Toyota Highlander problems, recalls & best years
The deets on every Highlander from 1997 to 2026: 5,752 owner complaints and 119 recalls across 28 model years.
The model years with the most owner complaints are 2021 (529), 2019 (492), 2008 (404). Best fuel economy: 25 mpg combined (2025).
Problem areas across all years
Year by year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Best mpg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1998 | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2001 | 3 | 137 | 22 | |
| 2002 | 2 | 301 | 22 | |
| 2003 | 2 | 258 | 22 | |
| 2004 | 5 | 286 | 22 | |
| 2005 | 6 | 224 | 22 | |
| 2006 | 7 | 278 | 22 | |
| 2007 | 4 | 124 | 22 | |
| 2008 | 11 | 404 | 20 | |
| 2009 | 9 | 134 | 22 | |
| 2010 | 10 | 216 | 22 | |
| 2011 | 5 | 181 | 22 | |
| 2012 | 2 | 182 | 22 | |
| 2013 | 3 | 207 | 22 | |
| 2014 | 4 | 136 | 22 | |
| 2015 | 1 | 192 | 22 | |
| 2016 | 2 | 111 | 22 | |
| 2017 | 3 | 270 | 23 | |
| 2018 | 4 | 268 | 23 | |
| 2019 | 3 | 492 | 23 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 319 | 24 | |
| 2021 | 4 | 529 | 24 | |
| 2022 | 5 | 261 | 24 | |
| 2023 | 9 | 185 | 25 | |
| 2024 | 7 | 43 | 25 | |
| 2025 | 4 | 10 | 25 | |
| 2026 | 0 | 2 | 24 |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the Toyota Highlander.
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FAQ
What is the worst year for the Toyota Highlander?
The model years with the most owner complaints are 2021 (529), 2019 (492), 2008 (404).
How many recalls has the Toyota Highlander had?
Across 1997–2026, NHTSA lists 119 vehicle recall campaigns by model year (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year).