Toyota Highlander Check Engine Light: Common Causes, Codes & Fixes

There’s no single “usual cause” for a lit check engine light on a Highlander. The likely suspects change with the model year, and again if the SUV is a Hybrid. We sorted that out from the federal record: NHTSA holds 6,579 owner complaints for the 2001–2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, and 236 of them mention the light. Set the official recalls beside those complaints and the clusters are easy to see.

The basic read first. A steady light is a stored fault you should get scanned soon. A flashing light means an active misfire, which has its own page.

The complaint file, by model year

Three model years, 2017 through 2019, produced more light complaints than the sixteen years before them combined, and they did it from a much smaller pile of complaints overall.

Read these counts with care. Each complaint is an owner’s own account, and NHTSA does not verify them. A count isn’t a failure rate either: more Highlanders sold, or more old ones still on the road, means more complaints. Our check engine light by model study uses a different window (model years 2012–2023, scaled by sales), so its Highlander figures won’t match these. They answer different questions.

2017–2019: the light and the transmission

Many of the 2017–2019 light complaints describe shifting trouble, stalling, hesitation or a failing fuel pump. The transmission thread is the sharpest. Owners name what they call the “UA80 8-speed” automatic (ODI 11753332, 11741442), and three codes keep coming back:

Complaints that name that transmission, one of these codes or the torque converter come to 13: three from 2017, four each from 2018 and 2019, and one each from 2021 and 2022. One 2018 AWD owner smelled something burning before the light came on, then got all three codes (ODI 11741442). Another 2018 owner describes slipping that got worse until the transmission failed, with the check engine light, a “check AWD system” message and traction control off all showing at once (ODI 11716517).

NHTSA lists no transmission recall for the Highlander. Toyota did address the 2017–2018 models, though, through a program rather than a recall. Customer Support Program ZJC, “Coverage for UA80 Transmission” (first published April 18, 2019), covers certain 2017–2018 Highlanders, about 66,500 of them, built from early November 2016 through late December 2017. Toyota’s letter to dealers names the symptoms: “a whine noise from the transmission while driving, harsh shifting, reduced power, and master warning light/check engine light illumination.” Its explanation: “There is a possibility that a washer tab, designed to prevent the loosening of a nut inside the affected transmissions, was not sufficiently bent during assembly. This could lead to the nut loosening and, over time, lead to the symptoms described above.”

If a dealer verifies the condition, “the vehicle will be repaired with a new transmission.” Primary coverage ran until October 31, 2020, regardless of mileage, and is over. Secondary coverage runs “10 years from the date of first use with unlimited miles,” so it’s still open, but the earliest of these Highlanders are reaching the ten-year mark now. The work goes through a Toyota dealer.

The matching technician document is T-SB-0160-18 (revised May 2021). A technical service bulletin (TSB) is a repair instruction for technicians. It isn’t a recall, and it doesn’t make a repair free; the work is paid only under warranty or a Toyota program such as ZJC. This one reads: “Some 2017 – 2018 model year Highlander and Sienna vehicles may exhibit a whine noise while driving, a harsh shift, MIL ON, or reduced power.” MIL is the check engine light. The bulletin lists the codes P07457F, P07757F, P07957F, P28077F, P28167F, P08BA7F, P27137F, P07407E, P27567F, P211904 and P071531, and for transaxles within the specified dates that meet the required symptoms, “a remanufactured transaxle is available.”

Seven of the 13 complaints above are 2017 or 2018 models, the years ZJC covers. The 2019 is not on Toyota’s list. One 2019 owner reports P0740, P0745 and P2713 (ODI 11712764), codes similar to those in the bulletin, but the program and the bulletin both stop at the 2018 model year. So on a 2017–2018 with these symptoms or codes, ask a Toyota dealer to check the VIN against ZJC before you pay for transmission work. On a 2019, have someone look at the transmission itself rather than clearing the code and hoping.

The fuel pump recalls

The fuel pump story does have recalls behind it. Recall 20V-012 covers 2018–2019 Highlanders and recall 20V-682 covers 2017–2019: the low-pressure pump inside the tank may fail, and in the official wording “the engine can stall while driving.” Dealers replace the pump for free.

The recall text never mentions the check engine light, so a lit light doesn’t prove the pump is bad. Owners do report the two together. In ODI 11654698, a 2018 owner says the light came on and the code pointed at the fuel pump.

What P107B and C1391 mean

Across all years, the light complaints also name P107B (4), C1391 (3) and P0174 (2). Toyota’s own bulletins define the first two.

P107B. Toyota’s T-SB-0050-20 (May 2020) says: “Some 2018 - 2019 model year Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a MIL ON condition with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P107B (Fuel Rail Pressure Sensor ‘B’ Circuit Range/Performance).” All four light complaints that name P107B are 2019 Highlanders. One owner reports “sudden stalling while driving and an intermittent Check Engine Light” and names the bulletin (ODI 11738304). Another lists P0087, P107B and P3190 and was told “Toyota has not issued any updates for this problem” (ODI 11425043). The bulletin is written for the Hybrid, so whether it applies to a particular 2019 is a question for a dealer with your VIN. Bring the number, T-SB-0050-20. Being a bulletin, it doesn’t make the repair free on its own.

C1391. This one belongs to the Hybrid’s brakes. Toyota’s brake actuator bulletins for the Highlander Hybrid cover a car whose “brake, ABS, and/or TRAC warning light(s) are ON and/or a Check VSC message is displayed. DTC C1391, C1252, C1253 or C1256 may be stored. This condition may be caused by a small internal brake fluid leak inside the brake actuator.” The bulletin depends on the model year: T-SB-0032-16 for 2006–2007, T-SB-0064-19 for 2008–2010, TSB000924 for 2014–2016 and T-SB-0014-25 for 2017–2019. For certain 2014–2016 Highlander Hybrids, Toyota program 24TE01 also covers the brake booster and booster pump assemblies, where the problem is verified by C1391, C1252, C1253 or C1256. Its primary coverage ran until March 31, 2025, regardless of mileage, and has ended. Secondary coverage runs 10 years or 150,000 miles from the date of first use, so when your Hybrid was first sold decides whether any is left.

None of these brake documents mentions the check engine light, but owners report it lit. Three light complaints name C1391: two 2006 Hybrids, both pointing to the brake actuator (ODI 11405584, 11399721), and a 2013 with an “Abnormal leak in Accumulator” (ODI 11735574).

P0174 is covered in TRAC OFF and the check engine light, and the codes Toyotas throw most are in our code list.

2020 V6: recall 20V-162

This one is a software problem. Recall 20V-162 covers “certain 2020 Highlander vehicles equipped with a 3.5 L, V6 (2GR-FKS) gasoline engine.” The reason, per NHTSA’s record: “Due to an Engine Control Unit (ECU) programming error, fuel may not be correctly supplied to the engine while using the stop and restart feature.” That can stall the engine. The fix is a free ECU reprogram at the dealer. If your 2020 V6 has ever stalled around an auto-stop, check the VIN before paying anyone.

Across 2020–2025 the file gets much quieter: 40 of 1,391 complaints mention the light.

One newer item: Toyota Special Service Campaign 24TC05 (October 2024) covers certain 2023–2024 Highlanders with the T24A-FTS engine, where an engine computer software error can make the exhaust variable valve timing (VVT) locking pin stick temporarily, turn on the check engine light and set P05CE00. The fix is a software update, free as part of the campaign. No complaint in the file names it.

Highlander Hybrid: two recalls that name the light

On the early Hybrid the official record is unusually direct. Recall 11V-342 covers 2006–2007 Highlander Hybrids built February 2005 through August 2006, and recall 13V-396 covers 2006–2010. Transistors in the inverter’s power module can be damaged by heat. When that happens, the recall text says, “various warning lamps, including the malfunction indicator lamp, slip indicator light, brake system warning light, and master warning light, will be illuminated.”

Malfunction indicator lamp is the formal name for the check engine light. So on a 2006–2010 Hybrid, that exact group of lights coming on together matches what these recalls describe. Per the recall record, the vehicle may then drop into a fail-safe, limp-home mode, and the hybrid system may shut down. Dealers replace the power module free. A fair number of the older light complaints talk about the hybrid system, so run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you pay for a diagnosis.

Older Highlanders: the light rarely shows up alone

For 2001–2016, 38 of the 93 light complaints also mention VSC, TRAC or the slip indicator. A dash with three lights on looks expensive. It isn’t always. ODI 10949221 is a 2013 with the check engine light and TRAC OFF on together; the dealer’s fix was a new gas cap. Our TRAC OFF and VSC guide covers what Toyota’s manuals say these lights mean. Until it’s sorted, you’re driving without that assist, so take wet or snowy roads gently.

Recalls that come up on a VIN search but aren’t about this light

The 2014 recall 14V-576 deals with fuel that may leak from a fuel delivery pipe; the pipe is replaced free. Recall 11V-539 covers the crankshaft pulley on 2004–2005 Highlanders and the 2006 Hybrid, and its official text points to noise and the battery discharge light, not the check engine light. If the battery light is the one you’re looking at, that’s the recall to ask about.

Newer Highlander: check the emissions warranty

EPA’s emissions warranty Q&A lists specified major emission control parts, including the catalytic converter, the electronic emissions control unit (ECU) and the onboard emissions diagnostic device, as covered for 8 years or 80,000 miles. Other emission-related parts get 2 years or 24,000 miles. Within those limits, defects in materials or workmanship are fixed free. On a recent Highlander, a code that points at the catalyst or the engine computer may be a warranty claim, not a bill.

Once the cause is fixed, our reset guide covers clearing the light.

How we counted

Complaints come from NHTSA’s public API (complaintsByVehicle), pulled October 16, 2026, for model years 2000–2025. They cover the Highlander and Highlander Hybrid (including the records NHTSA files under “Highlander HV”), not the Grand Highlander. Model and year are read from each complaint’s own vehicle record, so records NHTSA returns for another model or for no model at all are left out. A complaint counts as mentioning the light if the owner’s narrative says “check engine,” “engine light,” “CEL,” “malfunction indicator” or “MIL light.” Recalls come from the same API (recallsByVehicle), and every quoted recall line above is NHTSA’s official recall text. Toyota’s bulletins and program letters are quoted from the copies Toyota filed with NHTSA, in its manufacturer communications file.