2008 Toyota Highlander Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 44about this part
- Share
- 11%of 405 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 85,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 44 complaints about the electrical system of the 2008 Toyota Highlander, 11% of the 405 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 85,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 5 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Highlander hybrid 2008 we were driving on a country back road. In idaho, we had just stopped at a stop sign and went to drive forward after going around 100-200 meters and the car lurched forward while I was driving and then the screen with all the warnings began going off. All of them saying pull over tot the side of the road and that all the systems were failing. All the warnings said things to take the car to dealer. …”
NHTSA complaint #11338931, filed 2020-07, 160,000 miles“The driver's side back door has stopped locking/unlocking with the key fob as well as the electrical lock. The beep doesn't occur when I use the fob to lock the doors because the door isn't locking, but does beep when unlocking the vehicle although the back door still remains locked. I did have the recall on the window lock switch completed, so not sure if that is factoring in with the problem or not..”
NHTSA complaint #10562635, filed 2014-02, 112,000 miles“At Toyota, we are dedicated to providing vehicles of outstanding quality and value. As part of our continual efforts to ensure customer satisfaction, Toyota would like to advise you of a voluntary customer support program that has been initiated for your vehicle. Toyota has received reports regarding certain internal malfunctions of the brake actuator assembly in certain 2008-2010 model year Highlander hybrid vehicles. In these reports, customers have noted various brake system related warning lamps are illuminated. …”
NHTSA complaint #11255430, filed 2019-09, 162,000 miles“2008 Highlander hybrid limited check engine light came on and showed code p0a1b - drive motor 'a' control module, the code was cleared manually and the check engine light went off, the next day the light came back on after driving about 3 miles then parked. The next day the light went off on its own as we took it to the Toyota dealership and has not been back on since driving it there and back, the dealership said they drove around a little and the light never came on, we brought it home and have driven about 7 miles without the light coming on. …”
NHTSA complaint #11355261, filed 2020-09, 151,000 miles“I sent a letter to Toyota motor sales USA after being refused service at a local dealer to resolve a safety issue, with no reply. While pressing brake when starting I got a couple of error messages that said to contact a Toyota dealer. I did some very detailed research into this problem and what others had encountered. I found the errors would only show when the 12 volt battery was getting low on charge. The brake booster pump is one of the suspect items draining the battery because it continues to run long after the vehicle is parked. …”
NHTSA complaint #11282336, filed 2019-11, 260,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10238157May 30, 2023TSB: The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered…
- 10182983Oct 12, 2020TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first…
- 10179763Aug 11, 2020TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE August 11, 2020: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
- 10179759Aug 11, 2020TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE August 11, 2020: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
- 10179719Aug 11, 2020TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE August 11, 2020: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
- 10179715Aug 11, 2020TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE August 11, 2020: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
- 10179698Aug 5, 2020TSB: Some 2003 ? 2020 model year Prius, Prius C, Prius V; 2006 ? 2019 model year Highlander Hybrid Vehicle; 2007 ? 2020 Camry Hybrid Vehicle; 2013 ? 2020 model year Avalon Hybrid…
- 10177773Jun 18, 2020TSB: Some 2004 ? 2020 model year Hybrid vehicles may exhibit an excessive buildup of dust, lint, or debris in the HV battery intake filter or cooling fan. The condition could…
- 10176284May 1, 2020TT: This 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…
- 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…
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 10% |
| 2024 | 6 | 14% |
| 2023 | 12 | 6% |
| 2022 | 23 | 9% |
| 2021 | 28 | 5% |
| 2020 | 18 | 6% |
| 2019 | 56 | 11% |
| 2018 | 24 | 9% |
| 2017 | 46 | 17% |
| 2016 | 14 | 13% |
| 2015 | 52 | 27% |
| 2014 | 35 | 26% |
| 2013 | 26 | 13% |
| 2012 | 29 | 16% |
| 2011 | 23 | 13% |
| 2010 | 53 | 25% |
| 2009 | 20 | 15% |
| 2008 | 44 | 11% |
| 2007 | 23 | 19% |
| 2006 | 26 | 9% |
| 2005 | 25 | 11% |
| 2004 | 18 | 6% |
| 2003 | 15 | 6% |
| 2002 | 13 | 4% |
| 2001 | 5 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2008 Toyota Highlander
81 complaintsAir bags
58 complaintsEngine
58 complaintsVehicle speed control
45 complaintsSteering
40 complaintsTires
25 complaintsEngine cooling
18 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
18 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
16 complaintsElectronic stability control
15 complaintsFuel system
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Toyota Highlander
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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