Toyota Highlander 2001–2007
1st generation (XU20)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20261,940 complaints, 1,442 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 33,000 and 107,578 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 49 complaints (3.4%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 5,000
- 25%
- 33,000
- Median
- 67,276
- 75%
- 107,578
- 90%
- 150,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 140 | 9.7% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 43 | 3.0% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 37 | 2.6% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 38 | 2.6% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 28 | 1.9% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 43 | 3.0% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 39 | 2.7% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 48 | 3.3% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 47 | 3.3% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 49 | 3.4% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 69 | 4.8% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 50 | 3.5% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 61 | 4.2% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 45 | 3.1% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 37 | 2.6% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 47 | 3.3% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 41 | 2.8% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 42 | 2.9% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 42 | 2.9% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 41 | 2.8% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 71 | 4.9% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 36 | 2.5% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 31 | 2.1% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 24 | 1.7% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 34 | 2.4% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 30 | 2.1% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 15 | 1.0% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 25 | 1.7% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 23 | 1.6% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 17 | 1.2% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 31 | 2.1% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 10 | 0.7% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 11 | 0.8% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 9 | 0.6% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 9 | 0.6% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 9 | 0.6% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 5 | 0.3% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 6 | 0.4% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 6 | 0.4% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 200,000+ | 49 | 3.4% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 1,940 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001–2007 Toyota Highlander, and 1,442 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 33,000 and 107,578 miles. The median is 67,276 miles.
The most-reported areas are visibility equipment (12.4% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles), throttle and speed control (11.0% of complaints, typically around 51,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (9.7% of complaints, typically around 47,000 miles).
7 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Visibility equipment60,000median 60,500 miles, middle half 42,000 to 85,000
- Throttle and speed control51,000median 50,740 miles, middle half 24,000 to 90,000
- Transmission and driveline47,000median 47,194 miles, middle half 5,000 to 90,000
- Engine and its cooling system75,000median 75,000 miles, middle half 40,000 to 111,000
- Brakes129,000median 129,000 miles, middle half 90,000 to 170,000
- Electrical system79,000median 79,000 miles, middle half 39,000 to 120,000
- Hydraulic brake circuit46,000median 46,000 miles, middle half 13,000 to 73,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility equipment | 240 | 12.4% | 60,000 | 42,000–85,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 214 | 11.0% | 51,000 | 24,000–90,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 189 | 9.7% | 47,000 | 5,000–90,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 143 | 7.4% | 75,000 | 40,000–111,000 |
| Brakes | 125 | 6.4% | 129,000 | 90,000–170,000 |
| Electrical system | 125 | 6.4% | 79,000 | 39,000–120,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 103 | 5.3% | 46,000 | 13,000–73,000 |
| Engine | 98 | 5.1% | 113,000 | 91,000–140,000 |
| Steering | 92 | 4.7% | 55,000 | 39,000–90,000 |
| Body structure | 81 | 4.2% | 50,000 | 6,000–104,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 67,276 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
Visibility equipment accounts for 12.4% of complaints (240 reports, 164 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,000 and 85,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 11.0% of complaints (214 reports, 166 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 50,740 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 24,000 and 90,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 9.7% of complaints (189 reports, 136 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 47,194 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,000 and 89,500 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 7.4% of complaints (143 reports, 126 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 111,400 miles.
The brakes account for 6.4% of complaints (125 reports, 81 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail late — a median of 129,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 90,000 and 169,563 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 6.4% of complaints (125 reports, 97 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 79,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 39,050 and 120,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2006 model year drew the most — 346 complaints — while 2001 drew the fewest at 158. The median year sits at 316.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 7 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around seats (2), equipment (2), the engine and its cooling system (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 1,940 complaints filed against this generation, 243 reported a crash; 27 reported a fire; 159 reported an injury; 52 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 12.5% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 33,000 and 107,578 miles, with a median of 67,276. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, visibility equipment and throttle and speed control are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Throttle and speed control in particular shows a median failure mileage of 50,740, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Engine 2001–2003
1MZ-FE V6 oil gelling/sludge: the crankcase ventilation and oil return design allowed sludge to form and block oil passages, causing bearing and camshaft damage. Toyota ran an Oil Gel Customer Support Program covering the affected engine family.
Engine
2AZ-FE four-cylinder excessive oil consumption from piston ring design, and stripped cylinder head bolt threads in the aluminium block causing head gasket failure.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 158 | 91 |
| 2002 | 335 | 228 |
| 2003 | 316 | 263 |
| 2004 | 337 | 274 |
| 2005 | 289 | 223 |
| 2006 | 346 | 249 |
| 2007 | 159 | 114 |
Recalls (7)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 16V396000 | 2016-07-14 | Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/Cooler |
| 14V743000 | 2015-01-29 | Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/Cooler |
| 11V539000 | 2011-12-31 | Engine and Engine Cooling |
| 11V112000 | 2011-05-06 | Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal |
| 10V499000 | 2010-11-15 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder |
| 10V036000 | 2010-05-27 | Equipment:other:labels |
| 10V035000 | 2010-05-27 | Equipment:other:labels |
What owners reported
When 2001 Toyota Highlander is started when cold, below 30 degrees f, air bag light blinks until 1) car warms up 2) car is restarted. I have been told by dealer that when light is blinking, air bags are inoperable. Ordinarily this car is kept in a garage so it is not very often started when below 30 f. I believe…
2001 · Airbag system
I bought a Toyota Highlander in 2001. I think my car does have a brake problem. When i apply brakes at speed over 50 miles, car is vibrating and hard to stop. I have to stop applying brake. After buying a car, i took it to the dealer, and the sales agent said, "it is not a brake problem, it is because of hard…
2001 · 200 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit
Frequently when the brake pedal was depressed the pedal went to the floor, which caused the brakes not to stop immediately in a panic or emergency situation. Dealership indicated that this was normal for the brake system for this vehicle. Three different mechanics inspected the brake system, and determined that the…
2001 · 2,000 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit
Built from 1,442 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page