FWIW, have you considered the hybrid? The ICE and hybrid have different transmissions and I haven't really seen any reports of problems with the hybrid.

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FWIW, have you considered the hybrid? The ICE and hybrid have different transmissions and I haven't really seen any reports of problems with the hybrid.

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I can echo that. Have 40K on our 2017 HiHy limited platinum without a single transmission related issue, including some towing of our 3K lb popup camper.

 

No problems here.

 

I think there were transmissions produced in 2017 that were missing locking component on a nut which came loose causing the transmission problem, most of these vehicles were 2017 model year and some 2018 models, so from what I understand it was an assembly issue not a transmission design issue.

 

According to the "Customer Support Program ZJC":

"There is a possibility that a washer tab, designed to prevent the loosening of a nut inside the affected transmissions, was not sufficiently bent during assembly. This could lead to the nut loosening and, over time, lead to the symptoms described above."

 

I have a 2018. 17,000 miles . So far perfect.

 

In another thread on this subject, there is a link to the TSB (T-SB-0160-18) where it is mentioned that the transmission serial number is in two locations, one of them on a "Serial Number Sticker" and the other is where the serial number is engraved into the transmission itself. I would try to find a link to the TSB that shows where the serial numbers are located. May not be easy to see from the top of the engine compartment, although a long arm and a small camera may help.

I think the problem is potentially fairly widespread (about 66,500 HL's according to Toyota), even if only a smaller number of affected serial numbers have had transmission problems so far. There were also 83,700 Sienna's affected.

According to Toyota, Highlander production for 2017-2018 models with final vehicle assembly dates from early November 2016 – late December 2017 are affected (although not all transmissions during that time of vehicle assembly are affected because they don't always use transmissions built in the order of transmission manufacture). According to "Customer Support Program ZJC" Toyota extended the transmission warranty to 10 years from the date of first use with unlimited miles.

 

Thanks! This is the info I was looking for.....

 

I know it's Camry, yet...

 

Really, you know why that guy wouldn't buy the latest camry? the 8 speed? No, because he is too cheap lol, he buys a 20 year old Celica of all things and personal knowledge of owning Toyota begins and ends with that and and an old matrix and the old lexus, all of s similar era. When he goes on a trip does he take those old vehicles? No because he doesn't trust them to go the distance, he flies and then rents a new Camry or similar at his destination hilarious. I could almost guarantee before he purchased his first old Toyota he thought Ford was the finest maker of vehicles on the planet, He thinks the current F150 is the best thing since sliced bread what a fruitcake lol

 

I tried to have a service tech get me the trans serial number when I had some regular service done. The number he gave me was obviously wrong. It looked like some of the long series of numbers that are also on that sticker. So I cursed the tech after I got home, saw where the sticker is, and stuck my iPhone down there to take a picture. My trans is in the serial number range which is suspect, but I have had zero problems with it.

 

Where exactly is it?

Passenger or driver side? Near the front or the back?

Just want to know so I’m not struggling on the dealer lot......

 

I have a mid 2018 model. AWD Limited. Bought new in September 2018. The 8 speed transmission is a work in progress. Something is wrong with either the software of the basic design. I repeatedly complained to Toyota and finally they replaced the transmission with a rebuilt one at about 20,000 miles. It is better but still bogs and delays at slow speed driving. It is very aggravating to drive. Sort of like a variable, random "turbo lag". I cannot recommend this car until Toyota provides a solid fix. Many other brands have now 8 speed transmissions that work smoothly. Toyota has yet to deliver one!

 

Toyota has yet to deliver one!

Wrong! Toyota delivered me one, and just about everyone else on this forum that has an 17-19 HL that has zero issues. Sucks you didn't get one too.

 

PSA for future buyers: Test drive the Toyota Highlander you are considering purchasing BEFORE you buy it and determine later that this "turbo lag" is something you just cannot get over.

Thank you,
Dodge Customer Relations

?

 

I'd bet that most people are like me and don't really drive the car either enough or in the same way they drive it after owning it a while. I tend to take it easy on a test drive, and for the first months after purchasing. When you do that the lag is not as noticeable. I'm not sure why Dodge is following this site, but then I quit buying Chrysler products long ago over durability issues.

 

You guys blaming this "turbo lag" on the transmission is kinda funny though. Seriously.

What you are more than likely experiencing is a common problem with electronic acceleration, in that it is not linear as the throttle in my 69 Chevelle or 69 C10 running high performance carbs. For example, pushing the pedal 1/4 or even 1/2 half way does not equal the same throttle in my late model Vette. I've got that issue fixed by way of a few hours with a tuner, but there are companies that have off the shelf plug and play devices that compensate for this issue and is available for a lot of vehicles, including the 3G HL.

One such product is the Pedal Commander, which one of our forum members installed on his HL. Read more about it here .

?

 

You guys blaming this "turbo lag" on the transmission is kinda funny though. Seriously.

What you are more than likely experiencing is a common problem with electronic acceleration, in that it is not linear as the throttle in my 69 Chevelle or 69 C10 running high performance carbs. For example, pushing the pedal 1/4 or even 1/2 half way does not equal the same throttle in my late model Vette. I've got that issue fixed by way of a few hours with a tuner, but there are companies that have off the shelf plug and play devices that compensate for this issue and is available for a lot of vehicles, including the 3G HL.

One such product is the Pedal Commander, which one of our forum members installed on his HL. Read more about it here .

?

The Pedal Commander looks interesting, but I really don't want to modify a car still under warranty. I also saw a comment that the lag was still there after installation of the Commander. I am perfectly happy with the engine/power of this car. And it's not about gas pedal depression in proportion to response. It's about a hesitation, then an abrupt response. No problem if I drive like the egg under the foot thing, but that's not me, and probably not most other folks, either.

 

That is the date I would go by.

 

I have a 017 which I picked up in Late March that year, so my transmission must definitely be from the ones with the issue as per TSB serial number date information . HL has now about 25k mileage.
I hear some whining when transmission is cold so not sure if I really need to have that checked by DL at this point or ignore.
I am worried about this being just waste of time and they conclude that the problem is not severe enough to deem a new trany must be installed.

 

I have a 017 which I picked up in Late March that year, so my transmission must definitely be from the ones with the issue as per TSB serial number date information . HL has now about 25k mileage.
I hear some whining when transmission is cold so not sure if I really need to have that checked by DL at this point or ignore.
I am worried about this being just waste of time and they conclude that the problem is not severe enough to deem a new trany must be installed.

The TSB says "Market USA" so I don't even know what the status is for Canadian vehicles. One of symptoms is a whine noise, but there are some computer diagnostics they can perform to determine if there is a problem.

If the transmission is replaced under the TSB in the USA, it will be with a rebuilt transmission, and Toyota has set up a facility in the USA to rebuild the affected transmissions.

 

To be clear, your HL is NOT affected unless there are problems. Reading a forum, then driving with a paranoid stick up your butt the next day doesn't count.

 

Reading around the forum is seems like if the transmission is going to die it seems to happen early on -less than 10k miles. It seems that if I bought one with ~30k miles I could avoid the bad ones.

has anyone heard of these problems happening in higher mileage vehicles - say more than 25k miles?

 

Toyota has created a secondary warranty on the transmission for 10 years from the date of first vehicle use with unlimited miles for vehicles with the affected transmission serial numbers, so that mitigates the risk of buying a used one quit a bit.

 

I have a 17 which was built in January and so far no issues with 20,000 miles on the odometer. Worrying is a wasted human emotion especially with this issue which is out of my control. If something happens I'll deal with it then but for now, I will continue to enjoy my Highlander.

 

Since Toyota did the right thing, and extended the transmission warranty to 10 years with unlimited miles (for those transmission serial numbers potentially affected), there is not much to worry about IMO.