The 2019 Highlander is generally solid, but the 3.5L V6 (2GR-FKS) suffers from a critical direct-injection carbon buildup and oil consumption issue that can lead to catastrophic engine failure. The 8-speed automatic transmission has some cooling and mount concerns, and there was a major fuel pump recall affecting many units.
3.5L V6 Excessive Oil Consumption & Engine Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: low oil warning light between changes, blue smoke on cold start, misfire codes P0301-P0306, complete engine seizure in severe cases
Fix: Piston ring design flaw allows oil into combustion chambers. Minor cases: walnut-blast intake valves, replace PCV valve, monitor consumption (4-6 hrs labor). Severe cases require short block replacement or full engine rebuild with updated pistons and rings (25-35 hrs labor). Toyota has extended warranty to 150k miles on some VINs under CSP (Customer Support Program).
Estimated cost: $8,500-14,000
Fuel Pump Failure (NHTSA Recall 20V-546)
Common · high severitySymptoms: engine stalling while driving, no-start condition, rough idle and hesitation, check engine light with fuel trim codes
Fix: Low-pressure fuel pump inside tank fails due to manufacturing defect (impeller density issues). Covered under recall: pump replacement requires dropping fuel tank (3-4 hrs labor). If not done yet, check VIN eligibility immediately—this can strand you.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall) or $900-1,400 if out-of-pocket
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: transmission fluid spots under vehicle, burnt smell from engine bay, delayed shifting or slipping, fluid level dropping between services
Fix: Rubber hoses to external cooler degrade from heat cycling, especially in hot climates. Replace cooler lines and top off ATF WS fluid (2-3 hrs labor). Inspect radiator-integrated cooler for cross-contamination if coolant looks milky.
Estimated cost: $450-750
Front Engine Mount and Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: clunk or thud on acceleration/deceleration, excessive vibration at idle in drive, visible engine movement when shifting P-to-D, creaking sounds over bumps
Fix: Hydraulic mounts deteriorate, especially the right-side engine mount and rear transmission mount. Replace both mounts as a pair for best results (2.5-3.5 hrs labor). OEM mounts last longer than aftermarket.
Estimated cost: $600-950
Direct Injection Carbon Buildup
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: rough idle when cold, hesitation during acceleration, reduced fuel economy, misfire codes after sitting overnight
Fix: D4S system (combined port and direct injection) still accumulates carbon on intake valves over time. Walnut shell blasting intake valves every 60-80k miles (4-5 hrs labor). Not covered by warranty as 'maintenance,' though it's really a design limitation.
Estimated cost: $500-800
Infotainment System Freezing and Backup Camera Glitches
Occasional · low severitySymptoms: screen freezes on startup, backup camera shows black screen or lines, unresponsive touchscreen, system reboots randomly
Fix: Software bugs in Entune 3.0 system. Dealer TSB update (TSB-0198-19) addresses most issues (0.5 hr labor). Camera failures sometimes require replacement camera module (1.5 hrs labor). Many fixed under warranty or goodwill if caught early.
Estimated cost: $150 (update) or $800-1,200 (camera)
Solid family hauler if you avoid high-mileage V6 examples with unknown oil-consumption history—buy with service records or budget for a potential engine. Hybrid is the safer long-term bet.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.