When you buy a new vehicle from a manufacturer with a long-standing reputation like Toyota, you expect long-term dependability. However, for many drivers who bought the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander, that expectation has started to fall apart. With over 120 consumer complaints already reported to the NHTSA, the Grand Highlander is raising some very serious questions for buyers, and its reliability concerns have put it on our list as one of the worst cars of 2025.
What the Car Complaints Are Telling You
If your new Grand Highlander has been acting up, you’re not just imagining things. These aren’t just isolated glitches, as hundreds of owners share the same frustrations across multiple systems.
Axle and Steering Concerns
One of the top car complaints for the 2025 Toyota Highlander involves clicking or knocking noises during turns that have been traced to the axle or steering system. Unfortunately, drivers have been told by dealerships that no fix is currently available.
Engine and Acceleration Issues
Complaints also focus on issues where the Grand Highlander hesitates when accelerating from a stop, especially when pulling into traffic. Additionally, owners have described moments where the car barely responds to the gas pedal, creating high-stress situations during turns or lane merges. For a vehicle marketed as a safe family SUV, that kind of delay can make you question your buying decision.
Fuel System Discrepancies
Another major safety concern involves the panoramic moonroof spontaneously exploding while driving. These aren’t minor cracks or chips from debris. In several cases, the glass shattered outward with no external impact and no warning, including while traveling at highway speeds with children in the vehicle. Toyota refuses to take responsibility in many of these cases, even when debris was ruled out as the cause, leaving owners frustrated and concerned about future incidents.
Structural Failures: Exploding Moonroofs
Another major safety concern involves the panoramic moonroof spontaneously exploding while driving. These aren’t minor cracks or chips from debris. In several cases, the glass shattered outward with no external impact and no warning, including while traveling at highway speeds with children in the vehicle. Dealerships have refused to take responsibility in many of these cases, even when debris was ruled out as the cause, leaving owners frustrated and concerned about future incidents.
Recalls Raise Further Questions
The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander has two official recalls. One involves a labeling issue related to weight capacity, and the other involves a potential airbag malfunction. In the airbag recall, Toyota admitted that side curtain airbags may not deploy properly in a crash, reducing protection for passengers. That alone is enough to warrant serious concern when your family depends on those safety systems.
Know Where You Stand With the SC Lemon Law
When your new 2024 Grand Highlander is already showing defects that can’t be resolved through normal service, the SC Lemon Law could give you a path forward. The law covers new vehicles purchased in the last three years with recurring problems that affect safety, value, or overall function. You don’t have to wait for the next breakdown or delay. If the dealer can’t or won’t fix your car after multiple attempts, you may be entitled to a refund or replacement.
Steve Moskos helps drivers across South Carolina understand their options. Contact us, and we’ll help you determine whether your vehicle qualifies under the SC Lemon Law and guide you toward a resolution that puts you back in control.
Steve Moskos helps drivers across South Carolina understand their options. Contact us, and we’ll help you determine whether your vehicle qualifies under the SC Lemon Law and guide you toward a resolution that puts you back in control.
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