2008 Toyota Highlander Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 18about this part
- Share
- 4%of 405 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 12,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 18 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2008 Toyota Highlander, 4% of the 405 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 12,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“2008 low mileage Toyota Highlander sticking accelerator pedal. My accelerator got stuck at full throttle. I'm sure it was not the mats; I did not have any. The mileage was very low at the time, unlike what the recall is addressing. It has not happened since.”
NHTSA complaint #10303774, filed 2010-02, 2,000 miles“This is an intermittent problem with acceleration we have had with our Toyota Highlander since we purchased the vehicle. When accelerating, the vehicle will periodically over-rev before the automatic transmission shifts into the appropriate gear. This results in a momentary lack of acceleration. Again this is an intermittent problem. When taken to the Toyota dealer, they say they cannot recreate the problem and that there is nothing that they can see that is wrong with the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10308314, filed 2010-02, 100 miles“While driving my care on the highway the low engine pressure light came on. I immediately exit the highway and went to the gas station. All the oil in my car leaked out. We put 4 quarts of oil in my car and when you turn on the car all the oil leaked out. I call for a flat bed tow truck and drop my car off to the dealer. Toyota has a recall 2gr-fev6 lsc 90k, which has this issue. The Toyota dealer is saying my vehicle VIN # is not effected by this. How could this been when the same exact thing happen to my car and they are replacing the parts that are part of this recall. …”
NHTSA complaint #10606639, filed 2014-06, 77,000 miles“I am leasing two Toyota vehicles ... A 2008 Toyota Highlander and a 2009 Toyota camry. During december 2009 I experienced problems with the 2008 Toyota Highlander transmission and sudden acceleration while braking. Details include a transmission noise rattle while driving on a california freeway at about 60 MPH. This transmission noise continued for 3-4 minutes, sounding louder as if a part was loose inside of the transmission. I shifted the transmission on the 2008 Highlander between gears and the noise eventually stopped. …”
NHTSA complaint #10306609, filed 2010-02, 20,000 miles“Sudden acceleration of new Highlander 2008 model. I had reported for the first time I feb 19, 2009 when I took the car for service that there is something wrong with acceleration, as it runs at a higher speed. They checked & I was told there is nothing wrong by the dealer.my wife who never had any accidents got involved in an accident on dec. 21,2009 when as she was parking the car accelerated suddenly & hit the building in front. The impact was so great the people that were working in that building came out to see what happened. …”
NHTSA complaint #10317304, filed 2010-03, 3,792 milesRelated service bulletins
- 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…
- 10134454Aug 24, 2015TechTip: Condition - 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…
- 10134169Mar 18, 2015TechTip: Condition: Engine No Start and/or Poor Engine Power DTCs set immediately after performing service on the Inverter such as SSC D0M for IPM replacement or Inverter…
- 10109408Oct 16, 2014TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to assist in the identification and location of serial numbers on 2006 -2014 model year remanufactured automatic transmissions.
- 10109404Oct 16, 2014TSB: The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic transmission/transaxle…
- 10109403Oct 16, 2014TSB: World Standard (WS) Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) was introduced to reduce maintenance costs and increase the mileage between scheduled maintenance checks. Here are…
- 10109493Sep 30, 2014TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to assist in the identification and location of serial numbers on 2006 - 2014 model year automatic transmissions.
- 10109492Sep 30, 2014TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues and/or…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 7% |
| 2023 | 20 | 11% |
| 2022 | 55 | 21% |
| 2021 | 229 | 43% |
| 2020 | 126 | 39% |
| 2019 | 214 | 42% |
| 2018 | 72 | 26% |
| 2017 | 77 | 28% |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% |
| 2015 | 7 | 4% |
| 2014 | 9 | 7% |
| 2013 | 11 | 5% |
| 2012 | 7 | 4% |
| 2011 | 16 | 9% |
| 2010 | 6 | 3% |
| 2009 | 7 | 5% |
| 2008 | 18 | 4% |
| 2007 | 8 | 6% |
| 2006 | 22 | 8% |
| 2005 | 51 | 23% |
| 2004 | 58 | 20% |
| 2003 | 13 | 5% |
| 2002 | 14 | 5% |
| 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 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 31, 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