Toyota Highlander years to avoid
More than twice the Highlander's typical complaint count for a model year.
Best Toyota Highlander years
Fewest owner complaints among the last 20 model years, counting only those with at least four years on the road.
Toyota Highlander complaints by model year
Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.
Most common Toyota Highlander problems
All model years combined.
- Transmission1,067
- Brakes761
- Engine723
- Electrical636
- Visibility530
- Body446
- Acceleration445
- Fuel system366
- Steering365
- Airbags359
- Driver assistance222
- Lights142
Toyota Highlander problems year by year
Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.
| Year | Score | Complaints | Top problem | Typical mileage | Recalls | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | - | 4 | Driver assistance | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2025 | - | 11 | Acceleration | 4 | 2 | ||
| 2024 | - | 43 | Brakes | 7 | 4 | ||
| 2023 | - | 190 | Body | 34,125 | 9 | 12 | |
| 2022 | 66 | 267 | Transmission | 30,000 | 5 | 20 | |
| 2021 | 41 | 538 | Transmission | 27,109 | 4 | 17 | Avoid |
| 2020 | 60 | 323 | Transmission | 21,000 | 4 | 16 | |
| 2019 | 44 | 510 | Transmission | 12,600 | 3 | 22 | Avoid |
| 2018 | 66 | 275 | Transmission | 16,500 | 4 | 23 | |
| 2017 | 67 | 272 | Transmission | 20,000 | 3 | 18 | |
| 2016 | 85 | 111 | Brakes | 25,000 | 2 | 14 | Fewest complaints |
| 2015 | 78 | 193 | Electrical | 30,800 | 1 | 17 | |
| 2014 | 82 | 136 | Electrical | 36,700 | 4 | 5 | |
| 2013 | 76 | 207 | Steering | 35,000 | 3 | 26 | |
| 2012 | 79 | 182 | Steering | 51,000 | 2 | 16 | |
| 2011 | 76 | 182 | Visibility | 50,000 | 5 | 14 | |
| 2010 | 70 | 216 | Electrical | 54,000 | 10 | 18 | |
| 2009 | 78 | 134 | Engine | 60,000 | 9 | 6 | Fewest complaints |
| 2008 | 46 | 406 | Brakes | 77,900 | 11 | 44 | |
| 2007 | 83 | 124 | Brakes | 60,500 | 4 | 11 | Fewest complaints |
| 2006 | 61 | 278 | Brakes | 66,000 | 7 | 29 | |
| 2005 | 69 | 224 | Transmission | 56,000 | 6 | 35 | |
| 2004 | 53 | 286 | Transmission | 53,126 | 5 | 32 | |
| 2003 | 70 | 258 | Engine | 93,500 | 2 | 33 | |
| 2002 | 64 | 301 | Visibility | 70,000 | 2 | 24 | |
| 2001 | 81 | 137 | Visibility | 60,000 | 3 | 19 | |
| 1998 | - | 1 | Electrical | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1997 | - | 1 | Visibility | 0 | 0 |
Recalls 51
Compare the Highlander
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Questions about the Toyota Highlander
What years of the Toyota Highlander should you avoid?
2019 and 2021. Each has more than twice the Toyota Highlander's typical number of owner complaints for a model year; 2021 alone has 538, mostly about transmission and brakes.
What is the best year for a used Toyota Highlander?
2016, 2007 and 2009 have the fewest owner complaints among model years that have been on the road for at least four years (111, 124 and 134).
What is the most common problem with the Toyota Highlander?
Transmission, with 1,067 complaints across all years, followed by brakes (761) and engine (723).
How many recalls does the Toyota Highlander have?
51 recalls between 1997 and 2026. The 2008 model year has the most, with 11.
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