2019 Toyota Highlander — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $26,000–$40,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.
Deciding between model years? Compare the 3 Toyota Highlander years we've written up →
Kestrel Take
One of the most reliable three-row SUVs you can buy. The 3.5L V6 with the 8-speed is smooth and proven. Almost no significant known issues. The main concern at this age is whether the oil was actually changed and the brakes maintained.
What we checked
Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11
NHTSA holds 477 owner complaints for the 2019 Toyota Highlander, across 3 recall campaigns.
A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 40% of them are about one thing — the transmission and drivetrain. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.
3 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.
Not written up yet: the transmission and drivetrain (193 complaints), the fuel system (107 complaints). Those groups are in the public record and are not covered by the issues below. Treat them as something to ask about, not as absent.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2019 Toyota Highlander
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
The base 2.7L 4-cylinder consumes oil at higher-than-average rates. The V6 does not have this issue.
Repair cost (estimate): $0-$4,000
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (72).
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗2.7L 4-cylinder with no oil change records
- ✗Accident history on what should be a boring family SUV
Good Signs
- ✓3.5L V6 — one of Toyota's most proven engines
- ✓Regular Toyota dealer service
- ✓Low mileage with a single owner
Found a specific Toyota Highlander?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2019 Toyota Highlander in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.
Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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