2010 Toyota Highlander Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a false "door ajar" warning that chimes and flashes the dome lights while driving, and a driver-side sun visor that will not stay up. Other recurring themes are braking concerns, reported both as a soft or delayed pedal and as an ABS/brake warning with code C1391, and unexpected engine acceleration or revving reported at very low mileage.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   False door-ajar warning and chime while driving

   • 41 complaints (19%)
   • median 68,751 mi at 7.5 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2020

   Complaints describe the door ajar message, interior lights and warning chime activating while all doors are shut, often when turning, braking, accelerating or going over bumps. Several owners trace it to the rear hatch or a rear door sensor/actuator. Some report the vehicle can no longer be locked with the remote while the warning is active, and dealers are variously described as adjusting the striker, replacing a sensor, or being unable to find the cause. A few owners note it is worse in hot weather. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 95,000 miles, and several owners mention it appears or worsens in warm weather.

   What to check: With the engine running, drive over a few bumps and turn at low speed while watching the dash for a door ajar message or dome lights coming on. Ask whether any hatch or door sensor has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Every time I accelerate, break, turn, coming to a stop and going over a bump my door ajar chimes on the dash for the back door (hatch). Also, the dome lights come on when the chime and picture pops up that my rear gate is ajar. I believe this is a safety issue because I am not the only car with this exact same issue. This needs to be recalled since this potentially is a safety issue. This is a continual and ongoing issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11252663, filed 2019-09, 90,000 miles

   “While driving (in motion), frequent warning message comes on the display panel that says the back (rear) door is open when it's not. Also, interior lights come on, and there is the warning / beep that keeps flashing. Sometimes, when the back gate alert comes on, doors get unlocked. This has been going on since september 2017.”

   NHTSA complaint #11113345, filed 2018-07, 95,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration or engine revving

   • 29 complaints (13%)
   • median 8,200 mi at 0.8 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2026

   Owners report the vehicle speeding up or the engine revving strongly without their input, sometimes while stopped at a light with the brake applied or when pulling out of a parking space, and in a few cases while cruise control was engaged. Some describe having to shift into neutral to regain control. Complaints note that dealers and manufacturer technicians were sometimes unable to reproduce the condition, and several owners mention the vehicle had already received the accelerator pedal recall work. Nearly all reports come at very low mileage, from a few hundred to about 6,600 miles.

   Recall 10V023000Recall 10V017000

   What to check: Confirm both accelerator pedal recalls (10V023000 for floor mat interference and 10V017000 for the pedal assembly) were completed, and check that the correct floor mat is fitted and secured.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On july 8 2010, my 2010 Toyota Highlander had sudden acceleration problem when I stopped and braked for the traffic light. This Highlander has only about 6,600 miles on it and it never had the sudden acceleration problem before. The dealer had installed the recall fixes. Updated 07/19/10 updated ivoq 07/21/10.”

   NHTSA complaint #10342385, filed 2010-07, 6,600 miles

   “I was backing out of a parking space at a taco bell when I noticed a car coming so I decided to stop and pull back into my parking space to let it pass. When I stepped on the brake my car suddenly accelerated in reverse and I stepped on the brake again, but my car continued to accelerate. I turned my car to avoid hitting the car and any other cars that may have been behind me. My car continued to accelerate and jumped a curb, crossed over a sidewalk and onto a lawn area behind taco bell. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10678169, filed 2015-01, 59,100 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Soft or delayed brake pedal; ABS and brake warnings

   • 44 complaints (20%)
   • median 28,290 mi at 2.4 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,000 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2026

   Complaints describe two related patterns: a brake pedal that feels soft or slow to respond at low speed, and brake, ABS, traction-control and VSC warnings appearing with messages to stop the vehicle. Owners of the hybrid version most often mention the brake actuator and booster pump, with diagnostic code C1391 cited, and some note a past extended-coverage program for the part. Others report the pedal going to the floor or brake warning lights after start-up, with dealers sometimes finding nothing on inspection. Reported from very low mileage on newer vehicles up to around 170,000 miles; warning-light complaints cluster from roughly 25,000 to 166,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for any brake actuator or booster service history, and on a test drive note whether the pedal engages promptly at low speed. A service bulletin exists describing brake/ABS/VSC warning lights with codes C1391, C1252, C1253 and C1256 on Highlander Hybrid models of these years.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 miles

   “My 2010 Highlander hybrid is presenting a code c1391 for an issue with the brake actuator assembly and brake booster pump assembly. Currently my ABS, traction control, and check brake system lights are on with a message not to drive the vehicle. Toyota has recognized this issue and offered free repairs, extending coverage until dec 31, 2020. The customer support program bulletin to support this is pol19-06. This issue raised a big enough issue for Toyota to extend coverage. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11397940, filed 2021-02, 166,000 miles
4. 4
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Driver-side sun visor will not stay in the up position

   • 35 complaints (16%)
   • median 50,901 mi at 3.9 yrs old (32 state mileage)
   • filed 2011–2017

   Owners describe the driver-side visor drooping or hanging down on its own, sometimes after a snap or pop when it was moved, and obstructing the forward view. In some complaints it falls while driving over small bumps or during turns. Dealers are reported to have quoted replacement of the visor or its hinge, and some owners were told it is a known issue but not covered by a recall. Mostly reported between roughly 25,000 and 60,000 miles, though a few appear earlier.

   What to check: Fold the driver-side visor down and back up several times and confirm it holds firmly against the headliner; visor replacement is a relatively small repair if it droops.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When driving on freeway my visor was brought down and it hung well below its normal position. This obstructs my vision when driving. Also, the visor does not return to its normal position when not in use. It hangs below its normal position by about two inches.”

   NHTSA complaint #10460727, filed 2012-06, 30,000 miles

   “The other day I lowered the driver's side sun visor on my 2010 Toyota Highlander. When I tried to move the visor back to the up position I heard something pop or snap. As a result, the visor will no longer stay in the up position, unnecessarily obstructing my vision while driving. The service rep at the Toyota dealership told me the hinge was broken and that it will cost $300 (parts and labor) to replace the visor. When I checked the internet I learned that other people are reporting the same such problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10505601, filed 2013-04, 34,782 miles

Buying note. This model year draws recurring owner complaints about door-ajar false warnings, a drooping driver sun visor and brake or actuator warnings, so check those items specifically on a test drive and ask for service records. Also confirm both accelerator pedal recalls were completed and inspect the rear hatch and door sensors.

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.