Common problems: Some of the most common problems with the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander include structural issues, transmission problems, and engine problems. An instrument panel failure issue led to a recall being announced in September 2024.
Although Toyota is known for manufacturing highly reliable vehicles, no vehicle model is perfect and some problems unfortunately slip through the cracks.
When they do, defective vehicles can end up in the hands of consumers. In this article, we discuss the commonly reported problems with the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander so that you can be better informed as a current owner or potential buyer.
Top Three Common 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Problems
- Structural Issues: Vibrating and shaking hood, gas tank doesn’t fill completely, water leaking into car, exploding sunroofs
- Transmission Problems: Rough shifting, car refusing to shift gears, vehicle lurching
- Engine Problems: Loss of engine power, coolant leaking
Having Vehicle Problems?
Submit the form below to see if your vehicle qualifies for a lemon law claim.
2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Structural Issues
Structural issues typically concern things like the vehicle’s frame, windshields and windows, and exterior panels and bumpers.
They can be concerning for consumers if elements of the car feel flimsily attached or detach and create obstacles for other drivers on the road.
For the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander specifically, vehicle owners mentioned their hoods shaking and vibrating at higher speeds, which could distract them while driving.
The gas tank not filling completely, water leaking into the vehicle, and exploding sunroofs were also all mentioned.
Exploding sunroofs have been somewhat of a common issue with certain Toyota vehicles, so an investigation might be in the pipeline in the near future.
2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Transmission Problems
Transmission problems usually manifest as problems with accelerating or gear shifting, where vehicle owners will notice rough shifting or problems getting their vehicle to speed up.
These problems can pose significant risks to drivers on the road who don’t anticipate their vehicle struggling to accelerate, or whose vehicles lurch unexpectedly.
A vehicle owner who experiences transmission problems should take their vehicle in to be inspected as soon as possible to avoid any potentially dangerous incidents.
Keeping an ear out for grinding or clunking noises can also be wise, as there are often “tells” that a vehicle’s transmission is struggling or defective in some way.
2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Engine Problems
Lastly, engine problems are important to address because the engine is one of the most important components in a vehicle.
When engine problems arise, consumers can experience issues ranging from loud engine noises all the way to fire risk problems like overheating.
For the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander, consumers mentioned their engines losing power while driving and experiencing coolant leaks.
The engine power losses could also be connected to the transmission problems already discussed.
Thankfully, there were no reports of dangerous overheating or fire risk incidents for the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander.
As a consumer, if you notice something unusual about your vehicle’s engine, a trip to the mechanic or an authorized dealer is often the smartest choice to make.
Complaints from Grand Highlander Drivers
“The 2024 and 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander has excessive hood shaking and vibration at the rear of the vehicle. It is directly under the projection area of the windshield and directs your attention to the movement. At highway speeds the shaking is excessive. Toyota has not been able to find a repair for this issue.”
“The car only accepts 11-13 gallons of gas when refueling an empty tank despite the advertised 17.2 gallon capacity. I believe this is a fuel gauge or DTE system problem. I’ve seen many many similar complaints on the forums. Fuel gauge issue could leave drivers stranded on the road.”
“Front Windshield cracked out of nowhere with no trauma, , now needs replacement due to crack expanding. I discovered it in the morning when my car was parked and not driving.”
What to Do When Your Car Isn’t Right
While many vehicle problems will be solved by repairs, some issues are persistent and unfortunately stick around even after multiple rounds of repairs.
Luckily for consumers, these vehicles are potentially eligible for lemon law protection! Lemon laws were created to protect consumers who unknowingly purchase or lease defective vehicles.
These laws give buyers the right to seek compensation when a car, truck, or SUV has recurring mechanical or electrical problems that the manufacturer can’t fix after several attempts.
The process typically starts once it becomes clear that a vehicle’s issues, such as transmission jerking, electrical faults, or stalling, aren’t isolated incidents but ongoing defects that compromise safety, performance, or value.
When repairs continue to fail, the vehicle may legally qualify as a “lemon,” allowing the owner to pursue remedies through the state’s lemon law process.
The first step in building a case is documentation. Consumers should keep all repair invoices, service records, and communication with the dealership.
These documents serve as proof that the manufacturer was given multiple opportunities to fix the problem but failed to do so.
Having a clear paper trail of repair attempts, dates, and descriptions of the issues makes it easier for an attorney to evaluate the claim and confirm whether the legal requirements have been met.
Once eligibility is established, a lemon law attorney typically files a claim on the consumer’s behalf. In most states, this claim is made directly to the manufacturer, who then has the opportunity to resolve the matter through a buyback, replacement, or by providing the consumer with cash compensation.
If the manufacturer resists or denies liability, the attorney can escalate the claim to arbitration or court.
Importantly, most state lemon laws require manufacturers to cover the consumer’s legal fees if the claim succeeds, meaning vehicle owners usually don’t pay out of pocket.
Get a Free Consultation with the Lemon Law Experts
Bringing a lemon law claim can feel intimidating, but the right help by your side can make a world of difference.
The Lemon Law Experts fight fiercely for our clients and would love to assist you in taking the first step towards potentially receiving compensation.
Allow our diligent team to fight for your rights: contact us today by calling (877) 885-5366 or by filling out a contact form on our website here!
