Toyota Highlander Problems by Year

We compared every Toyota Highlander model year from 2001–2025 using 5,768 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 51 recalls and federal defect investigations. The years to avoid are 2021, 2019, 2023, 2022 and 2020, which drew far more complaints than other Highlander years at the same age. The best years are 2025, 2016 and 2014.

25model years
5,768complaints
51recalls
2021, 2019worst years
2025, 2016best years

Complaints by model year

’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’251373012582862242781244051342161811822071361921112712695003215312631884310
Owner complaints per model year, Toyota Highlander. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).
YearComplaintsvs. typical*RecallsTop problemVerdict
202510−73%4AccelerationGood
202443−15%7BrakeAverage
20231882.8×9BodyAvoid
20222632.6×5TransmissionAvoid
20215314.3×4TransmissionAvoid
20203212.3×4TransmissionAvoid
20195003.3×3TransmissionAvoid
20182691.6×4TransmissionCaution
20172711.5×3TransmissionCaution
2016111−39%2BrakeAverage
2015192typical1ElectricalAverage
2014136−28%4ElectricalAverage
2013207typical3SteeringAverage
2012182typical2SteeringAverage
2011181typical5Window & WiperAverage
2010216typical10ElectricalAverage
2009134−48%9EngineGood
20084051.6×11BrakeCaution
2007124−53%4BrakeGood
2006278typical7BrakeAverage
2005224typical6TransmissionAverage
20042861.4×5TransmissionCaution
2003258typical2EngineAverage
20023011.4×2Window & WiperAverage
2001137−39%3Window & WiperAverage

* Complaints compared with the median Highlander year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.

Most common Toyota Highlander problems

Latest Toyota Highlander recalls

Seats › Mid/rear assembly › Recliner

NHTSA recall 26V-128 · Mar 5, 2026 · 686,588 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 9, 2026. This is a phased recall.

Seat belts › Rear/other › Anchorage

NHTSA recall 25V-872 · Dec 17, 2025 · 39 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The third row center seat belt roof anchor may have been installed at an incorrect angle, preventing the seat belt from properly restraining the occupant.

Remedy: Dealers will reinstall the seat belt anchor with a new bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Back over prevention › Display function

NHTSA recall 25V-744 · Oct 30, 2025 · 1,024,407 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models.

Remedy: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel

NHTSA recall 25V-595 · Sep 11, 2025 · 591,377 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner vehicles.

Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the…

Air bags › Frontal › Driver clockspring/spiral cassette

NHTSA recall 25V-040 · Jan 29, 2025 · 1,716 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Lexus RX350, 2023-2024 NX250, and NX350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23V-480.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

All 51 Toyota Highlander recalls by year →

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Toyota Highlander should you avoid?

2021, 2019, 2023, 2022, 2020 and 2018 — these years have the most complaints relative to other Highlander years at the same age, led by transmission & drivetrain problems in the 2021.

What is the best year for the Toyota Highlander?

2025 has the fewest complaints compared with other Highlander years at the same age, followed by 2016 and 2014. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.

What are the most common Toyota Highlander problems?

Across all years, owners report the most problems with the transmission & drivetrain (1,047), brakes (757) and engine & cooling (716). Transmission complaints peak in the 2021 model year.

How many recalls has the Toyota Highlander had?

51 recalls across 2001–2025. The model year with the most is 2008. See all Toyota Highlander recalls by year.

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.