Toyota Highlander Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 5,780 consumer complaints across the 25 model years of the Toyota Highlander (2001–2025) that have at least 5 complaints. 2021 has the most, with 533. Across all years, the part named most often is transmission and drivetrain (1,050 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
Best and worst Highlander years →
All Highlander model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | 8,498 | 4 | 36 | — | Too new |
| 2024 | 43 | 11,678 | 7 | 64 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 189 | 31,812 | 9 | 130 | 74 · More | Too new |
| 2022 | 266 | 28,750 | 5 | 160 | 77 · More | Rising |
| 2021 | 533 | 27,109 | 4 | 180 | 90 · More | Rising |
| 2020 | 321 | 20,500 | 4 | 186 | 72 · More | Rising |
| 2019 | 505 | 12,600 | 3 | 162 | 79 · More | Rising |
| 2018 | 270 | 16,250 | 4 | 253 | 62 · Typical | Stable |
| 2017 | 271 | 20,000 | 3 | 265 | 52 · Typical | Stable |
| 2016 | 111 | 25,000 | 2 | 269 | 16 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2015 | 192 | 30,650 | 1 | 318 | 22 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2014 | 136 | 36,700 | 4 | 418 | 12 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2013 | 207 | 35,000 | 3 | 369 | 36 · Typical | Falling |
| 2012 | 182 | 51,000 | 2 | 320 | 15 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2011 | 181 | 50,000 | 5 | 315 | 37 · Typical | Falling |
| 2010 | 216 | 54,000 | 10 | 331 | 48 · Typical | Falling |
| 2009 | 134 | 60,000 | 9 | 292 | 34 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2008 | 405 | 77,450 | 11 | 281 | 68 · More | Falling |
| 2007 | 124 | 60,500 | 4 | 171 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 278 | 66,000 | 7 | 179 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 224 | 56,000 | 6 | 154 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2004 | 286 | 53,126 | 5 | 146 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2003 | 258 | 93,500 | 2 | 102 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2002 | 301 | 70,000 | 2 | 101 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 137 | 58,300 | 3 | 96 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Transmission and drivetrain1,050 21%
- Brakes758 15%
- Other or unknown659 13%
- Electrical system635 13%
- Engine540 11%
- Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)527 10%
- Body and structure446 8.8%
- Vehicle speed control445 8.8%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2010: “My issue is not that I got a brake warning light (see attached image). My issue is that Toyota knows that this is an issue and will only fix it if you experience the issue before 12/30/2020 or at less than 150,000 miles. It is irresponsible of Toyota to know this is an issue, especially regarding the vehicle brakes (see screenshots of the letter from Toyota).”
NHTSA complaint #11517440, filed 2023-04, 175,000 miles2019: “2019 Toyota Highlander xle. At 1230 miles eps failure warning light came on. The steering wheel will not turn. Vehicle was towed to Toyota universe in new jersey. Recalibrated the computer. The next day the problem occurred again. I was pulling out of my garage. When I put the vehicle in drive the warning displayed and steering wheel would not turn.”
NHTSA complaint #11321373, filed 2020-04, 1,230 miles2009: “I keep my car very good in my life . Recently my limited Highlander 09 with 42.000 miles start clunking noise when I make a slow turning right , left to parking lot and every where when I make a turn slowly it have a clunking sound. I think that I can pay the part and Toyota have to have recall and help me to fix it . It is defect from Toyota.”
NHTSA complaint #11299120, filed 2020-01, 42,000 milesOther Toyota models
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5,900 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology