Toyota Highlander 2008–2013
2nd generation (XU40)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20261,690 complaints, 1,311 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 18,250 and 93,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 19 complaints (1.4%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 3,000
- 25%
- 18,250
- Median
- 53,275
- 75%
- 93,000
- 90%
- 136,055
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 157 | 12.0% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 80 | 6.1% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 53 | 4.0% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 47 | 3.6% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 48 | 3.7% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 38 | 2.9% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 49 | 3.7% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 43 | 3.3% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 40 | 3.1% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 51 | 3.9% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 61 | 4.7% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 58 | 4.4% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 52 | 4.0% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 26 | 2.0% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 57 | 4.3% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 29 | 2.2% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 33 | 2.5% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 30 | 2.3% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 41 | 3.1% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 27 | 2.1% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 42 | 3.2% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 21 | 1.6% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 16 | 1.2% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 16 | 1.2% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 20 | 1.5% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 25 | 1.9% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 16 | 1.2% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 14 | 1.1% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 18 | 1.4% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 9 | 0.7% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 13 | 1.0% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 14 | 1.1% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 17 | 1.3% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 5 | 0.4% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 7 | 0.5% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 6 | 0.5% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 6 | 0.5% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 19 | 1.4% |
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 1,690 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008–2013 Toyota Highlander, and 1,311 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 18,250 and 93,000 miles. The median is 53,275 miles.
The most-reported areas are the steering (11.8% of complaints, typically around 67,000 miles), the electrical system (11.5% of complaints, typically around 56,000 miles), the engine (9.3% of complaints, typically around 88,000 miles).
13 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Steering67,000median 66,943 miles, middle half 46,000 to 99,000
- Electrical system56,000median 55,690 miles, middle half 26,000 to 92,000
- Engine88,000median 87,822 miles, middle half 45,000 to 122,000
- Brakes94,000median 94,154 miles, middle half 33,000 to 162,000
- Throttle and speed control11,000median 11,466 miles, middle half 3,500 to 35,000
- Airbag system72,000median 72,200 miles, middle half 49,000 to 100,000
- Body structure49,000median 49,000 miles, middle half 28,000 to 75,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 199 | 11.8% | 67,000 | 46,000–99,000 |
| Electrical system | 194 | 11.5% | 56,000 | 26,000–92,000 |
| Engine | 158 | 9.3% | 88,000 | 45,000–122,000 |
| Brakes | 152 | 9.0% | 94,000 | 33,000–162,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 140 | 8.3% | 11,000 | 3,500–35,000 |
| Airbag system | 117 | 6.9% | 72,000 | 49,000–100,000 |
| Body structure | 106 | 6.3% | 49,000 | 28,000–75,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 97 | 5.7% | 71,000 | 50,000–96,000 |
| Visibility/wiper | 86 | 5.1% | 50,000 | 35,000–63,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 67 | 4.0% | 12,000 | 4,000–49,000 |
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 53,275 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The steering accounts for 11.8% of complaints (199 reports, 170 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 66,943 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 46,500 and 98,812 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 11.5% of complaints (194 reports, 153 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,690 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 26,500 and 91,650 miles.
The engine accounts for 9.3% of complaints (158 reports, 125 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 87,822 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 45,000 and 121,931 miles.
The brakes account for 9.0% of complaints (152 reports, 81 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail late — a median of 94,154 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 33,000 and 162,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 8.3% of complaints (140 reports, 124 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 11,466 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,500 and 35,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 6.9% of complaints (117 reports, 88 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 72,200 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 49,000 and 100,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2008 model year drew the most — 502 complaints — while 2009 drew the fewest at 178. The median year sits at 250.
That makes 2008 an outlier: roughly 2.0 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 13 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 (4), equipment (3), visibility equipment (2). 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 1,690 complaints filed against this generation, 174 reported a crash; 35 reported a fire; 134 reported an injury; 2 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 10.3% 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 18,250 and 93,000 miles, with a median of 53,275. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the steering and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 55,690, 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 2008–2011
2GR-FE VVT-i oil supply line rupture: the rubber section of the variable valve timing oil hose can burst, dumping oil rapidly and causing engine damage. Recall covered 2GR-FE vehicles from roughly MY2007-2011, replacing the hose with an all-metal line.
Electrical
Power window master switch overheating, a multi-model Toyota recall.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 502 | 385 |
| 2009 | 178 | 145 |
| 2010 | 272 | 214 |
| 2011 | 229 | 183 |
| 2012 | 228 | 158 |
| 2013 | 281 | 226 |
Recalls (13)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 16V396000 | 2016-07-14 | Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/Cooler |
| 15V689000 | 2015-11-25 | Visibility:power Window Devices and Controls |
| 14V743000 | 2015-01-29 | Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/Cooler |
| 14V168000 | 2014-10-27 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 14V148000 | 2014-05-21 | Seats |
| 13V123000 | 2013-05-28 | Equipment:other:labels |
| 13V014000 | 2013-03-21 | Seats |
| 12V491000 | 2012-11-05 | Visibility:power Window Devices and Controls |
| 11V245000 | 2012-01-09 | Air Bags:side/Window |
| 10V036000 | 2010-05-27 | Equipment:other:labels |
| 10V035000 | 2010-05-27 | Equipment:other:labels |
| 10V023000 | 2010-03-30 | Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal |
| 10V017000 | 2010-02-05 | Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal |
What owners reported
May 2021 update: 2008 Highlander hybrid 184,xxxmi i own a 2008 Highlander hybrid in great shape, minus internal leakage in my brake actuator assembly. My car threw the death code [c1391] which is the indication that this is the issue. The screen inside the car flashed ABS // VSC // check brake system. The car was…
2008 · 2 miles · Brakes
Our 2008 Toyota Highlander has had the same intermittent braking problem since we purchased it in 2008. When we brake for the first second or so of depressing the brake pedal the brakes will either not respond or there will be a slight surge in acceleration. After further depression of the brake pedal, the brakes…
2008 · 100 miles · Electronic brake control
This is an intermittent problem with acceleration we have had with our Toyota Highlander since we purchased the vehicle. When accelerating, the vehicle will periodically over-rev before the automatic transmission shifts into the appropriate gear. This results in a momentary lack of acceleration. Again this is an…
2008 · 100 miles · Throttle and speed control
2008 Toyota Highlander fails to shift into gear. Most occurrences at low speed after slowing to 5mph vehicle does not respond to gas pedal - or will not engage into gear and move forward. This occurs or is most noticeable at slow speeds when the gas pedal is pushed after having slowed down or in the midst of a slow…
2008 · 100 miles · Fuel system
Built from 1,311 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page