Skip to content
Toyota Highlander HybridModel year report

2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Problems

Complaints
40filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
63,100miles, 34 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
26 mpgcombined, 3.3L 6-cyl · hybrid 4WD/AWD · 27 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 40 consumer complaints for the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The part named most often is brakes, with 29 complaints (73% of the total), followed by engine (4) and electrical system (3). 34 of the complaints include a mileage, and 44% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 63,100 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 117 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 8 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 8 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Engine cooling (1), Equipment (1), Seat belts (1), Body and structure (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “Brakes failed shortly after the ABS warning light went off. Dealer diagnosed this as a break actuator assembly failure. It looks like Toyota had a warranty enhancement program for vehicle years 2006-2007. However, my 2009 appears to be having exactly the same issue, yet it's not covered by the program. Given the severity of the part failure, it's not clear why this is not a recall... We were lucky that no accident resulted from this failure.”

NHTSA complaint #11184733, filed 2019-03, 215,000 miles

Engine: “Depressed accelerator after being stopped at traffic light. Car jerked forward, stopped and would not restart. Warning messages for the hybrid system (message was 'stop immediately and notify dealer'), brake system and 4 wheel drive. Car was towed to dealer who determined it was failure of hybrid inverter requiring complete replacement. I'm concerned because this sound similar to issues reported for 2006 and 2007 highlander models.”

NHTSA complaint #10480201, filed 2012-10, 60,200 miles

Electrical system: “Abs light on with warning, brakes performing poorly. The ABS actuator assembly and break pump failed requiring replacement with a cost of over $3764 in repairs. The Toyota camry hybrid had millions of recalls for the ABS actuator but the Highlander Hybrid was currently not on recall. I own a 2000 Toyota 4 runner with over 200,000 miles and never had an ABS issue. This car is only 6 years old and shouldn't require this problem so early.”

NHTSA complaint #10839207, filed 2016-03, 147,000 miles

Hybrid propulsion system: “We took the vehicle to the dealer in for a 5,000 mile service maintenance. After our service advisor looked over the vehicle he said we needed new set of tires as the current ones were at the wear indicators. Our service advisor also said our vehicle was in the open campaign (NHTSA campaign number: 13v396000) to replace the intelligent power module (ipm) in the vehicle hybrid system. The service advisor said it would take about four hours and there would be no charge. Since the replacement of the ipm the vehicle has experienced a significant drop in mpg. …”

NHTSA complaint #10557530, filed 2013-12, 40,138 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

44% of the 34 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 10,000 and 125,000 miles.

24%0–1015%10–256%25–5012%50–759%75–10021%100–15015%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (34 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 63,100 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

20101620112012201320152016201720182019
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Highlander Hybrid · sedan FWD/AWDnot rated5 / 4——4 · 17.4% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Highlander Hybrid 4WD3.3L 6-cyl · hybridCVT272526$2,600

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 117 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 117 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2023913,0006535—Too new
2022632,5004535—Not enough data
20211527,3004535—Rising
2020928,5004535—Not enough data
201966,8000529—Not enough data
201858500529—Not enough data
2016647,0120528—Not enough data
2013547,6000—28—Not enough data
2012986,0000—28—Not enough data
2011572,0001—28—Not enough data
20102243,5004—26—Stable
20094063,1004—26Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Stable
2008197110,0006—26Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Rising
2007110105,0002—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200637093,5506—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Toyota Highlander Hybrid model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid have?

NHTSA recorded 40 consumer complaints for the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 29 complaints (73% of the total), followed by engine with 4.

Has the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid (Highlander Hybrid 4WD, 3.3L 6-cyl · hybrid) at 26 mpg combined, 27 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,600 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid reported?

Among the 34 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 63,100 miles and the middle half falls between 10,000 and 125,000 miles; 44% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.