2008 Toyota Highlander Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 11about this part
- Share
- 3%of 405 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 65,125miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the body and structure of the 2008 Toyota Highlander, 3% of the 405 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 65,125 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
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.
“A few months after buying the vehicle new, my husband noticed a mildew smell in my vehicle that would come and go. I thought it was just from living in a humid place. When the smell became constant, my husband lifted up the floor mat in the back seat and discovered that the carpet was soaking wet. We then contacted the dealership to take the Highlander in to be looked at and to see what was causing the water leak. …”
NHTSA complaint #10703435, filed 2015-04, 58,381 miles“I was driving north on a divided one way street. A 2006 minivan was traveling south on the other side of the divided street. He made a left hand turn, ran through the yield sign and broadsided me on the driver side. I saw he was not going to stop and turned the wheel to the right, not in time. Took out the left side of the Highlander from the front wheel to the rear panel. His front airbag did deploy. My side airbag did not deploy and I know my head bounced against the side window twice. …”
NHTSA complaint #10598789, filed 2014-06, 55,000 miles“Events leading up to failure: I first noticed that my low tire pressure warning light was on when I started out this morning. I stopped at a gas station to check the tires and noticed a large screw stuck in my front left tire. My tire pressure gauge registered less than 5psi. I filled the tire to at least 25psi and headed back home, figuring I could put the spare on in my garage and take the flat to be repaired. I was glad to get back as the biggest snowstorm of the season was an hour away. …”
NHTSA complaint #10383392, filed 2011-02, 27,957 miles“Driver door lock mechanism has stopped working with the remote, that is a nuisance, not a safety issue but, recently I had difficulty manually unlocking the driver's door and for 1 - 2 minutes was not able to unlock the door to exit the vehicle. I was trying to manually unlock the door (the power lock mechanism quit working) but the door lock was jammed such that I could not get the door unlocked. I tried pushing the electric door lock button to try to unjam the mechanism and eventually that worked and I was able to manually unlock the door and exit the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10548644, filed 2013-10, 89,900 miles“2008 Toyota Highlander involved in a rear/side crash sitting still; hit by other vehicle at 60 MPH; 3 occupants inside vehicle all injured; no airbags deployed in vehicle at time of crash; if airbags only are to deploy on a frontal impact crash what good r they in other crashes to help the occupants of the vehicle?”
NHTSA complaint #10767464, filed 2015-09, 144,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11012744Dec 6, 2024The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic…
- 11012743Dec 6, 2024To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film…
- 11012742Dec 6, 2024Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an…
- 11012735Dec 5, 2024Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental…
- 11012727Dec 3, 2024Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding…
- 11007455Jul 29, 2024Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate…
- 11006161Jul 29, 2024Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate…
- 11007445Jul 12, 2024The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic…
- 11007444Jul 12, 2024To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film…
- 11007443Jul 12, 2024Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an…
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 9% |
| 2023 | 32 | 17% |
| 2022 | 43 | 16% |
| 2021 | 52 | 10% |
| 2020 | 30 | 9% |
| 2019 | 12 | 2% |
| 2018 | 12 | 4% |
| 2017 | 8 | 3% |
| 2016 | 4 | 4% |
| 2015 | 32 | 17% |
| 2014 | 32 | 24% |
| 2013 | 18 | 9% |
| 2012 | 20 | 11% |
| 2011 | 27 | 15% |
| 2010 | 14 | 6% |
| 2009 | 15 | 11% |
| 2008 | 11 | 3% |
| 2007 | 5 | 4% |
| 2006 | 4 | 1% |
| 2005 | 8 | 4% |
| 2004 | 8 | 3% |
| 2003 | 18 | 7% |
| 2002 | 24 | 8% |
| 2001 | 13 | 9% |
Other parts of the 2008 Toyota Highlander
81 complaintsAir bags
58 complaintsEngine
58 complaintsVehicle speed control
45 complaintsElectrical system
44 complaintsSteering
40 complaintsTires
25 complaintsEngine cooling
18 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
18 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
16 complaintsElectronic stability control
15 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Toyota Highlander
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology