Owners have filed 3,241 complaints with NHTSA about the Toyota Highlander from 2012 to 2024. Across every year, the most reported problem areas are the transmission and drivetrain, the brakes and stability control and the electrical system. The years with the most complaints are 2021, 2019 and 2020.
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Start my car searchComplaints by year
Tap a year to see its most reported problems, its recalls and what to check before you buy. Newer years have had less time on the road, so they always look better here. Red marks the worst years, orange years worse than most, and green the better ones.
Every year at a glance
| Year | Vs. other years | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Highlander | About average | 182 | 2 |
| 2013 Highlander | About average | 207 | 3 |
| 2014 Highlander | One of the better years | 136 | 5 |
| 2015 Highlander | About average | 193 | 2 |
| 2016 Highlander | One of the better years | 111 | 3 |
| 2017 Highlander | About average | 272 | 4 |
| 2018 Highlander | About average | 275 | 5 |
| 2019 Highlander | Among the worst years | 509 | 3 |
| 2020 Highlander | Worse than most years | 323 | 4 |
| 2021 Highlander | Among the worst years | 535 | 4 |
| 2022 Highlander | Too new to judge | 266 | 5 |
| 2023 Highlander | Too new to judge | 189 | 9 |
| 2024 Highlander | Too new to judge | 43 | 7 |
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Toyota Highlander questions
What are the worst Toyota Highlander years?
Compared with its other years, the Highlander years with the most owner complaints to NHTSA are 2019 and 2021. The most reported problem area across all years is the transmission and drivetrain.
What are the best Toyota Highlander years?
The Highlander years with clearly fewer complaints than a typical year are 2014 and 2016. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly, since complaints keep coming in as cars age.
What are the most common Toyota Highlander problems?
Across 2012 to 2024, owners report problems with the transmission and drivetrain, the brakes and stability control and the electrical system most often. Each model year has its own pattern, so check the year you are looking at.
How many recalls does the Toyota Highlander have?
NHTSA lists 56 recalls across the 2012 to 2024 Highlander, counted per model year. A recall can cover several years.
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These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
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