2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 10%of 40 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 92,521miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the engine of the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 10% of the 40 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 92,521 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“Driving about 40mph went to accelerate and the whole car stopped responding to anything. Couldn't drive it at all, was able to limp to side of road, at first couldn't turn vehicle off. Once able to turn off and back on car would drive. …”
NHTSA complaint #10544729, filed 2013-09, 57,780 miles“The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. While driving 30 MPH, the contact heard a clunking noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle lost power and failed to accelerate or restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer immediately noticed that the vehicle seemed to consume abnormal quantities of oil. The vehicle had an oil change a month and a half prior to the failure and the oil meter measured one quart of engine oil left in the vehicle. The dealer was unable to diagnose the failure. …”
NHTSA complaint #10787806, filed 2015-11, 125,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11029893Feb 13, 2026This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries. This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model…
- 11029892Feb 13, 2026OBSOLETE NOTICE February 13, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0009-26.
- 11005119Jun 19, 2024This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
- 11005061Jun 19, 2024This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
- 10164330Jul 1, 2019TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections…
- 10096556Sep 15, 2015Tt: the vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the engine ecm has been interrupted.
- 10096036Jan 15, 2015"tsb: flash reprogramming allows the ecu software to be updated without replacing the ecu. Flash calibration updates for specific vehicle models/ecus are released as field-fix…
- 10060773Feb 24, 2014Summary to be provided on a future date.
Engine: other model years
Other parts of the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
29 complaintsElectrical system
3 complaintsHybrid propulsion system
3 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsTires
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology