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Toyota HighlanderModel year report

2001 Toyota Highlander Problems

Complaints
137filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
58,300miles, 80 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl FWD · 19 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2001 Toyota Highlander (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2001 Toyota Highlander most often describe oil consumption and engine sludge, unintended or sudden acceleration, brake pedal and vibration complaints, sun visors that drop into the driver's line of sight, and airbag warning lights in cold weather. Many of these reports arrive well past 100,000 miles, though the oil-related engine complaints often appear under 50,000 miles.

  1. Engine cooling

    Oil consumption and engine sludge

    • 13 complaints (9%)
    • median 42,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (13 state mileage)
    • owner-quoted repair $3,500 (median of 5 quotes)
    • filed 2003–2015

    Complaints describe the engine using oil quickly, in some cases a quart every 1,000 miles, and check engine lights coming on with no other warning. Owners report dealers finding sludge in the engine, cleaning it, or recommending engine replacement, and in several cases attributing the problem to maintenance intervals rather than a part failure. Some owners show receipts for oil changes done at the manual's stated interval and say the dealer still pointed to maintenance. Reported across a wide mileage range, with many complaints between about 18,000 and 85,000 miles and a few near 140,000 miles.

    What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt smell, and ask for oil change records and whether the engine has ever been cleaned or replaced. Have a mechanic inspect for leaks and sludge before purchase.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Toyota had a problem with there 4 cylinder engines in camry and Highlander with engine mountain threads pulling away for a three or four year period. My car started leaking oil about 90,000 miles when I took in to a dealer he told me about the problem and Toyota did not issue a recall. I was told only fix is a new engine. They also had a problem with the catalytic converter also again no recall.”

    NHTSA complaint #10678863, filed 2015-01, 90,000 miles

    “Purchased the vehicle used at about 42,000 miles. It burned oil (1 quart per 1,000 miles) from the first day I had it. The Toyota dealership has been monitoring the oil every 1,000 miles for about 6 months and agreed it has a problem but it will cost me $2,600 for them to tear down the engine to see if they can find out what's wrong. They report there is sludge in the engine and I should have changed the oil more often. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10133084, filed 2005-08, 42,000 miles
  2. Vehicle speed control

    Sudden acceleration or engine racing

    • 17 complaints (12%)
    • median 54,300 mi at 7.7 yrs old (14 state mileage)
    • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2001–2015

    Complaints describe the vehicle accelerating on its own at low speeds, such as pulling into a parking space, backing out of a garage, or leaving a stop, sometimes with the engine continuing to race after the brake is applied. Several owners say the accelerator pedal felt stuck and had to be pulled up by hand, and some report hitting a curb, pole, or another vehicle before stopping. Dealers reportedly could not duplicate the problem in some cases and in others installed a floor mat hook or a revised accelerator pedal. Scattered from very low mileage (about 4,000 miles) up to roughly 170,000 miles, with many reports between 20,000 and 60,000 miles.

    What to check: Ask whether the floor mat retainer and accelerator pedal updates were performed, and confirm the carpet and mats are the correct type and properly secured. Test that the pedal returns freely and the throttle does not hang at idle.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was starting to slowly drive off the ferry boat as the ferryman was opening the gate. My Toyota Highlander 2001 sped up out of control. If the man had not jumped aside, he would have been run over. I had no control. My foot was not on the gas. Reported to local Toyota dealer. Mat problem . I replaced the mat with a heavy rubber mat.”

    NHTSA complaint #10308450, filed 2010-02, 52,000 miles

    “I was backing out of the garage when the car accelerated. I kept hitting the brake and it finally stopped. I put the car back into drive and it accelerated again. I tried hitting the brake and it wouldn't stop until it hit the garage door. I don't know how fast it was going, but it seemed like it was going at an excessive speed.”

    NHTSA complaint #10452362, filed 2012-03, 56,600 miles
  3. Brakes

    Brake pedal going to the floor and vibration

    • 11 complaints (8%)
    • median 53,000 mi at 8.8 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2001–2017

    Owners describe the brake pedal sinking toward the floor, requiring forceful pressure to stop, and vibration or shaking through the pedal and steering wheel when braking from highway speed. Some complaints mention fluid loss and air entering the system, and mechanics reportedly identified the master cylinder; a couple of owners say the dealer called the behavior normal for the vehicle. Others describe pulsation and noise at low speed, with pads and rotors replaced without resolving it. Reported from very low mileage (a few hundred miles) up to about 125,000 miles, commonly around 25,000 to 55,000 miles.

    Recall 01V2280004 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether recall 01V228000 (brake master cylinder reservoir cap) was completed and verify it on the vehicle's history. Check brake fluid level and pedal feel, and have the brakes inspected for fluid leaks and rotor condition.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “On 11/17/2015 I hit a parking island in an unlit parking lot. When I tried to stop, my brakes failed. This caused me to lose control of the vehicle and it hit 2 parked cars and a tree. I have lost wages and live in pain every day due to injuries from this accident.”

    NHTSA complaint #10990497, filed 2017-05, 105,000 miles

    “I am experiencing problems with my 2001 Toyota Highlander. Whenever I press on the brake it pulsates,vibrates and it makes a distracting loud ratcheting sound. When the speedometer drops to less than 10mph- it happens. This happens so frequently, that I really hate driving anywhere. I took it to several different mechanics. After being told the problem that I am having is due to warped rotors and warn brake pads- I paid to have new brake pads and rotors installed. That didn't work. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10397246, filed 2011-04, 101,531 miles
  4. Air bags

    Airbag light on in cold weather

    • 14 complaints (10%)
    • median 88,000 mi at 10.2 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
    • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2002–2015

    Owners report the airbag warning light coming on after a cold start when temperatures are below freezing, staying lit until the vehicle warms up and is restarted. Complaints also describe airbags not deploying in a collision and seat belts not holding an occupant, though these appear in fewer reports and circumstances vary. Some owners say they were told the system is not active while the light is on but that no repair was offered. Reported from about 10,000 to 148,000 miles, with the warning-light pattern tied to below-freezing temperatures.

    What to check: Start the vehicle from cold and confirm the airbag light goes out after the self-check; ask whether the light has ever stayed on. Have the seat belts inspected for retraction and fraying.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The driver's seat belt is fraying because it rubs against the slot in the latch. Many, many people have complained about this on the internet. I've never had this happen in any other vehicle I've owned over the 50 years I've driven. I have a 1992 camry with almost 200,000 miles on it, and there is no wear at all on the seat belt. We need a recall!”

    NHTSA complaint #10460073, filed 2012-05, 80,000 miles

    “I was in a car accident in august 2010 in my Toyota Highlander. The airbags did not deploy on impact even though I was going 45-50 MPH. My seat belt did not restrain me from hitting my steering wheel was a hard impact to my chest. I sent pics to Toyota and spoke to them several times about my complaint of the failing airbags and seatbelt. They said that the car did what it was designed to do on impact and therefore I had no complaint. My car was totaled in the collision.”

    NHTSA complaint #10365080, filed 2010-11, 10,000 miles
  5. Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

    Sun visor drops into view

    • 12 complaints (9%)
    • median 89,000 mi at 9.7 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • owner-quoted repair $725 (median of 6 quotes)
    • filed 2006–2016

    Complaints describe the driver or passenger sun visor losing its hold and dropping down on its own, sometimes over a bump, blocking part of the view. Owners say dealers quoted several hundred dollars to replace the visor and note that replacement parts may eventually loosen the same way. Some owners resorted to propping the visor up or removing it. Mostly reported between about 20,000 and 170,000 miles, often after several years of use.

    What to check: Fold both visors down and let them go to see whether they hold position, and check the hinge for looseness. Replacement cost is worth confirming before purchase.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The driver's side sun visor suddenly dropped down into my field of view when I hit a bump on a three lane 40 MPH paved road at rush hour. I nearly rear-ended the vehicle in front of me during the short time (maybe two seconds) required to react and raise the visor. An online search revealed that a replacement visor costs a shocking $791.00, and that many dozens of others were reporting this problem in 2001 - 2009 Toyota highlanders. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10459600, filed 2012-05, 130,221 miles

    “Noted recent complaint re:sun visors on 2001 Highlander- I have the same problem however just passenger side visor involved so far. Part cost is $214.00 ! I think it is a ridiculous item to fail.”

    NHTSA complaint #10343239, filed 2010-07, 89,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on oil consumption, brake pedal feel and fluid level, and the airbag warning light covers most of what owners describe. Ask for maintenance records and confirm whether the brake master cylinder recall was completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 137 consumer complaints for the 2001 Toyota Highlander. 80 of the complaints include a mileage, and 40% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 58,300 miles. Of all complaints, 19 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 11 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 96 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). 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: Other or unknown (5), Equipment (4), Seat belts (4), Engine (2), Exterior lighting (2), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Steering (1), Suspension (1).

Example complaints

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “I have a 2001 Highlander. The left visor keeps falling down from the weight of the visor. I was traveling on the highway at 65 MPH when the visor fell in front of my eyes,causing me to swerve . This is a safety issue. There should be a recall on the visor.”

NHTSA complaint #10549588, filed 2013-10, 85,000 miles

Brakes: “The car accident in which I was involved in had suspicious activities that followed, for example, finance company repossessed my vehicle although my payments were current. Recently, while researching vehicle recalls, I found that my 2001 Toyota Highlander had a hydraulic brake recall. The accident caused injuries as well as totaling out two vehicles. I was driving on fwy when I had to stop suddenly due to construction traffic. My Highlander's brakes went to the floor which made it impossible to stop.”

NHTSA complaint #10266486, filed 2009-04, 53,000 miles

Engine cooling: “Car began surging on three occasions. Car was parked, in park at the curb, and engine was surging from idle to aprox 2500 RPM. I plugged an obd into the car to look for error codes and there were none. I cycled the obd again and the surging stopped. ??”

NHTSA complaint #10314488, filed 2010-02, 52,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “I own a 2001 Toyota Highlander and have had the same exact problem happen to me several times in the past seven years. The first time I experienced a serious problem was about four years ago and my son and I could have been killed had it not been for some fast thinking on my part. I was trying to stop at a red light and my car accelerated for no reason. At first, I thought my brakes had failed since when I stomped on the brake, my car would not stop, even though I had both feet pressing down on it. …”

NHTSA complaint #10310559, filed 2010-02, 90,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

40% of the 80 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 28,000 and 101,531 miles.

9%0–1011%10–2520%25–5014%50–7520%75–10019%100–1508%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (80 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 58,300 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’0123’04’07’10’13’16’20
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.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2001 Toyota Highlander 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 2WD2.4L 4-cyl4-speed automatic192522$3,050
Highlander 2WD3.0L 6-cyl4-speed automatic172118$3,700
Highlander 4WD2.4L 4-cyl4-speed automatic172219$3,550
Highlander 4WD3.0L 6-cyl4-speed automatic162118$3,700

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 2001 Toyota Highlander → · 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. 96 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 96 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Highlander

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2025108,4984525—Too new
20244311,6787525Too new to compareToo new
202318931,812952574 · MoreToo new
202226628,750552477 · MoreRising
202153327,109452490 · MoreRising
202032120,500452472 · MoreRising
201950512,600352379 · MoreRising
201827016,250452362 · TypicalStable
201727120,000352352 · TypicalStable
201611125,000252216 · FewerFalling
201519230,650152222 · FewerFalling
201413636,700452212 · FewerFalling
201320735,000342236 · TypicalFalling
201218251,000242215 · FewerFalling
201118150,000542237 · TypicalFalling
201021654,00010—2248 · TypicalFalling
200913460,0009—2234 · FewerFalling
200840577,45011—2068 · MoreFalling
200712460,5004—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200627866,0007—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200522456,0006—22Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200428653,1265—22Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200325893,5002—22Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200230170,0002—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200113758,3003—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling

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

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2001 Toyota Highlander?

Owners of the 2001 Toyota Highlander most often describe oil consumption and engine sludge, unintended or sudden acceleration, brake pedal and vibration complaints, sun visors that drop into the driver's line of sight, and airbag warning lights in cold weather. The issues reported most often: Oil consumption and engine sludge; Sudden acceleration or engine racing; Brake pedal going to the floor and vibration.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2001 Toyota Highlander have?

NHTSA recorded 137 consumer complaints for the 2001 Toyota Highlander as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2001 Toyota Highlander is reported most often?

Visibility is named most often, in 26 complaints (19% of the total), followed by brakes with 19.

Has the 2001 Toyota Highlander been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2001 Toyota Highlander get?

The EPA rates the 2001 Toyota Highlander (Highlander 2WD, 2.4L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,050 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2001 Toyota Highlander reported?

Among the 80 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 58,300 miles and the middle half falls between 28,000 and 101,531 miles; 40% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. 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.