2009 Toyota Highlander: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 177 complaints
177
Total Complaints
58,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE
Top Issue
7
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

15,000 25th Percentile
58,000 Median Mileage
93,271 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE
23
SERVICE BRAKES
21
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
19
STEERING
11
STRUCTURE:BODY
11
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
10
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
5
TIRES
5
SUSPENSION
5

Severity Assessment

7
Crashes
7
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"I INSTALLED WINTER TIRES AND WHEELS WITH OEM TPMS AND WAS NOT ABLE TO RESET THE CAR TO RECOGNIZE THESE NEW SENSORS. I'M TOLD THAT I HAVE TO HAVE THE DEALER RESET THE SYSTEM TWICE A YEAR WHEN I CHANGE WHEELS AND TIRES OR LET THE SYSTEM READ FAILURE UNTIL I SWAP BACK THE ORIGINAL WHEELS AND TIRES. ..."
"MY 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH KEYLESS START ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF WHEN NOT IN PARK AND THE VEHICLE STARTS MOVING. IT ALSO WILL TURN OFF IN REVERSE, OR NEUTRAL AND WILL TURN BACK ON IN NEUTRAL AND WILL ALSO TURN OFF IN DRIVE. THIS DOES NOT FEEL SAFE AND SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY INVESTIGATED..."
"MY 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH KEYLESS START ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF WHEN NOT IN PARK AND THE VEHICLE STARTS MOVING. IT ALSO WILL TURN OFF IN REVERSE, OR NEUTRAL AND WILL TURN BACK ON IN NEUTRAL AND WILL ALSO TURN OFF IN DRIVE. THIS DOES NOT FEEL SAFE AND SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY INVESTIGATED..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28