Toyota

Highlander

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · model years 2001 to 2026

Includes Highlander, Highlander 2WD, Highlander 4WD and 8 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 129 Highlander trims All Toyota cars

The verdict

Best year: 2026. complaints: 2, below this model's typical 137; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 5.

Worst year: 2006. complaints: 648, about 2.4x this model's typical 273; recalls: 11, about 2.2x this model's typical 5.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Toyota Highlander
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
2001	4Gas	18.5	no data	$3,375	3	137	0	no data	VISIBILITY 15%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 11%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 10%
complaints: 137, below this model's typical 182 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 63 of 100, where higher is better.
2002	4Gas	18.5	no data	$3,375	2	301	0	no data	VISIBILITY 37%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 9%, STRUCTURE 7%
complaints: 301, about 1.7x this model's typical 182 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 25 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 12 of 100, where higher is better.
2003	4Gas	18.5	no data	$3,375	2	258	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 15%, ENGINE 13%, VISIBILITY 10%
complaints: 258, above this model's typical 182 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 48 of 100, where higher is better.
2004	4Gas	19.5	no data	$3,200	5	286	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 18%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 12%, STEERING 11%
complaints: 286, about 1.6x this model's typical 182 recalls: 5, in line with this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 47 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 23 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 8 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	4Gas	20	no data	$3,125	6	225	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 18%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 14%, STEERING 9%
complaints: 225, above this model's typical 182 recalls: 6, above this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 20 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 44 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	6Gas, Hybrid	21	no data	$2,975	11	648	0	no data	SERVICE BRAKES 18%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 9%
complaints: 648, about 2.4x this model's typical 273 recalls: 11, about 2.2x this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 40 complaints reporting a fire: 11 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2007	6Gas, Hybrid	21	no data	$2,975	6	234	0	no data	SERVICE BRAKES 18%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10%
complaints: 234, below this model's typical 273 recalls: 6, above this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 10 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 53 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	3Gas, Hybrid	20	no data	$3,100	12	601	0	no data	SERVICE BRAKES 21%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%, ENGINE 9%
complaints: 601, about 4.4x this model's typical 137 recalls: 12, about 2.4x this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 47 complaints reporting a fire: 18 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	4Gas, Hybrid	21	no data	$2,975	10	174	0	no data	SERVICE BRAKES 17%, ENGINE 12%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
complaints: 174, below this model's typical 182 recalls: 10, about 2x this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 10 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 36 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	4Gas, Hybrid	21	270	$2,975	11	238	3	239	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 19%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 10%, SERVICE BRAKES 10%
complaints: 238, above this model's typical 182 recalls: 11, about 2.2x this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 15 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 22 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.7 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	4Gas, Hybrid	21	270	$2,975	5	186	3	231	STEERING 15%, STRUCTURE 12%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 11%
complaints: 186, above this model's typical 182 recalls: 5, in line with this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 Score: 61 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.4 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	4Gas, Hybrid	21	270	$2,975	2	191	3	232	STEERING 20%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 191, above this model's typical 182 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 59 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.5 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	4Gas, Hybrid	21	270	$2,975	3	212	3	253	STEERING 16%, ENGINE 11%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11%
complaints: 212, above this model's typical 182 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 12 Score: 59 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.4 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	5Gas, Hybrid	22	270	$2,850	4	138	1	297	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 20%, STRUCTURE 20%
complaints: 138, below this model's typical 228 recalls: 4, below this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 52 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.5 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	5Gas, Hybrid	22	270	$2,850	1	196	1	233	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17%, STRUCTURE 12%
complaints: 196, below this model's typical 228 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 16 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 65 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	5Gas, Hybrid	22	270	$2,850	2	117	1	213	SERVICE BRAKES 15%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
complaints: 117, below this model's typical 228 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 12 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 68 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	7Gas, Hybrid	23	295	$2,700	3	273	1	230	POWER TRAIN 20%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, ENGINE 13%
complaints: 273, below this model's typical 319 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 26 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 61 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	7Gas, Hybrid	23	295	$2,700	4	273	1	210	POWER TRAIN 19%, SERVICE BRAKES 15%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 273, below this model's typical 319 recalls: 4, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 25 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 59 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	7Gas, Hybrid	23	295	$2,700	3	498	1	150	POWER TRAIN 31%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 13%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13%
complaints: 498, about 1.6x this model's typical 319 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 18 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 42 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	6Gas, Hybrid	29.5	295	$2,200	5	328	1	179	POWER TRAIN 33%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 11%, SERVICE BRAKES 10%
complaints: 328, above this model's typical 273 recalls: 5, in line with this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 20 Score: 54 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	6Gas, Hybrid	29.5	295	$2,200	5	544	1	163	POWER TRAIN 34%, SERVICE BRAKES 10%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 544, about 2x this model's typical 273 recalls: 5, in line with this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 18 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 25 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	6Gas, Hybrid	29.5	295	$2,200	6	267	1	132	POWER TRAIN 15%, STRUCTURE 12%, SERVICE BRAKES 11%
complaints: 267, below this model's typical 273 recalls: 6, above this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 36 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	6Gas, Hybrid	30	264	$2,150	9	194	0	86	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16%, STRUCTURE 14%, ENGINE 11%
complaints: 194, below this model's typical 273 recalls: 9, about 1.8x this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 12 Score: 48 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	6Gas, Hybrid	30	no data	$2,150	7	43	0	56	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 22%, SERVICE BRAKES 14%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 12%
complaints: 43, below this model's typical 273 recalls: 7, above this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 Score: 70 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	5Gas, Hybrid	25	no data	$2,700	4	10	0	29	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 21%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 14%, SERVICE BRAKES 14%
complaints: 10, below this model's typical 228 recalls: 4, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 85 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	3Gas, Hybrid	35	no data	$1,900	0	2	0	no data	BACK OVER PREVENTION 25%, ENGINE 25%, POWER TRAIN 25%
complaints: 2, below this model's typical 137 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 5 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2001: 18.5 to 2026: 35

Owner complaints2001: 137 to 2026: 2

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Toyota Highlander to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.