Toyota Highlander — YEARS TO AVOID

Data updated 2026-08-02. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

Avoid: 2021, 2019 · Best bets: 2024, 2016, 2007, 2014, 2009, 2001

COMPLAINT HISTORY

Complaints per year, Toyota Highlander Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2026 highlighted. 1997: 1 complaints 1997 1998: 1 complaints 1999: 0 complaints 2000: 0 complaints 2001: 137 complaints 2001 2002: 301 complaints 2003: 258 complaints 2004: 286 complaints 2005: 224 complaints 2005 2006: 274 complaints 2007: 123 complaints 2008: 403 complaints 2009: 134 complaints 2009 2010: 216 complaints 2011: 181 complaints 2012: 181 complaints 2013: 205 complaints 2013 2014: 133 complaints 2015: 186 complaints 2016: 109 complaints 2017: 260 complaints 2017 2018: 254 complaints 2019: 463 complaints 2020: 298 complaints 2021: 471 complaints 2021 2022: 219 complaints 2023: 162 complaints 2024: 39 complaints 2025: 7 complaints 2025 2026: 1 complaints 2026
2026: 1 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19971
19981
19990
20000
2001137
2002301
2003258
2004286
2005224
2006274
2007123
2008403
2009134
2010216
2011181
2012181
2013205
2014133
2015186
2016109
2017260
2018254
2019463
2020298
2021471
2022219
2023162
202439
20257
20261

EVERY YEAR, RANKED

YearRankingComplaintsWhy
2026 Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2025 Not enough data 7 Only 7 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2024 Recommended 39 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2023 Recommended 162 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2022 Recommended 219 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2021 Avoid 471 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2020 Caution 298 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2019 Avoid 463 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2018 Recommended 254 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2017 Recommended 260 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2016 Recommended 109 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2015 Recommended 186 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2014 Recommended 133 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2013 Recommended 205 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2012 Recommended 181 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2011 Recommended 181 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2010 Recommended 216 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2009 Recommended 134 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2008 Caution 403 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2007 Recommended 123 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2006 Recommended 274 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2005 Recommended 224 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2004 Caution 286 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2003 Recommended 258 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2002 Caution 301 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2001 Recommended 137 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2000 Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1999 Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1998 Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1997 Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.