Toyota Highlander Toyota Highlander

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Toyota Highlander repairs by problem area

Engine (25%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (6%)

Brakes and Traction Control (12%)

Suspension and Steering (13%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (27%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (8%)

Other (8%)

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Chart based on 1172 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the Toyota Highlander.

Toyota Highlander body repair cost distribution

$2500+ (1%)

$1000 - $2499 (6%)

$500 - $999 (1%)

$100 - $499 (20%)

< $100 (71%)

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Chart based on 79 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2021 Toyota Highlander

Engine not specified

11000 mi Rattle in dash 

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2021 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

186-horsepower 2.5L I4 Hybrid CVT AWD

1524 mi Sunglass holder door did not work properly. It was replaced under warranty 

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2018 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

295-horsepower 3.5L V6 8-speed shiftable automatic FWD

5 mi Dash rattle in front of driver. 

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2018 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

295-horsepower 3.5L V6 8-speed shiftable automatic AWD

12438 mi Front grill chrome finish was faulty, replaced grill under warranty. 

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2017 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

295-horsepower 3.5L V6 8-speed shiftable automatic AWD

5000 mi Weatherstrip around sunroof had buckled requiring the replacement of the sunroof glass. 
10000 mi Rattle or creak in middle of dash by base of windshield. Not fixed. Only reproducible when it’s cold. Very loud. 

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2016 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

270-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

9000 mi Replaced window trim piece along bottom of passenger front window. Was catching wind and whistling while driving. Required part to be ordered again and another trip to get it correctly installed. 

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2016 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

270-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

2800 mi wind noise R side mirror--attempted repair, not successful 
4000 mi front passenger side door wind noise 
8300 mi Something in the driver seat is moving and "popping" out of place. Irritating when driving. Dealership then broke side of seat trim and needs to replace it. And now the original "fix" is already not working again. 
11500 mi Seat was doing same "popping" as before, this time the dealer disassembled the seat in house and diagnosed it as the lumbar needing grease which they did and solved it (so far!). 
148000 mi

US $2000
Replace rear hatch motor which has been damaged in a collision several years earlier 

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2015 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

270-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

58000 mi

US $100
Rubber window trim came out of door frame when window rolled down. Dealer replaced for labor cost only 

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2015 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

270-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

19840 mi Also had a squeak in the drivers door card, they removed and added a sound deadening kit, this took care if it. 
7000 mi After only 5000 miles the center console is showing wear through on the finish. Ours has a tan interior so the wear shows a darker plastic under the paint. Dealer says they'll replace it when it's worse or closer to end of warranty. 
28500 mi Replaced driver's seat cushion. 
32860 mi door panel wrinkled discoloured 

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2014 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

270-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

7700 mi Coin compartment door broke 
11000 mi Sunroof kept retracting on closing.would not close, as if obstructed. 
16200 mi Rubber boot on sunroof fell off and tore. 

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2014 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

270-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

32800 mi sun roof drain tube was crimped and had been leaking for awhile into the car under the carpets. All seats and floor carpet removed, mold killed on floor, replaced headliner, carpet and drain tubes. 
81000 mi

US $200
Leaking noted from roof of car into interior, owner removed trim of roof rails on both sides, caulked around the gaps present in drain holes, no more leaks 
15500 mi Driving over 60mph rattle and side trim came off. The trim was installed from the factory incorrect and then Toyota installed it incorrect.  
18000 mi Toyota decide to take it to a body shop to fix the trim. It got fixed by the body shop four time visit. 
29000 mi

US $1
again the side trim came off. second time. also the sunroof trim 
38000 mi The trim came apart again. They had to take it to a professional Body & Shop repair place. Still not right. 
25160 mi Roof rail gasket shrunk, dealer replaced roof rail and gasket. 
38440 mi Rear window struts rusted and were replaced. 
30000 mi Bolts that hold the struts to the window on the tailgate were starting to rust and we're repaired under warranty 
114000 mi

US $400
Sunroof motor and controller failed 
89000 mi

US $1400
Sunroof leaked and required track replacement. Don’t buy panoramic sunroofs! Sunroof interior covering not retracting. 
91000 mi

US $1400
Cost $1,400 to repair retraction roller after $4,000 spent in replacing sunroof track system. Which is to say the sunroof still does not work. Repair coverage denied by Toyota Financial Services Platinum Extended Warranty. 

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2013 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

72000 mi

US $239
Seat latch on rear seat was broken and had to be replaced 
3720 mi Replace loose driver's side grip assist handle, adjust top of driver's side door to eliminate wind noise. 
50000 mi Lots of air noise from day one 

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2012 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

27000 mi Drip rail molding came loose on both sides of the roof. Dealer replaced them with an updated piece at no charge. 
63700 mi Driver seat frame broken. 

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2012 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

145000 mi Popping noise from back door opening and closing, Toyota extended the warranty for this problem 
30000 mi Seal in back hatch window was coming off so dealer replaced it. 

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2012 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

245-horsepower 3.5L V6 Hybrid CVT AWD

105400 mi

C $2100
rust on back door near 

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2011 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

34000 mi Driver side visor hinge mechanism broke, will not flip up 
101000 mi Hinges for rear liftgate have been slightly bent such that a feeler gauge between the hinge and body exceeds 0.005'. Hinges were replaced per Toyota TSB. 
39000 mi

US $250
Moulding coming loose around driver's door and rear hatch windows. 

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2011 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

13400 mi rubber molding that forms part of the rain gutter system blew out, again. 
38000 mi

US $100
One lift strut for rear hatch has developed some sort of defect. Unsuccessful attempt to repair it. Repairable only by replacing the strut, a cost of over $500 with part and labor. Not worth this. 
67000 mi Entire rear hatch replaced under some kind of unpublicized recall. 
25000 mi Driver's side window had developed a rattling noise at speed, so I took it in to get it diagnosed and fixed. 
25700 mi Rattle was still occurring in driver's side window. Took the car back to the dealer, took them with me on a test drive so they could hear the noise for themselves, and then had them fix it. 
37820 mi some paint bubble up and some rust. 
35320 mi

C $200
Powered rear hatch strut came away from car body. 
23500 mi bolt which holds drivers side window track fell out 
14000 mi Rubber roof molding strip came loose 
86000 mi

US $70
The sun visor on the driver side broke. You could not lift it up or pull it down. Husband bought a new one offline and replaced it. 

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2011 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

245-horsepower 3.5L V6 Hybrid CVT AWD

85800 mi

C $90
Rust on the tailgate. Car is less than 5 years but more than 100000 km dealer said nothing can be done. 
130200 mi

C $300
Paint over 3 big spots of rust on tailgate. Rust came again. 

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2011 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

187-horsepower 2.7L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

26000 mi Loose roof trim. Long piece of rubber trim under passenger of roof. Under the roof-rack 
26500 mi Loose roof trim. Long piece of rubber trim under passenger of roof. Under the roof-rack 
61460 mi

C $120
Driver Sunvisor broke. Later Toyota issued a recall, apparently wide spread sunvisor problem. 
91760 mi

C $130
Right side sunvisor replaced (noise, trepidation, very loose) 

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2010 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

5000 mi Interior trim replacement Rear window replacement 
70000 mi Driver sun visor broke. Dealer replaced no charge. Toyota stands behind their product. 
104200 mi Driver Sunvisor Stuck in down position 
111000 mi Sun visor repair covered under extended warranty 

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2010 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

16000 mi One of the end caps on the running boards fell off. 
30000 mi Rust forming around tailgate rear wiper and below license plate. Toyota Rep said it was caused by scratches, but at goodwill would cover 1/2 the cost to repaint, should we choose to have it repainted 

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2010 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

245-horsepower 3.5L V6 Hybrid CVT AWD

64400 mi

US $189
Drivers window made noise when lowered 

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2010 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

187-horsepower 2.7L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

63900 mi

US $78
Passenger arm rest on door panel broke and sunk in. Dealer refuse to fix it. Ridiculous to pay $600 for a door panel just because of arm rest. Vehicle is only four years old and interior parts shouldn't break like this. 
71000 mi Passenger arm rest on door panel broke and sunk in. 

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2008 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

212000 mi

US $250
Plastic trim on drivers seat with seat controls came loose 

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2008 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

118500 mi

US $2000
Driver visor no longer stayed up 
46000 mi

US $87
Plugged AC condenser hose caused water to seep in and drench front footwells. Dealer cleared the hose and wash/dry carpet. 
54200 mi Door panel rusting at bottom. Dealer will not fix until rusted completely through. Will be covered until 5 year warranty expires in October. 
55300 mi

US $104
Paint was wearing off on all exterior handles 
105000 mi

US $80
Discussed rust by door handles and around doors - didn't fix 
11000 mi

US $30
Under the drivers side door arm rest cushion is a plastic support piece. This piece cracked. It supports the arm rest cusion from inside the arm rest. 
97000 mi

US $300
Sunroof drains clogged. Shop drilled new holes for drainage. 

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2008 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

209-horsepower 3.3L V6 Hybrid CVT AWD

66960 mi

€400
Factory default rust points hatchback below tailgate. Toyota would fix that for nothing in USA - but not in Germany... 

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2007 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

215-horsepower 3.3L V6 5-speed automatic AWD

93000 mi Sunroof drainhose blocked Repair Shop blew air through hose and washed out the blockage. No Charge for Repairs. 
105000 mi

US $120
Moonroof leak. We've had people use compressed air to open the drain hose but it just gets blocked again and again. It may very well be that the drain hose from the front passenger corner is perforated somehow. 

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2007 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

208-horsepower 3.3L V6 Hybrid CVT FWD

63000 mi The driver's side sun visor had lost its "grip" and would not hold when I tried to fold it up out of sight. 

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2006 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

208-horsepower 3.3L V6 Hybrid CVT FWD

143500 mi Sunroof stopped opening and closing. 
51000 mi Tear in leather fixed under warranty. 

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2005 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

230-horsepower 3.3L V6 5-speed automatic AWD

40000 mi

US $700
Sunroof came off track and the gears that open and close it became jammed. Had to have entire sunroof replaced. 

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2004 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

230-horsepower 3.3L V6 5-speed automatic AWD

130000 mi seat belt would not buckle 
44000 mi Cable on sunroof snapped 
44640 mi Noise coming from front fender drivers side when driving into the wind, was inner plastic guard in wheel well 

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2003 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

220-horsepower 3.0L V6 4-speed automatic FWD

120000 mi

US $10
headlight lens cloudy and yellowed, we buffed them clear with 3M cleaner. 

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2003 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

220-horsepower 3.0L V6 4-speed automatic AWD

64000 mi Front mud flaps started to tear due to wind resistance on freeway 

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Toyota Highlander Body Problems

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 Toyota Highlander problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.