2008 Toyota Highlander: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2008 Toyota Highlander: 11 recalls, 404 owner complaints and up to 20 mpg combined.
Recalls
11 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 2 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #08V181000 · 2008 · 90,189 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection." the non-driver designated seating positions (dsp) on these vehicles is equipped with seat belt assemblies that have a feature that converts the retractor from an emergency locking retractor (elr) to an automatic locking retractor (alr). The belts convert to the alr mode after the webbing…
Why it matters: However, for the two third row dsp's on these vehicles, the alr mode deactivates before the webbing is fully retracted, so that it will not lock when certain rear-facing crs's that have a short seat belt routing path are installed in the vehicle. This can allow the seat belt webbing to spool out…
The fix: Dealers will install a newly designed seat belt component free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or about December 18, 2008.
Equipment Vehicle recall #09V223000 · 2009 · 27,080 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Why it matters: Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall began on August 18, 2009.
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #10V023000 · 2010 · 1,126,915 vehicles
What's wrong: The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat. This recall is an expansion of a campaign of 3.8 million other Toyota vehicles announced in 2009 for the same issue (see 09v-388).
Why it matters: A stuck open accelerator pedal May result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
The fix: Toyota will modify or replace the accelerator pedals on the subject vehicles. Floor surface modifications are also being considered and will be included for any model for which it is deemed appropriate. Initially, dealers will be instructed on how to reshape the accelerator pedal for the repair. As…
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V035000 · 2010 · 271,417 vehicles
What's wrong: 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between September 1, 2005 and June 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Why it matters: This does not meet the standard requirements.
The fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on May 27, 2010.
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V036000 · 2010 · 153,418 vehicles
What's wrong: 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Why it matters: A driver May overload a vehicle which May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on May 27, 2010.
Airbags, Airbags Vehicle recall #11V245000 · 2011 · 307,848 vehicles
What's wrong: In the curtain shield airbag (csa) system, there are two sensors in the airbag sensor assembly which are designed to detect vehicle roll angle. If one of these sensors malfunctions, the airbag warning light (malfunction indicator light: mil) will illuminate and the roll detection system will be suspended; however, the airbag csa remains available in the event of a side crash. If both sensors fail nearly…
Why it matters: Inadvertent activation of the csa and/or the seat belt pretensioner can cause injury to a vehicle occupant.
The fix: Toyota will replace the airbag sensor assembly with a new one containing improved roll rate sensors, free of charge. Toyota intends to send an interim owner notification to owners early to mid-May, 2011 when sufficient parts and remedy becomes available.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #12V491000 · 2012 · 2,519,424 vehicles
What's wrong: The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process May cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat.
Why it matters: If the switch overheats, it May melt, possibly resulting in a fire.
The fix: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge. Toyota owners that experience a problem with a switch should not attempt to make repairs, but should contact their…
Airbags Vehicle recall #14V168000 · 2014 · 1,486,413 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the steering column assembly contains electrical connections to the driver's airbag module housed in a spiral cable assembly, which includes a flexible flat cable (ffc). Due to the shape and location of the ffc's retainer, the ffc could become damaged when the steering wheel is turned.
Why it matters: If the ffc is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated. The failure of the driver's air bag to deploy in the event of a crash that typically necessitates deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver.
The fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota vehicle owners, and general motors will notify the Pontiac vibe owners. Toyota sent owners an interim notification letter in May 2014 to advise owners of the recall. Toyota will mail owners a second letter when remedy parts are available. General motors sent Pontiac…
Seats Vehicle recall #14V743000 · 2014 · 3,233 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May experience compression of the seat cushion which May damage the seat heater wiring.
Why it matters: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #15V689000 · 2015 · 1,814,284 vehicles
What's wrong: During the manufacturing of the power window master switch (pwms), grease lubricant May have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
Why it matters: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch May cause a short circuit and the switch assembly May overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the pwms circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015.
Seats Vehicle recall #16V396000 · 2016 · 7,749 vehicles
What's wrong: The electrical wiring in the seat heaters May be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Why it matters: If damaged, the copper strand heating element May short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016.
2 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Equipment Equipment recall #09E022000 · 2009 · 39,100 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to improper heat treatment during the manufacturing process, the original clamp used to secure the Toyota stainless steel exhaust tip to the exhaust pipe May develop microscopic cracks. Eventually the crack May expand causing the clamp to break.
Why it matters: The original clamp and the Toyota stainless steel exhaust tip May fall off the vehicle's exhaust pipe and become a road hazard which would increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners and replace the clamp free of charge. The safety recall began on May 4, 2009.
Equipment Equipment recall #09E028000 · 2009 · 3,499 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to improper heat treatment during the manufacturing process, the original clamp used to secure the stainless steel exhaust tip to the exhaust pipe May develop microscopic cracks. Eventually the crack May expand causing the clamp to break.
Why it matters: The original clamp and the Toyota stainless steel exhaust tip May fall off the vehicle's exhaust pipe and become a road hazard which would increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and replace the clamp free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during May/June 2009.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 14 mention a fire, 42 injuries and 2 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (66): the most common themes are warning light on (23), noise or vibration (6).
- Engine (58): the most common themes are leaks (17), warning light on (15), fire / smoke (15).
- Airbags (57): the most common themes are warning light on (27), fails to deploy (11).
- Speed control / throttle (45): the most common themes are sudden acceleration (14).
The 2008 Toyota Highlander has 404 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 28 Highlander model years for complaints (2.0× the average Highlander year). Complaints peaked in 2010 (72 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 77,450 miles. Neighboring years: 2007 (124 complaints, 4 recalls), 2009 (134 complaints, 9 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S5) | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S5) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
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 2008 Toyota Highlander.
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FAQ
Does the 2008 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 11 vehicle recalls for the 2008 Toyota Highlander, plus 2 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2008 Toyota Highlander problems?
Owners have filed 404 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (66), engine (58), airbags (57).
What gas mileage does the 2008 Toyota Highlander get?
EPA ratings run up to 20 mpg combined (3.5 L, Automatic (S5)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2008 Toyota Highlander repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.