16.
driver seat cushion loose; seat fastener recall; seat may not stay secured
Recall 26V128000 is the highest-profile recent Highlander recall: approximately 550,000 vehicles from model years 2021-2024 have second-row seat backs that may fail to lock, allowing a seat to fold forward in a crash and fail to properly restrain the occupant. NHTSA complaint data documents owners grounded for 47 or more consecutive days waiting for recall remedy parts. Under Song-Beverly, a vehicle that is out of service for more than 30 cumulative days due to warranty repair (including recall remedy parts unavailability) may independently qualify for lemon-law relief based on the out-of-service days provision — independent of the number of repair attempts.
Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed April 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-
high-pitched whining or grinding noise from transmission during acceleration; noise most noticeable at 35-45 mph; transmission hesitates or jerks between gears; transmission slips under load; complete transmission failure requiring replacement; dealer confirms T-SB-0008-21 but denies warranty coverage; $8,000-$11,500 out-of-pocket repair bill
Toyota's own TSB T-SB-0008-21 confirms it was aware of this manufacturing defect before vehicles were sold or at the very start of the model year. Under Song-Beverly, warranty repairs for a substantial impairment (a vehicle that cannot be driven without risking transmission failure) must be completed within a reasonable number of attempts. If Toyota refused to cover a repair on a vehicle still within the 60,000-mile powertrain warranty, or if the vehicle was in for the same whining complaint multiple times without a permanent fix, that repair history may establish eligibility for a buyback or replacement.
Replacement of the automatic transaxle assembly (full unit). No software-only repair. Within 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty: covered at no cost. Outside warranty: $8,000-$11,500 owner expense. Toyota has offered goodwill assistance in some cases but no systematic remedy program exists.
vehicle lurches or surges forward when braking to a stop; sudden perceived loss of braking force during deceleration; Toyota Safety Sense pre-collision system activates without obstacle; phantom emergency braking at highway speed with no hazard present; brake pedal feels inconsistent or spongy during light-pressure stops; dealer says braking behavior is 'normal' and cannot duplicate
A vehicle that unexpectedly surges forward while braking or applies emergency braking on a clear highway represents a safety impairment under Song-Beverly. If the dealer has performed the TSB software update and the lurch or false activation persists, each return visit for the same unresolved symptom counts toward the reasonable-number-of-repair-attempts threshold. California owners who have returned to the dealer two or more times for this same braking complaint without resolution should preserve all repair orders.
Hybrid brake lurch: ECU software update per TSB T-SB-0059-23 (2020-2022 hybrid only; 2023+ has no current bulletin). TSS phantom braking: no specific Highlander TSB confirmed; dealer may update pre-collision software or recalibrate forward camera. Some owners report no permanent resolution after multiple dealer visits.
touchscreen goes black or freezes mid-drive without warning; infotainment system reboots spontaneously while driving; Drive Connect subscription popup covers navigation map every 10 minutes; popup requires two screen touches to dismiss — safety distraction; Apple CarPlay or Android Auto disconnects during screen freeze; climate control and ADAS settings inaccessible when screen is frozen; screen unresponsive to touch after system reboot
A 12.3-inch touchscreen that controls climate, ADAS, and navigation and repeatedly freezes or goes black represents a functional impairment that substantially reduces the vehicle's use and value. If dealer software updates have not permanently resolved the screen freeze after multiple visits, Song-Beverly protections may apply. The Drive Connect popup that triggers while driving has been independently characterized by NHTSA complaint filers as a safety distraction — document each incident with date, mileage, and description on your repair orders.
Screen freeze/black screen: head unit software update via dealer J2534 reflash (see TSB). Drive Connect popup: no OEM-approved disable; purchasing Drive Connect subscription stops the popup. Dealer or Toyota customer service escalation recommended for owners unwilling to subscribe. NHTSA complaint filers have characterized the popup as a safety defect.
power liftgate stops mid-travel without completing open or close cycle; tailgate reverses direction immediately after starting to open; liftgate requires excessive manual force to close; liftgate will not open at all with power button; liftgate opens or closes in 3-inch increments with grinding or popping sounds; failure worse in cold weather (below 35°F); dealer quotes $1,200-$1,800 for out-of-warranty strut replacement
California's Song-Beverly Act covers all express warranties, including the 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers the power liftgate system. If the liftgate malfunction was first reported within the warranty period and the dealer was unable to permanently fix it after two or more repair attempts, the vehicle may qualify for lemon-law relief. Owners should document every repair order for this complaint, even if the dealer's remedy was only a software reset or partial adjustment.
Inspect power back door strut assemblies for force output. If below specification, replace strut set (both left and right). Covered under the 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty if within limits. Out-of-warranty cost: $1,200-$1,800 for parts and labor.
panoramic sunroof glass shatters suddenly without impact or road debris; loud gunshot-like sound when glass fails; glass rains down on occupants from above; shattering occurs in mild weather with no temperature extreme; vehicle parked with glass found shattered in the morning; rear dashcam captures falling glass with no visible projectile impact
A panoramic moonroof that spontaneously shatters and rains glass on vehicle occupants is a safety defect under Song-Beverly regardless of mileage. If Toyota declined to repair the glass under warranty, or if the vehicle has been in for a moonroof-related complaint and the glass shattered a second time, the repair history may establish eligibility. The rare nature of this defect means a single event can still qualify if it results in an unsafe vehicle condition that Toyota was unable or unwilling to remedy permanently within the warranty period.
Full panoramic moonroof glass panel replacement. Cost without warranty: $1,500-$3,000 for parts and labor. Toyota has handled some cases as goodwill replacements; outcome depends on warranty coverage at time of failure. No recall or mandatory replacement program exists.
oil level drops one quart or more between scheduled oil changes; no visible oil leak on ground or under hood; low oil warning light illuminates between oil changes; blue-grey exhaust smoke at startup or under acceleration; burning oil smell from engine compartment; dealer says consumption is 'within specification' despite frequent top-offs
Excessive oil consumption that Toyota refuses to repair under warranty is a warranty defect under Song-Beverly if it constitutes a substantial impairment — an engine that requires a quart of oil added every 1,200 miles carries a meaningful risk of oil starvation and catastrophic engine failure. If the dealer performed an oil consumption test and declared consumption 'within spec' despite owner objection, that repair order documents a refusal to repair — which may be treated as a failed repair attempt for lemon-law counting purposes.
Toyota may perform an oil consumption test (measure and recheck after 1,200 miles). If consumption is within Toyota's stated tolerance, no warranty repair is performed. Outside Toyota's threshold: piston replacement or engine short-block replacement. Long-term remedy for owners: shorter oil change intervals (every 3,000-5,000 miles) and monthly dipstick checks.
strong gasoline smell inside cabin especially in warm weather; fuel odor entering HVAC system through vents; brake pedal travels to floor before engagement; brake hesitation on uneven surfaces or during low-speed stops; brief forward surge when transitioning from braking to stopped; check engine or fuel system warning light illumination
Early-production defects in a new powertrain variant often produce complaint clusters in the first model year that later result in TSBs or recalls. If a 2024 Highlander owner has returned to the dealer multiple times for fuel odor or brake hesitation under the factory warranty and Toyota has not permanently resolved either complaint, Song-Beverly's reasonable-number-of-attempts standard may already be triggered. 2024 vehicles are fully within the warranty window — document every dealer visit regardless of outcome.
Fuel odor: dealer inspection of fuel system vent valves, EVAP canister, and fuel tank filler neck. Replace defective component under warranty. Braking anomalies: ECU or ABS software update if applicable; brake system inspection for fluid contamination or calibration error. All repairs should be covered under the 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper or 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty for 2024 model year.
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Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.
remedy available
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The third row center seat belt roof anchor may have been installed at an incorrect angle, preventing the seat belt from properly restraining the occupant.
remedy available
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
remedy available
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner vehicles. Due to an error in the instrument panel software at vehicle startup, the instrument panel may fail to display vehicle speed, brake system, and tire pressure warning lights.
remedy available
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Lexus RX350, 2023-2024 NX250, and NX350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23V-480. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
remedy available
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain Toyota 2023 GR Supra, 2024 4 Runner, Corolla, Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Tacoma, Tacoma Hybrid, 2023-2024 BZ4X, Corolla Cross Hybrid, GR Corolla, GR86, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius Prime, Sequoia Hybrid, Tundra, Tundra Hybrid, Venza Hybrid, 2023-2025 Crown, and 2025 Camry Hybrid vehicles equipped with GST accessories. The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
remedy available
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."
remedy available
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."
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Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
remedy available
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.
remedy available
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, 2023 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX500 Hybrid, 2023-2024 Lexus NX250, NX350, and NX350 Hybrid vehicles. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
remedy available
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."
Every item below comes from this vehicle's documented defects. The more you recognize, the more a free case review is worth your time.
California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act covers every new Toyota Highlander purchased or leased in the state. Toyota's 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranties are both in scope for the 2021-2024 generation.
Song-Beverly requires a buyback or replacement when Toyota cannot repair a defect after a reasonable number of attempts. Two attempts for the same safety defect is generally sufficient; four or more for any defect creates a rebuttable presumption.
Three Highlander-specific angles:
UA80 Transmission: If whining began within the 60,000-mile warranty and Toyota performed a repair — or refused coverage as 'within spec' — that is one counted attempt. Two or more visits for the same transmission complaint may establish eligibility.
Recall 26V128000 Out-of-Service Days: 30+ cumulative out-of-service days during the warranty period qualifies a vehicle as a lemon regardless of repair count. Owners grounded 47+ days for seat recliner parts may already meet this threshold.
Two Airbag Recalls: Recalls 23V480000 and 25V040000 address the same defect. Each repair visit may count separately — owners with both procedures have at minimum two attempts.
If your vehicle qualifies, Toyota must offer a buyback or replacement and pay attorney fees. This is general information, not legal advice.
“Could not duplicate” doesn't mean the defect isn't real. Here's exactly what to do to protect a potential California lemon-law claim.
Document the moment it happens. Photos, video, and screenshots of any warning lights — with the date and the mileage.
Get a repair order every visit — even “found nothing.” That paperwork is the foundation of a claim.
Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Note any recall that has no available remedy yet.
Track your out-of-service days. California law counts the cumulative days your vehicle spends in the shop.
Keep loaner & rental records. Alternate-transport paperwork during long repairs matters.
Save everything in one place. Symptoms, dates, repair orders, and every repeat visit — the intermittent ones especially.
The Highlander's two dominant non-recall defects — the UA80 transmission whining and the hybrid brake lurch — are intermittent, so dealers frequently mark repair orders 'cannot duplicate.' Here is what to do:
1. Name the TSB. For transmission whining, TSB T-SB-0008-21 is the controlling document — printed or pulled up in Toyota's TIS before you hand over the keys. If the advisor says they cannot find it, escalate to the service manager and document that exchange.
2. Require a warm-highway test drive. UA80 whining is loudest at operating temperature between 35-50 mph. A cold idle in the service bay will not reproduce it. Ask the technician to log transmission temperature readings before and during the run.
3. For hybrid brake lurch, specify the conditions: light brake pressure on a downhill approach to a stop. TSB T-SB-0059-23 names this exactly as the regenerative-to-friction handoff. A flat parking-lot test drive will not trigger it.
4. Get 'cannot duplicate' in writing. If the technician finds nothing, the phrase 'condition not duplicated' or 'operating as designed' must appear on your repair order. A verbal clearance is not legal evidence — the written RO is.
5. Record every occurrence. Dashboard or phone video of the whine, lurch, or screen freeze is far harder for a dealer to dismiss than a verbal complaint and supports any future lemon-law evaluation.
6. File an NHTSA complaint after each visit. Go to NHTSA.gov, include your VIN, mileage, symptom onset date, and TSB number. Your filing joins the ~700 already on record for the UA80 defect and contributes to the agency's enforcement threshold.
The fourth-generation Highlander is a case study in the gap between Toyota's reliability reputation and the documented engineering record. The UA80 transmission defect alone — acknowledged by bulletin, generating nearly 700 NHTSA complaints, the subject of an active class action — would ordinarily be a recall. Toyota has not pursued one. Twelve separate recall campaigns have touched this vehicle's labels, steering column, bumper, airbag sensor, tires, instrument panel, rearview camera, and both rows of rear seats — broad for a nameplate that commands a premium price. Highest-risk owners are 2021-2022 model years near 60,000-75,000 miles; the transmission defect clusters just outside the warranty window. 2024 buyers with the new turbo I4 are still fully covered — document every dealer visit.
— The Margarian Law team
If your Toyota Highlander has been to the dealer multiple times for transmission noise, brake surging, airbag warnings, or seat defects — and the problems keep coming back — you may have options under California's lemon law. Margarian Law has handled thousands of lemon-law cases and offers a free case review. No fee unless we win.
That whining at 35-45 mph is the hallmark of a documented bearing defect in the UA80E/UA80F 8-speed transaxle. Toyota issued TSB T-SB-0008-21 in February 2021 confirming the defect but issued no recall. The noise worsens progressively until the transmission requires complete replacement at $8,000-$11,500. Within the 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, Toyota must repair at no cost. Outside warranty, request a goodwill review through Toyota's Customer Experience Center and ask the dealer to pull up T-SB-0008-21. If warranty coverage was denied for a symptom that began within 60,000 miles, California lemon law may apply — preserve every repair order.
Yes — recall 26V128000 is serious. It covers ~550,000 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles (2021-2024) whose second-row seat backs may fail to lock, preventing proper occupant restraint in a crash. The remedy is a return spring replacement at a Toyota dealer, but complaint data documents owners grounded 47+ consecutive days waiting for parts. Under California's Song-Beverly Act, a vehicle out of service for 30+ cumulative days due to a warranty or recall repair qualifies as a lemon regardless of repair attempt count. Track every out-of-service day in writing. Contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 to confirm your VIN's eligibility and estimated remedy date.
The forward lurch during braking is a confirmed issue on Highlander Hybrid models, addressed by Toyota Service Bulletin T-SB-0059-23. The hybrid's regenerative braking hands off to friction brakes under higher demand; a software calibration error created a brief deceleration gap that feels like a lurch. Toyota issued a brake ECU software update for 2020-2022 Highlander Hybrid. If you have a 2023 or 2024 hybrid with the same symptom, no current bulletin covers your year — ask the dealer to check for updated software and document every visit. NHTSA complaint filers report near-miss accidents from this behavior. If it persists after two or more dealer visits, it is a safety impairment under California lemon law.
Yes. NHTSA Recall 23V720000 covers 2020-2023 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid: the front lower bumper cover can detach after minor impacts and become a road hazard at highway speed. NHTSA complaints document incidents at 60-65 mph with undercarriage damage. Remedy is dealer repair or replacement at no cost — call Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 with your VIN. If the bumper detached before October 2023 and Toyota refused warranty coverage, you may be entitled to reimbursement. If it detached a second time after the recall repair, document each incident with photos and a repair order — repeated failure of the same component post-recall may support a lemon-law claim.
Yes — Toyota issued two recall campaigns for the same airbag defect on 2023 Highlanders. Recall 23V480000 (July 2023) replaced a steering column spiral cable with an understrength weld that could disable the driver's airbag. Toyota then discovered some of those repairs were performed incorrectly, triggering a second recall 25V040000 (January 2025) requiring reinspection and re-replacement. Under California's Song-Beverly Act, each recall repair visit for the same defect counts as a separate repair attempt. Owners with both recall procedures documented have at minimum two attempts for the same safety defect — a strong basis for a buyback evaluation.
California's Song-Beverly Act does not specify a fixed number — the standard is a 'reasonable number of attempts' to repair a defect that substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value, or safety. For the Highlander's safety defects (UA80 transmission failure, airbag recalls 23V480000/25V040000, seat recall 26V128000), two repair attempts for the same issue is generally sufficient. For non-safety defects, four or more attempts creates a legal presumption. Separately, 30+ cumulative out-of-service days during the warranty period qualifies the vehicle regardless of attempt count. The defect must have appeared within the warranty period — if your transmission began whining at 58,000 miles and Toyota repaired it at 62,000, the defect originated inside the warranty window and California courts have found that is sufficient for coverage.
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