2005 Toyota Highlander Toyota Highlander 2005

We are 103,000+ car owners sharing real-world car information.

Join Us

2005 Toyota Highlander repairs by problem area

Engine (19%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (8%)

Brakes and Traction Control (25%)

Suspension and Steering (18%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (25%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (1%)

Other (4%)

Chart based on 73 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2005 Toyota Highlander.

2005 Toyota Highlander repair cost distribution

$2500+ (5%)

$1000 - $2499 (22%)

$500 - $999 (12%)

$100 - $499 (37%)

< $100 (25%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 65 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2005 Toyota Highlander

Engine not specified

Toyota Highlander in California, United States
Oct 2014 - Mar 2015
Oct 2014

112000 mi

US $425
Water pump was leaking - replaced water pump and then replaced the serpentine belt due to the condition of it at the time while they were in there (saved us on labor) 

Return to top

2005 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

230-horsepower 3.3L V6 5-speed automatic FWD

Toyota Highlander in Florida, United States
Nov 2011 - Apr 2017
Mar 2012

202000 mi

US $325
Wheel bearing 
May 2012

206000 mi
Pulley crank needed to be replaced. TSB issued, repair was covered. 
Jul 2012

208800 mi

US $675
Power steering pump failed 
Aug 2012

211700 mi
Storage vibration/ loss of power. Mechanic says its CV joints, but not sure I believe it. Need 2nd opinion from dealership. 
Mar 2013

242000 mi

US $160
Bad brake pads, stuck caliper 
Jul 2013

244000 mi

US $500
Hesitation and loss of power. Replaced coil, injectors cleaned. 
Aug 2013

244000 mi

US $1500
Vibration in front end. Front axle replaced. Loss of power. Replaced catalytic converter. 
Jun 2014

249000 mi

US $1500
Worn shocks, worn brake rotors, worn tires 
Nov 2016

301200 mi

US $1000
Torn CV boot- axle went bad. Timing belt, water pump 
Mar 2017

307000 mi

US $300
Passenger rear window actuator 
Toyota Highlander in California, United States
Apr 2011 - Jun 2018
Nov 2012

65600 mi

US $100
battery 
Sep 2017

84444 mi

US $250
Oil change, tire rotation, cabin filter 
Toyota Highlander in Florida, United States
May 2012 - May 2013
Apr 2013

99000 mi
Condensor clutch failing 
Toyota Highlander in Arizona, United States
Dec 2012 - Feb 2017
Feb 2013

67700 mi

US $500
Front upper control arms replaced. 
Mar 2013

69000 mi

US $350
Heater hoses replaced. 
Oct 2014

80000 mi

US $140
front passenger tire had a lot of wiggle room. Noticed at initial speed of 40 mph. Eventually got worse, and more easily heard at 20 mph. 
Feb 2017

120000 mi

US $149
Heard brakes squealing intermittently. Also noticed when parking brake engaged, car still moved and squealing was louder. R/R rear pads, R/F brake fluid, caliper and rotor inspected - determined still good, Parking brake reset. 
Toyota Highlander in Ohio, United States
Oct 2013 - Feb 2018
Apr 2017

135000 mi

US $464
Brake piston seized; both front rotors and calipers replaced 
May 2017

139000 mi

US $100
brakes worn; rear rotors and pads replaced 
Toyota Highlander in California, United States
Jul 2010 - Dec 2017
Jul 2014

82500 mi

US $10
Driver door electric lock failed. Toyota quoted estate $560.00. I fixed in 1.5 hrs for cost of a $10.00 part. Thanks to youtube tutorial. Dare to do it yourself. 
Mar 2017

111000 mi

US $400
alternator 
Toyota Highlander in Alberta, Canada
Nov 2010 - Jan 2011
Jan 2011

C $3200
We found the heater to blow cooler air on passenger side than the drivers side to repair it was quoted at 3200.00. for a new one so, never fixed it. 
Toyota Highlander in Georgia, United States
Jul 2010 - Jul 2012
Aug 2011

64000 mi

US $350
Alternator was whining - had it replaced. 

Return to top

2005 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

230-horsepower 3.3L V6 5-speed automatic AWD

Toyota Highlander in California, United States
May 2016 - Jun 2016
Jun 2016

79000 mi
Brakes needed routine maintenance brake pads were replaced upon driving unexpectedly breaks locked up in order to gain control pumps brakes several times only for this to reoccur and eventually cause smoking of rear brakes 
Toyota Highlander in Utah, United States
Jul 2013 - Jun 2022
Aug 2013

104000 mi
Some sensors were replaced under used car sale warranty. 
Jul 2014

117500 mi
Back passenger side power window quit working. The lifting arm had come off the track. Fixed it and then it happened again. Ended up putting it back on, raising window completely, and pulling fuse so the problem wouldn't repeat. 
Sep 2016

158000 mi
The other rear passenger power window has also now quit staying on the track and had to manually raise it and remove fuse. Now both rear passenger power windows are inoperable. 
Toyota Highlander in Missouri, United States
Feb 2015 - Dec 2016
Mar 2015

161000 mi

US $1147
R front caliper froze. Replaced calipers (both), pads, turned both rotors.  Replaced steering link. Replaced worn U joints. 
Sep 2015

179000 mi

US $40
Headlight connector had melted. Wiring loom was replaced. Replaced the bulb but was out again a week later. 
Toyota Highlander in Virginia, United States
- Jul 2007
Jul 2007

40000 mi

US $700
Sunroof came off track and the gears that open and close it became jammed. Had to have entire sunroof replaced. 
Toyota Highlander in Ontario, Canada
Mar 2018 - Jun 2022
Apr 2019

102300 mi

C $1500
Rear brakes are rusted out and it had to be replaced 
Dec 2019

109740 mi

C $650
Power steering pump return line to reservoir was rusted out and leaking 
Aug 2020

111113 mi

C $1100
Front brakes are rusted out and it had to be replaced 
Toyota Highlander in Colorado, United States
Mar 2011 - Jul 2022
Jul 2016

80300 mi

US $200
Cabin temp was not being controlled per setting of temp knob. Temp control assy removed from dash and found broken wires between potentiometer and circuit board. Desoldered broken wires, soldered new wires and reinstalled temp control assy. 
Sep 2016

82000 mi
Could not raise right rear passenger window 
Toyota Highlander in New Jersey, United States
Aug 2010 - Jul 2018
Nov 2010

51300 mi
"frozen" caliper rear brake; replaced under Toyota extended warranty. 
Mar 2013

67000 mi

US $900
frozen caliper (right front) 
Jun 2013

69000 mi

US $50
repaired rusted exhaust system brackets. 
Nov 2013

73700 mi

US $200
Right rear caliper pins "frozen" 
Oct 2014

90000 mi

US $2200
Rear brakes rusted rotors, rt rear sliding pins frozen. Power steering line leaking, rotted. 
Dec 2016

118000 mi

US $200
Rear calipers "frozen". 
Jun 2017

125000 mi

US $50
Adjust rear brakes for noise. 
Toyota Highlander in Colorado, United States
Jul 2012 - Dec 2015
Jul 2015

203500 mi

US $1100
Wheel bearings needed to be replaced 
Nov 2015

206000 mi

US $1000
Water pump leak. Dead battery 
Toyota Highlander in Pennsylvania, United States
Jul 2010 - Mar 2012
Jun 2011

59000 mi
Park brake cable jammed, locking rear wheel. Fixed by owner. Leak developed in the transfer case, repaired by the dealer. 
Dec 2011

64000 mi

US $550
Rear Wheel Bearing 
Toyota Highlander in Pennsylvania, United States
Jul 2007 - Jul 2020
Apr 2007

28994 mi
Recalibrate ECM to reduce hesitation under warranty Replaced HVAC damper servo under warranty 
Sep 2008

39604 mi
Replaced oxygen sensor under warranty 
Aug 2014

76000 mi

US $1780
Brakes shuddered upon firm application. Three calipers/pistons were found siezed. All calipers plus rotors replaced. Possible factor was non-usage of the vehicle for days or more last winter after driving over salted, slushy roads. 
Dec 2015

96000 mi

US $260
Replaced corroded power steering fluid return line. 
Apr 2017

113000 mi

US $732
Rear caliper seized. Replaced both rear calipers, pads, rotors, and hoses. Changed brake fluid. 
Oct 2018

134000 mi

US $35
Verify small oil leak from front differential (4WD). Top off oil. 
Toyota Highlander in Ontario, Canada
Jul 2010 - Jul 2012
Jun 2011

83700 mi

C $3000
Heater failed- problem was wiring to controls 
Toyota Highlander in Minnesota, United States
Jul 2011 - Aug 2011
Aug 2011

110000 mi

US $1500
both rear wheel bearings had to be replaced 
Toyota Highlander in California, United States
Jul 2010 - Nov 2014
Sep 2010

118000 mi

US $1000
Worn struts replaced 
Toyota Highlander in New Jersey, United States
Dec 2011 - Mar 2016
Dec 2015

112000 mi

US $100
Dirty injector causing rough idle. Injector cleaner cleared it put after using 1/2 tank of gas. 

Return to top

2005 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

160-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

Toyota Highlander in Massachusetts, United States
Aug 2017 - Apr 2018
Feb 2018

156680 mi

US $450
Battery wasn’t charging, random dash warning lights came on. Alternator, serpentine belt replaced 
Apr 2018

159000 mi

US $110
The rear windows wouldn't go up using the driver's seat switch. I believe the switch got too wet when the car was detailed. I replaced the power window master switch replaced (with a used switch from eBay) 
Toyota Highlander in North Carolina, United States
Jul 2010 - Mar 2011
Nov 2010

71000 mi

US $400
Leaking water pump housing 
Toyota Highlander in Florida, United States
Jul 2010 - Sep 2015
Dec 2011

78000 mi

US $382
I had to have the alternator and battery replaced. 
Jul 2012

84500 mi

US $375
replaced a/c control head with reconditioned one. 
Sep 2012

87000 mi

US $1000
replaced ac compressor and evaporator 
Jun 2014

103000 mi

US $1600
I had a/c repairs done approx. 3 years ago. At that time, unknown to me, the repair shop did their own electrical modification to the a/c system. It shorted out this June and resulted in major repairs to the a/c system. 
Sep 2015

116000 mi

US $4400
blown engine replaced with a used engine 

Return to top

See TrueDelta's information for all SUVs
See TrueDelta's information for all Toyota models.

2005 Toyota Highlander Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2005 Toyota Highlander problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.