# Toyota Highlander coolant temperature warning light: complaints, recalls and what to do **Verdict:** Stop driving - **Owner complaints:** 13 - **Most complaints:** 2018 (4) - **Related recalls:** 0 - **Verdict:** Stop now ## Quick answer NHTSA has 13 owner complaints about the coolant temperature warning light on the Toyota Highlander (2015-2026 models), most for the **2018** model year (4). No recall covers the parts behind this light, so a repair is usually at the owner's cost. Stop driving: No. ## Toyota Highlander coolant temperature warning light complaints by model year | Model year | Complaints mentioning the coolant temperature light | All complaints that year | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2015 | 2 | 197 | 1% | | 2017 | 2 | 275 | 1% | | 2018 | 4 | 279 | 1% | | 2019 | 3 | 514 | 1% | | 2020 | 1 | 332 | 0% | | 2021 | 1 | 550 | 0% | Counts are complaints filed with NHTSA whose description mentions this light. They show where owners have had trouble, not a failure rate: popular years collect more complaints simply because more cars are on the road. ## Is there a recall for the Toyota Highlander coolant temperature warning light? Not for the parts behind this light, as of 2026-11-04. The Toyota Highlander has 26 recalls for other parts in 2015-2026; see the [Toyota Highlander page](/vehicles/toyota-highlander) or check your VIN at [nhtsa.gov/recalls](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). ## What Toyota Highlander owners report - "It looks to be that a rock from the road was the source of the damage, which since moving down here [AZ] I've seen happen quite often....I would strongly advise against driving the vehicle that far (~200 mi) for fear of it overheating and causing more damage. The technician said will end up happening is...the vehicle..." -- owner of a 2021 Toyota Highlander, complaint filed 2022 - "This was a sudden catastrophic engine failure on a five-year-old vehicle with no prior overheating warnings, no dashboard alerts, and no performance issues in the days leading up to the failure. It is highly unlikely for an engine block to warp without sustained overheating, yet the failure occurred on a cold start...." -- owner of a 2020 Toyota Highlander, complaint filed 2025 - "The transmission immediately had shifting issues as it could not decide what forward gear to go into and shifted hard and felt as if it was going into two gears at one time and after a short drive the instrument cluster warning display indicated a check engine light and warning that the transmission was overheating..." -- owner of a 2019 Toyota Highlander, complaint filed 2021 Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly cleaned for reading. They are owners' own accounts and have not been verified. ## What the coolant temperature warning light means A red coolant temperature light means the engine is overheating or about to. The most common cause is low coolant from a leak, followed by a stuck thermostat, a failed radiator fan, and a worn water pump. Pull over and shut the engine off as soon as it is safe, because continued driving can warp the cylinder head and destroy the engine. The most common causes, on any make: 1. **Low coolant from a leak** (most common) 2. **Thermostat stuck closed** (common) 3. **Radiator fan not working** (common) 4. **Failing water pump or broken belt** (less common) Full causes, what to do and how to reset it: [Coolant temperature warning light](/warning-lights/coolant-temperature). ## Frequently asked questions ### Is there a recall for the Toyota Highlander coolant temperature light? Not for the parts behind this light, as of 2026-11-04. A repair is usually at the owner's cost unless the car is under warranty. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, since new recalls are added often. ### Which Toyota Highlander years have the most coolant temperature light complaints? In NHTSA's database the 2015, 2018 and 2019 Highlander model years have the most complaints mentioning the coolant temperature warning light, with 4 for 2018. Complaint counts reflect how many cars were sold as well as how often problems happen. ### Is it safe to drive a Toyota Highlander with the coolant temperature light on? Stop driving. No. Stop driving as soon as it is safe and shut the engine off. Driving an overheating engine even a few miles can cause damage that costs thousands of dollars to repair. ### How do I check if my Toyota Highlander has an open recall? Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask any Toyota dealer. Open recalls are fixed free of charge, even if you are not the first owner. ## Sources - [NHTSA: Vehicle safety complaints and recalls (api.nhtsa.gov)](https://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa-datasets-and-apis) - [NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls) ## Other Toyota Highlander warning lights - [ABS warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/abs/toyota-highlander): 15 complaints - [Airbag (SRS) warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/airbag/toyota-highlander): 24 complaints - [Brake warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/brake/toyota-highlander): 72 complaints - [Check engine light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/check-engine/toyota-highlander): 150 complaints - [Power steering warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/power-steering/toyota-highlander): 35 complaints - [Traction control light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/traction-control/toyota-highlander): 32 complaints ## Coolant temperature warning light on other models - [Ford Escape](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/coolant-temperature/ford-escape): 1520 complaints - [Ford Edge](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/coolant-temperature/ford-edge): 752 complaints - [Ford Explorer](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/coolant-temperature/ford-explorer): 222 complaints - [Honda Accord](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/coolant-temperature/honda-accord): 193 complaints - [Jeep Wrangler](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/coolant-temperature/jeep-wrangler): 143 complaints - [Nissan Rogue](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/coolant-temperature/nissan-rogue): 140 complaints - [Chrysler Pacifica](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/coolant-temperature/chrysler-pacifica): 139 complaints - [Kia Sorento](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/coolant-temperature/kia-sorento): 138 complaints - [Jeep Compass](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/coolant-temperature/jeep-compass): 112 complaints - [Kia Soul](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/coolant-temperature/kia-soul): 110 complaints ## Toyota Highlander - [Toyota Highlander specs and mpg by year](https://diagxcar.com/vehicles/toyota-highlander) --- Source page: https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/coolant-temperature/toyota-highlander Updated: 2026-11-04 General information, not a substitute for a qualified mechanic.