Is the 2022 Toyota Highlander a bad year?
264 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 53, 5.3× a quiet Highlander year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
The transmission draws 5.3× the complaints of a quiet Highlander year.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2022 Highlander owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 30,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 43 (16%) | 14k–49k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 53 (20%) | too few with a mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 40 (15%) | too few with a mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Air bags | 31 (12%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 23 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 22 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 17 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 14 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 12 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 11 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 11 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 9 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 30,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 264 complaints: 19 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 7 report an injury · 15 say the car was towed.
109 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2022 Toyota Highlander: 5
The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment. A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The 20-inch accessory tires with an insufficient load rating for the vehicle's Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) were installed. Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
The installed tires have an insufficient load rating. Tires with an insufficient load rating may be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching. A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The load carrying capacity modification labels may not be permanent and can fade, becoming illegible. An illegible label may allow the vehicle to be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 83
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2022 Toyota Highlander. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 - 2025 model year Toyota vehicles
Some 2018-2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with an A25A-FKS, A25A-FXS, M20A-FKS, or M20A-FXS engine may exhibit one or more of the following…
Some 2021 - 2023 Highlander HV, RAV4 HV and Sienna HV vehicles equipped with Rear Motor Generator, MGR (Q610), may duplicate an abnormal noise (Drone, Growl…
Some vehicles may exhibit a leak from the engine water pump, and/or MIL On condition accompanied by DTC(s): P26CA14 Engine Coolant Pump Circuit Short to Ground…
Neighbouring years
2021 Highlander: 537 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2023 Highlander: 190 complaints, keep it.
Every Toyota Highlander year
2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Highlander years side by side
Other Toyota models: Toyota 4Runner · Toyota Avalon · Toyota C-HR · Toyota Camry · Toyota Camry Hybrid · Toyota Camry Solara · Toyota Celica · Toyota Corolla · Toyota Corolla Cross · Toyota Corolla Matrix · Toyota Echo · Toyota FJ Cruiser · Toyota Grand Highlander · Toyota Highlander Hybrid · Toyota Matrix · Toyota Prius · Toyota Prius c · Toyota Prius v · Toyota RAV4 · Toyota RAV4 Hybrid · Toyota RAV4 Prime · Toyota Sequoia · Toyota Sienna · Toyota Sienna Hybrid · Toyota Tacoma · Toyota Tundra · Toyota Venza · Toyota Venza Hybrid · Toyota Yaris. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2022 Toyota Highlander a bad year?
264 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 53, 5.3× a quiet Highlander year. At 30,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. The transmission draws 5.3× the complaints of a quiet Highlander year.
What are the most common problems with the 2022 Toyota Highlander?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: body structure (43), transmission and drivetrain (53), brakes (40), air bags (31), electrical system (23).
How many recalls does the 2022 Toyota Highlander have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Seats (NHTSA 26V-128), Tires (NHTSA 24V-452), Tires (NHTSA 24V-419), Body structure (NHTSA 23V-720) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.