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: 2025. complaints: 7, below this model's typical 185; recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4.

Worst year: 2010. complaints: 238, about 1.6x this model's typical 148; recalls: 10, about 2.5x this model's typical 4.

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	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2001
2002	4Gas	18.5	no data	$3,375	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2002
2003	4Gas	18.5	no data	$3,375	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2003
2004	4Gas	19.5	no data	$3,200	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2004
2005	4Gas	20	no data	$3,125	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2005
2006	6Gas, Hybrid	21	no data	$2,975	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2006
2007	6Gas, Hybrid	21	no data	$2,975	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2007
2008	3Gas, Hybrid	20	no data	$3,100	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2008
2009	4Gas, Hybrid	21	no data	$2,975	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2009
2010	4Gas, Hybrid	21	270	$2,975	10	238	3	239	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 19%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 10%, SERVICE BRAKES 10%
complaints: 238, about 1.6x this model's typical 148 recalls: 10, about 2.5x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 15 Score: 12 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 148 recalls: 5, above this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 Score: 49 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	190	3	232	STEERING 20%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 190, above this model's typical 148 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 Score: 57 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	209	3	253	STEERING 16%, ENGINE 11%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11%
complaints: 209, above this model's typical 148 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 12 Score: 51 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	5	133	1	297	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 21%, STRUCTURE 21%
complaints: 133, below this model's typical 185 recalls: 5, above this model's typical 4 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 Score: 48 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	2	186	1	233	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17%, STRUCTURE 11%
complaints: 186, above this model's typical 185 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 16 Score: 65 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	5Gas, Hybrid	22	270	$2,850	3	109	1	213	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%, SERVICE BRAKES 14%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
complaints: 109, below this model's typical 185 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 10 Score: 69 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	7Gas, Hybrid	23	295	$2,700	4	258	1	230	POWER TRAIN 19%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%
complaints: 258, in line with this model's typical 259 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 26 Score: 60 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	7Gas, Hybrid	23	295	$2,700	5	253	1	210	POWER TRAIN 17%, SERVICE BRAKES 16%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 253, below this model's typical 259 recalls: 5, above this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 24 Score: 55 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	7Gas, Hybrid	23	295	$2,700	3	454	1	150	POWER TRAIN 30%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 14%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 454, about 1.8x this model's typical 259 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 18 Score: 40 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	6Gas, Hybrid	29.5	295	$2,200	4	287	1	179	POWER TRAIN 33%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%, AIR BAGS 9%
complaints: 287, above this model's typical 222 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 Score: 51 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	6Gas, Hybrid	29.5	295	$2,200	4	448	1	163	POWER TRAIN 31%, SERVICE BRAKES 12%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 448, about 2x this model's typical 222 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 17 Score: 29 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	6Gas, Hybrid	29.5	295	$2,200	5	208	1	132	STRUCTURE 14%, POWER TRAIN 14%, SERVICE BRAKES 12%
complaints: 208, below this model's typical 222 recalls: 5, above this model's typical 4 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 Score: 43 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	6Gas, Hybrid	30	264	$2,150	9	156	0	86	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17%, STRUCTURE 14%, ENGINE 13%
complaints: 156, below this model's typical 222 recalls: 9, about 2.3x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 Score: 40 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	6Gas, Hybrid	30	no data	$2,150	7	38	0	56	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 24%, SERVICE BRAKES 16%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%
complaints: 38, below this model's typical 222 recalls: 7, about 1.8x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 Score: 62 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	5Gas, Hybrid	25	no data	$2,400	3	7	0	29	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 25%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 13%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 13%
complaints: 7, below this model's typical 185 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 Score: 87 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	3Gas, Hybrid	35	no data	$1,700	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2026

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2001: 18.5 to 2026: 35

Owner complaints2010: 238 to 2025: 7

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.