Most common 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems
Share of the 197 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 →
2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid recalls (6)
Visibility › Power window devices and controls
Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge.
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.
Visibility › Power window devices and controls
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles.
Remedy: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge.
Air bags › Side/window
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 highlander, highlander hybrid, and model year 2007-2008 rav4 vehicles. In the curtain shield airbag (csa) system, there are two sensors in the airbag sensor assembly which are designed to detect vehicle roll angle.
Remedy: Toyota will replace the airbag sensor assembly with a new one containing improved roll rate sensors, free of charge. Toyota intends to send an interim owner notification to owners early to mid-May, 2011 when sufficient…
Equipment › Other › Labels
Toyota is recalling 27,080 model year 2005 through 2010 passenger cars built from September 1, 2005 to May 4, 2009. These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall began on August 18, 2009. Owners May contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371.
Seat belts › Rear/other
Toyota is recalling 90,189 my 2008 highlander and highlander hybrid passenger vehicles equipped with a third row seat. These vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Dealers will install a newly designed seat belt component free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or about December 18, 2008. Owners May contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid:
Upper Steering Column Separation
On May 4, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE18-005 to investigate three allegations of steering column separation for Model Year (MY) 2008 through 2013 Toyota Highlander vehicles. Two (2) of the 3 complaints were received by ODI in April 2018 and occurred while the vehicle was in motion.
Power Window Master Switch Fire
ODI has identified certain Toyota vehicles experiencing a higher rate of fire and thermal event incidents among all Toyota vehicles that use the same power window master switch design.They include a total of approximately 1.4 million model year (MY) 2007 through 2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4 and Yaris vehicles built from approximately September 2006 through August 2008, as well as all MY 2008 Highlander Hybrid…
Steering Column Separation
On November 16, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an Engineering Analysis (EA18-006) as an upgrade to a Preliminary Evaluation (PE18-005). The investigation focused on allegations of steering wheel separation from the lower steering column after using the tilt and/or telescoping mechanism.
Power Window Master Switch Fire
On October 10, 2012, Toyota initiated a safety recall of approximately 2.5 million U.S. vehicles involving the following models and model years:2007-2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2008 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007-2009 RAV4, 2008-2009 Scion xB and xD, 2008-2009 Sequoia, 2007-2008 Tundra, 2007-2008 Yaris, and 2009 Pontiac Vibe.See NHTSA recall number 12V-491 for more details,…
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 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid owners say
Brakes all 113 →
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the brake malfunction and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that when she started the vehicle, she was unable to depress the brake pedal to the floor and started to hear an abnormal noise. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the brake booster pump assembly and brake actuator assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the master, brake system, ABS warning, and traction control warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the message "Brake System Malfunction - Stop in Safe Place Immediately", check ABS/VSC system, and check braking system" messages were displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic several times, but was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 227,000.
Electrical system all 35 →
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 92,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 212,000.
My car has the same problem as described here and in many places online and Toyota refused to include my vehicle for recall. The problem as described by NHTSA as follows report receipt date: sep 04, 2013 NHTSA campaign number: 13V396000 component(s): Hybrid propulsion system all products associated with this recall expand details close 12 associated documents expand manufacturer: Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing summary: 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. The intelligent power module (ipm) inside the inverter module May contain transistors that have higher operating temperatures than the solder can support and the transistors May be heat damaged by the solder. …
Stability & traction control all 25 →
On June 15th, 2016 while over 200 miles from home on a family trip with my pregnant wife and 2 year old son in the car driving down a 2 lane highway with a semi truck behind us at approximately 45 MPH constant speed our 2008 Highlander Hybrid brakes locked up, a warning tone sounded, several lights lit up on the dash including brakes, ABS, vsc, (((!))), and /!\, and the car stopped completely in the highway with the engine still running. The lcd displayed several alternating messages about the brakes, ABS, and vsc and also about needing to have the vehicle checked by a dealer. As our car was about to be smashed by a semi truck I pressed the gas pedal to the floor. The brakes were completely locked up, but fortunately the car inched forward at less than 5 MPH with wide open/full throttle to pull off of the road before the semi truck could hit us from behind. The situation was terrifying. …
I was driving straight on a city street at 40 MPH when the vehicle stability control and check brake system warnings alerted, as well as the cabin alarm. At that time I pulled into a gas station and realized the brakes had gone soft and were not functioning properly. I turned off and restarted the car; the problem persisted. I cautiously drove a half mile to my house and connected my vehicle to a diagnostic tool. The codes indicated c1252-7 (brake booster pump motor), c1256-7 (low pressure accumulator), and c1345-7 (linear solenoid valve offset learning undone). The combination of codes points to the brake actuator and pump needing to be replaced. The brake pads, speed sensors, wheel bearings, and relays are all good. After much online research I discovered that brake actuator/pump failure is a common complaint on this vehicle and costs thousands to repair. …
2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3L 6-cyl hybrid | CVT | 4WD/AWD | 27 / 25 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid a good car?
Based on 197 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Highlander Hybrid rates avoid: 11.5× 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 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
The brakes — 113 complaints, 57% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › control unit/module. Next are the electrical system (35) and stability & traction control (25).
How many recalls does the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, the most recent from October 22, 2015 (power window devices and controls). 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 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 110,000 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.