Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Toyota Highlander owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Highlander. The vehicle was purchased from a private seller on Facebook Marketplace on 9/3/2025. The mileage at the time of purchase was 129,950. The contact wanted a larger vehicle and called another dealer on Facebook Marketplace to trade the vehicle and was provided the most recent mileage recorded for the vehicle on November 17, 2021, at 262,597 miles. The dealer informed the contact that the VIN was recorded to have over 150,000 miles over 4 years before the purchase. The contact reached out to the owner who sold the vehicle to the private seller who the contact purchased the vehicle from, and it was confirmed that on July 27, 2025, the vehicle was sold at 299,150 miles. The contact had not reported to any other agencies but had planned to.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2007 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 116,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 240,126. The contact also stated that the seller had crossed out the mileage and penned in "EXEMPT" on the tile. Local authorities were notified.
Subject: Urgent Safety Concern - Recurring Issues with Toyota Highlander Hybrid Models Dear National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, We owned the car since almost new, after repeated attempts with Toyota, like others 300K customers from their own site, I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding persistent safety issues with Toyota Highlander Hybrid models, specifically between the years 2004 and 2007. Despite previous reports and numerous attempts to seek assistance from Toyota, the response has been unsatisfactory, with the company deflecting responsibility rather than providing a resolution. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2007 Toyota Highlander. After the contact returned home and parked the vehicle, the horn started to beep. The contact walked outside and observed sparks under the vehicle. The contact attempted to extinguish the fire with the hose, but the vehicle became engulfed in flames. A fire report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.
Hazardous safety issue. Possible manufacturer defect to electrical system on 2001-2007 Toyota highlanders. While driving at high or low rate of speed, there has been many close calls of being hit from behind due to the manufacturer defect to their electrical components or wiring in specific to rear braking lights. When depressing the brake pedal the rear passenger brake lights do not come on. Light bulbs changed, fuse was checked and connectors checked. There has been multiple identical related issues reported by consumers on many blogs and forums online. Only remedy mentioned was to have the Toyota dealer to replace the electrical braking component or circuitry. This should be a recall for the Toyota Highlander 2001-2007 on the critical braking systems on these vehicles. Why do consumers have to pay upwards of $400 to replace what appears to be a manufacturer issue. …
On my 2007 Toyota high lander the horn has stopped working I have no horn , when I press the horn button it does not sound the horn. I took it to the dealer and they check the horn and the dealer said it was working after I left the dealer it did not work , I askedthe service adviser and he said its an intermittent problem, , the horn still does not work I still have no working horn, something is grounding out in the steering column. I still have no working horn and the dealer cant find the problem.
Tl contact owns a 2007 Toyota Highlander hybrid. The contact stated that there was an issue with the 12-volt battery in her vehicle. On at least ten occasions, the 12-volt battery would not start. The contact would attempt to start the vehicle, but the ignition would not turn over. She heard of instances where other people's vehicles completely shut down while driving; therefore, she was concerned that it could eventually happen to her. She took the vehicle to the dealer four different times, but they could not duplicate the failure. The dealer charged the battery and released the vehicle back to the contact. The manufacturer stated that because the failure could not be duplicated, they could not assist. The current mileage was approximately 38,500 and failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Toyota Highlander hybrid. The contact stated that all the warning light illuminated on the instrument panel as the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic and the contact was told that the intelligent power module (ipm) needed to be replaced. The mechanic advised the contact of a recall associated with NHTSA recall campaign id number: 11V342000 (electrical system), but the manufacturer advised that the vehicle was not included in the recall campaign. The failure and the current mileages were 140,000.
Tl contact owns a 2007 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that he cannot see the speedometer on the instrument panel during the daytime. He stated that the lenses on the instrument panel are tinted, which he believes is the reason for the poor visibility. The dealer stated that they would be unable to repair the vehicle and advised him to call Toyota. A complaint was filed with Toyota and the contact was issued complaint number 200707203477. The current mileage was 1,000 and failure mileage was 50. Updated 09/05/07
Tl contact owns a 2007 Toyota Highlander. While driving in the sunlight, the instrument panel lights are difficult to read. The manufacturer informed the contact to have the dealer test the vehicle. The dealer stated that they would be unable to repair the vehicle because that is how it was manufactured. The contact stated that the failure only occurs during the daytime. The current mileage is 100 and failure mileage was 37.
Electrical complaints in other Highlander years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2007 Toyota Highlander?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the electrical system of the 2007 Toyota Highlander, 19% of the model year's 124 complaints. The component named most often is instrument cluster/panel (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Toyota Highlander electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2007 Toyota Highlander, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2007 Toyota Highlander electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles, and 47% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.