Good luck, I have been trying for months to get an attorney to bite for a CALS. No dice. Until Toyota accepts there is a wide spread issue, we pay. So continue to log complaints to NHTSA. Not sure what your year is, but there is a TSB for 2021 MY transmission issues.

 

I'll be logging a complain on NHTSA. I'm taking mine to a reputable transmission shop to get it rebuild. Let's see how that turns out. BTW, feel free to include my car in your failure point list. Mine was almost exactly at 70,000 miles.

 

The transmission serial number on my 2021 V6 Highlander does not fall in the range of serial numbers listed on the TSB linked in the post above. Are there many people who have had their transmissions fail that are not in the serial number range? I only have 22K miles on my car and have not had any issues with the transmission (or anything else yet).

 

The average failure point on the 2021, based on data here, seems to be closer to 60k miles.

 

Today I got a call from the dealer with the great news that Toyota is going to cover my transmission repair.

 

Sweet! Are you outside the powertrain warranty with no extended warranty?

 

Ok, thank you so much for the additional information. We just got back from picking it up, and they quoted us ~$11K.

And, yeah, three months for us if we want to get them to fix it. There are now over 1,900 on back order according to the service advisor. That nearly 200 more in a matter of a couple weeks.

We are putting in a call to corporate tomorrow. And we’re already looking around. After being loyal Toyota customers for the past 15 or so years, we are very soured by this experience. I’ll report back with whatever happens for us.

Thanks again,
Bob

 

Ok, thank you so much for the additional information. We just got back from picking it up, and they quoted us ~$11K.

And, yeah, three months for us if we want to get them to fix it. There are now over 1,900 on back order according to the service advisor. That nearly 200 more in a matter of a couple weeks.

We are putting in a call to corporate tomorrow. And we’re already looking around. After being loyal Toyota customers for the past 15 or so years, we are very soured by this experience. I’ll report back with whatever happens for us.

Thanks again,
Bob

I believe you can get the transmission rebuild for half of that, and then just sell the car.

Transmission rebuilds can work pretty well. I had a Ford Explorer with a transmission rebuild done at 40k miles (back then 30k miles was the warranty). I got rid of that Ford Explorer when it was 23 years old.

 

So this story ended for us yesterday. Traded the Highlander for comparable new vehicle (different manufacturer). This decision was based on many factors, but mainly because we were not offered any assistance by the dealer, not even to help us communicate our issue to corporate. And, we were told that the new transmission would only come with a 1 year warranty. The final straw was when we asked about ordering the new transmission, we were going to have to put down $7K to $8K of the total cost upfront and then wait 3-4 months for it to arrive. If, in that time, we changed our minds, we would be charged a 20% “Restocking” fee to restock a part that was not even in stock. Absolutely absurd.

Never again will we own a Toyota. A family who has owned a 2014 Tacoma TRD Sport (10 years), a 2012 Sienna XLE (9 years) and the 2021 Highlander XLE.

Good luck to anyone else who experiences this issue. I hope your results are better than ours. We’re happy with our new vehicle, but disappointed that we had to deal with any of this.

Bob

 

So this story ended for us yesterday. Traded the Highlander for comparable new vehicle (different manufacturer). This decision was based on many factors, but mainly because we were not offered any assistance by the dealer, not even to help us communicate our issue to corporate. And, we were told that the new transmission would only come with a 1 year warranty. The final straw was when we asked about ordering the new transmission, we were going to have to put down $7K to $8K of the total cost upfront and then wait 3-4 months for it to arrive. If, in that time, we changed our minds, we would be charged a 20% “Restocking” fee to restock a part that was not even in stock. Absolutely absurd.

Never again will we own a Toyota. A family who has owned a 2014 Tacoma TRD Sport (10 years), a 2012 Sienna XLE (9 years) and the 2021 Highlander XLE.

Good luck to anyone else who experiences this issue. I hope your results are better than ours. We’re happy with our new vehicle, but disappointed that we had to deal with any of this.

Bob

That's really unfortunate- I'm sorry that you didn't have a better experience with your dealership or Toyota itself. Sometimes it's easier to just cut your losses and move on. I felt the same way when I was having issues with my 2021 Accord- I loved the car- but between the quality issues that it had and the fact that my local Honda dealers refused to fix them- it was just easier to trade the car in and buy something from a different manufacturer.

Good luck in the future- what did you end up getting to replace your Highlander?

 

Yep and it is hit or miss support thru the dealers and Toyota Corporate. My son just had his transmission replaced in his 2019 Highlander Limited at 6K. Forunately he had a bumper to bumper warranty that he paid for when he bought the vehicle 2 months ago. Toyota covered the whole cost. It took 1 month for the part to come in and the vehicle to be repaired. Needless to say he will be selling it on as this is the second Highlander he has owned that has had transmission issues. He replaced it with a Subaru.

We have a 2022 Platinum AWD Highlander with 23K on it. I specifically performed all the transmission.transfer case and rear diff maintenance proactively. No issues yet but I'm not holding my breath... We may consider selling it soon and replace it with something less prone to tranny issues.

 

"We have a 2022 Platinum AWD Highlander with 23K on it. I specifically performed all the transmission.transfer case and rear diff maintenance proactively. No issues yet but I'm not holding my breath... We may consider selling it soon and replace it with something less prone to tranny issues."

What exactly were the transmission, transfer case and rear differential maintenances that you performed?

 

I have a 2021
I just started hearing the whine, my car has 58,000 miles on it. Calling Toyota tomorrow.
UPDATE

Took it in yesterday, got a call from the Dealership, Toyota is replacing the transmission. I have a loaner 4Runner. Told me they might have an ETA for me Friday.

 

What model years does this transmission issue affect? Does it include 2023 - 2025 models? Reason being that I am starting to consider the Highlander to replace my Venza. Thx

 

Isn’t Aisin part of Toyota?

I have read over the years that Toyota uses a “Kanban” process that allows them to correct defective parts on the assembly lines quickly

They're under the Toyota umbrella, but they've been making these transmissions that were whining and failing as far back as 2017 (many failing within a year) so if there was ever an attempt at "correcting it quickly", it didn't work. It wasn't until the 2023 model that they moved on to the UA81F.

 

Are these gas or hybrid models having this problem? I am looking at a 2025 gas model and don't want to have problems with it since we keep our cars over 10 years.

 

2017-2022 gas.

 

I had the rear differential and transfer case service done on my 2023 at 30k miles. I’m hoping the UA81 transmission in the 23+ models has all the drama fixed from the old V6 UA80 mess but I did the 10 year $0 deductible warranty just in case.

 

Thanks for the info!

 

I just checked. Mine is a UA80F but my serial number is A3A21C08454. It doesn't fall in the serial number range on the bulletin but we still hear the whining noise on occasion. I'm bringing it into the dealer next week. I'm still under warranty.
I had a 2017 that had to have a new head installed on the engine. Still under warranty. Traded it in and bought this 2021 Limited.

Had a 2009 Highlander that was problem free until I got rear ended and totaled the car.

Might be done with Toyotas.

 

It doesn't fall in the serial number range on the bulletin but we still hear the whining noise on occasion.

The vast majority of failed transmissions fell outside any serial numbers Toyota listed meaning they won’t pay if the powertrain warranty has expired.

 

My 2021 Limited did not fall into the serial number ranger either. Started the whine at 58K miles. Toyota is replacing the transmission. I have been waiting a little over a month now.

 

The dealer finally gave me an ETA for the transmission: the last week of June.
The transmission order was done mid March.

 

My 2021 HL has a WV built in 2020 tranny is that more or less likely to grenade?

 

Transmission replaced in 2021 Highlander do o this issue. Just talked to with Toyota and they won't help at all! Anyone have luck reporting it or escalating further?

 

Only a couple that I have heard of had Toyota cover it out of goodwill. 99% of the time there's no help from Toyota out of warranty. I suggest calling Toyota and get a case going, if no go, file a complaint with the NTHSA.

 

I'm a little bit nervous because I have my second visit. So for them to check out my transmission issues. If they give me some sort of b*** line that they won't, I'll take care of my loner. Then the poop will hit the fan. Wish me luck for my family.u

 

Just be prepared for a full replacement. I love my highlander and it's paid off, so it made sense to replace... but a trade in isn't a bad idea either.

 

Thats great.
I had to wait over 4 months for my transmission, maybe they came off back order.