Most common 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems
Share of the 110 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Highlander Hybrid complaints by model year
Best Highlander Hybrid years: 2017, 2011, 2013. Years to avoid: 2021, 2010, 2006, 2008, 2007. Compare all years →
2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid recalls (2)
Hybrid propulsion system › Inverter
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured February 16, 2005, through July 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008 Lexus RX400h vehicles manufactured February 23, 2005, through December 2, 2008.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the IPM free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicles that had their IPM replaced under recall 11V-342 are not affected by this campaign.
Electrical system
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 highlander hybrid and Lexus rx400h passenger cars manufactured from February 16, 2005, through August 30, 2006. A module inside the inverter module May contain inadequately soldered transistors that during high-load driving, May be damaged by heat caused by the large current.
Remedy: Toyota/Lexus mailed an interim owner notification on July 19, 2011 to advise owners of this recall and the fact that they will receive a future notice when parts become available to complete repairs.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid:
Hybrid inverter failure - vehicle stall
In a June 29, 2011 letter to NHTSA, Toyota submitted a Defect Information Report regarding a safety recall of certain Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX400h vehicles to address a defect condition with the hybrid inverter assembly (NHTSA Recall No.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid owners say
Brakes all 46 →
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a drained battery. The dealer determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with an ABS actuator malfunction, and the ABS actuator was replaced. The failure recurred and the ABS actuator was replaced a second time. The contact stated that the brake pedal needed to be depressed multiple times for the brakes to respond as needed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with ABS actuator malfunction for the third time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. …
I bought new a 2007 Highlander Hybrid . The brakes have continually performed spongy and the accelerator would stick . I have had to drive with exaggerarted braking space to compensate . My wife has had three small accidents ( rear end due sudden stops in urban traffic setting . Over the years we have pressed darcars Toyota dealership in rockville md for assistance but they claimed no problem . Calls to Toyota USA were greeted with no help. Our insurance has been drastically increased we have tried to get the insurer, geico . To assist us in the defective braking problem and sticky accelerator. We are nearing the 5 year write off of those accidents . We have sideline the SUV and had to perchase a another Toyota ( prius )for my wife , a nurse . We have not had problems with accidents and braking ever before . …
Electrical system all 28 →
I replaced my brakes after several warning lights and codes kept popping up on my dash. Had the rotors turned. But when I returned to driving my car after I thought it was fixed the brakes would all of a sudden just go out the hydraulic part would go completely to the floor. The car would make a high pitched noise and then no brakes. Took it to Toyota in clinton tn. Said my ABS brake actuator was failing. Would cost me 2200 dollars to fix. This certain part on your car is supposed to last you a lifetime. I dont have money like that now it was take me a lifetime to save up for the repairs. Very scary. This would happen to me randomly as I was driving no matter where or how far the trip I was taking. Didn't know if I was going to be able to make it home sometimes. You just never knew when. Sometimes it would be fine and others it would be absolutely scary.
Driving on an interstate received a check Hybrid light then the engine powered down and then shut down. Was able to pull off interstate without crashing. Had to have it towed to Toyota dealer where they said it was the ivs, inverter system, which overheated and shut engine down. The vehicle was recalled in 2014 for bad soldering in the ivs system. Car has only 72,000 miles on it, but over 8 years on warranty. So I am waiting on Toyota to decide if they are going to assume responsibility for $9,500 repair. I am now aware of lawsuits and complaints on the inverter system of the Hybrid Highlander.
Fuel & propulsion system all 22 →
While entering into a driveway at a very slow speed, I stepped on the brake to slow down further. But instead of braking, the car lunged forward. I felt I was not in control of the vehicle. I continued to hit the brakes, but the vehicle continued to go forward. It slammed into the car that was parked in the driveway and caused major damage. It also shoved the car into their garage, split the frame in half and ripped off brick from their home. The surface was slippery with wet leaves and there was a slight incline going up the driveway, but I just had brand new top of the line winter tires put on and I was probably only going 5 MPH. It did not make any sense. From reading the forums on line, I believe this is a major defect with the Hybrid and Toyota is not doing anything about it. They need to do a recall. Lives are at stake. Thank god no one was hurt, but it could have been fatal.
The gas tank fell partially off and dragged on the road. I was driving on city streets, turning right at 5 MPH when I heard a loud pop/snap sound and then a terrible sound of something dragging under the car. Fortunately, I could pull over and stop within 50 feet. The gas tank was not damaged significantly (it passed a pressure test at the dealership). The gas tank is attached with two straps, fore and aft. The right sides of both straps snapped very close to where the straps are bolted to the main body in a place that could not have possibly been damaged. The flat bed truck driver who delivered the vehicle to berkeley Toyota noted that there were no signs that the vehicle had been abused in any way. He also argued that had this happened on the freeway at high speed, it could have been quite dangerous.
2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3L 6-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 28 / 25 / 26 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl hybrid | CVT | 4WD/AWD | 27 / 25 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid a good car?
Based on 110 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2007 Highlander Hybrid rates avoid: 8.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Highlander Hybrid at the same age. It is one of the Highlander Hybrid years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
The brakes — 46 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock › abs warning light. Next are the electrical system (28) and fuel & propulsion system (22).
How many recalls does the 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, the most recent from September 4, 2013 (inverter). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2011 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2021, 2010, 2006, 2008 and 2007. See the full Toyota Highlander Hybrid years comparison.
At what mileage do 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 105,000 miles; 27% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.