2010 Toyota Highlander Toyota Highlander 2010

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2010 Toyota Highlander repairs by problem area

Engine (8%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (8%)

Brakes and Traction Control (2%)

Suspension and Steering (18%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (25%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (15%)

Other (23%)

Chart based on 60 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2010 Toyota Highlander.

2010 Toyota Highlander repair cost distribution

$2500+ (0%)

$1000 - $2499 (9%)

$500 - $999 (11%)

$100 - $499 (18%)

< $100 (61%)

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

Chart based on 44 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2010 Toyota Highlander

Engine not specified

Toyota Highlander in Illinois, United States
Jul 2011 - Aug 2011
Aug 2011

29000 mi
Bearing worn out. Replaced under warranty. 

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2010 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

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

Toyota Highlander in Districto Federal, Mexico
Jun 2011 - Oct 2021
Oct 2011

12400 mi
Check engine light turned on while on a 400 km trip back from sea level to Mexico City (2,300m OSL). Car was left for two days at dealership. The mechanic said the cause was transmission overheating, fluid changed as a precaution. 
Aug 2012

24260 mi
Driver window elevator failed to work properly. Window could not be kept closed. Dealership changed window elevator for free, as part of original warranty. 
Sep 2014

47120 mi

$800
Steering column was replaced after identifying extreme wear in a joint. 
Apr 2016

63840 mi

$1500
Steering column noise first occurred in 2015. After dealer analysis, replacement of steering column was necessary and done. In early March, steering column noise appeared again which required replacement of parts again. 
Toyota Highlander in Arkansas, United States
Jun 2011 - Feb 2017
Sep 2015

87000 mi

US $400
Struts were worn out so that car suspension felt wobbly on bumps Lower steering shaft needed to be replaced. Steering shaft would "clunk" when steering wheel was turned at very slow speed. This is a common problem reported on the internet (there is a TSB and Toyota redesigned the shaft) 
Toyota Highlander in Kentucky, United States
Nov 2014 - Jul 2018
Apr 2015

70000 mi
Driver sun visor broke. Dealer replaced no charge. Toyota stands behind their product. 
Toyota Highlander in California, United States
Sep 2013 - Jun 2018
Jan 2015

104200 mi
Intermediate Shaft replaced due to popping/knocking when turning at low speeds Radio volume knob intermittent. Rotary encoder going bad. Entire Radio Replaced. Non Nav, Non JBL, OEM deck Driver Sunvisor Stuck in down position 
Jun 2016

111000 mi
Sun visor repair covered under extended warranty 
Toyota Highlander in Alabama, United States
Jan 2016 - Jul 2016
Jun 2016

97000 mi

US $400
The back hatch/door's struts/shocks fail to keep it raised and open-- as in the only way to open and keep it open is to physically hold it up. All methods of raising it have this same result (key fob, manually, driver button) 
Toyota Highlander in Texas, United States
- Mar 2011
Oct 2010

5000 mi
Interior trim replacement Rear window replacement 

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2010 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

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

Toyota Highlander in Missouri, United States
Nov 2016 - Dec 2017
Dec 2017

67000 mi

US $1200
Water pump was replaced. 
Toyota Highlander in California, United States
Sep 2011 - Jan 2014
Jun 2013

41000 mi

US $240
Driver's side sun visor broke, and it would not properly go down. It went down too far (in the down position) which was a safety issue because I couldn't see in front of me. 
Toyota Highlander in Wisconsin, United States
Feb 2013 - Jun 2018
Sep 2013

37000 mi
One of the pins holding the drivers side window fell out, inside the door. The glass tilted erratically when raising/lowering the window. Dealer fixed it "no charge" while in for an oil change and out of warranty, since oil change took 4hr! 
Sep 2017

100000 mi

US $1199
Brake job + Rotors for shaking/vibration and excessive wear. 
Toyota Highlander in New York, United States
Jun 2013 - Jun 2022
Jun 2014

29000 mi
Alarm system - defective hood sensor 
Oct 2014

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 
Toyota Highlander in California, United States
Jun 2011 - Apr 2012
Sep 2011

31000 mi
Windows do not function properly (cannot open or close). Dealer ordered part but did not repair. Transmission leak. Shop could not find where leak originated from, and painted transmission over to identify leak next time. Front shocks leak Water freezes in doors. Shop could not figure out why because weep holes were clear of junk 
Nov 2011

33000 mi
oily transmission. Dealer conclusion was that this is not unusual leak, not a problem. Windows do not function properly 
Toyota Highlander in Texas, United States
Apr 2012 - Dec 2012
May 2012

16000 mi
One of the end caps on the running boards fell off. 
Toyota Highlander in Ohio, United States
Jun 2011 - Mar 2016
May 2015

56000 mi

US $100
Driver door window was making a popping sound. Dealer repaired following Toyota TSB. 
Toyota Highlander in New Jersey, United States
Jun 2011 - Apr 2013
Jan 2012

12000 mi
Oil leak. Faulty hose that started leaking after standard oil change. 
Toyota Highlander in Quebec, Canada
Jun 2011 - Apr 2016
May 2014

55840 mi
had to replace the motor for rear window wiper 
Toyota Highlander in Missouri, United States
Jun 2011 - Jun 2022
Sep 2011

34000 mi
Bolt fell out from drivers side electric window. The window would not go all the way down and would slam shut in the up position. 
Oct 2011

35400 mi
Replaced Left head light, drivers side. Replaced Left head light, drivers side!!! 
Jan 2012

40000 mi
Excessive corrosion on Positive battery terminal and Bat lock down bracket. Never happened to my 2005. Battery has gone dead twice with just the radio on. Doesn't seem to be long lasting. Probably need a new bat less than 2 yrs old. 
May 2012

48100 mi
Electrolyte level low in three cells of the battery. Added that filtered water. 
Jul 2013

81200 mi
Recurring problem- loose bolt in window scissor mechanism. Caused window to slam shut in closed positipn. Repaired myself this time. Used lock-tight to secure bolt. 
Mar 2015

118000 mi

US $4
Per Costco mechanic-aluminum cover on lug nuts allows road water and salt to get between lug nut and cover causing corrosion. The cover swells up larger than the 24mm. It is Difficult to remove the lug nuts. Replace lug nuts or gap. 
Jan 2018

158900 mi
Alarm would indiscriminately sound off. Most times where 2 or 4 AM. Per internet removed the hood latch limit switch. No more problem but now can’t set up alarm. Dealer Getty too expensive and too evasive about repairs to consider using that company!!! 
Toyota Highlander in Missouri, United States
Jan 2012 - Nov 2012
Aug 2012

43500 mi

US $750
Rear hatch latch was defective causing constant warnings about the rear hatch being open. Car alarm would occasionally be set off, too. 
Toyota Highlander in Indiana, United States
Jun 2011 - Jul 2013
Jun 2012

55000 mi

US $100
Drivers side power window motor fell out of its mounts. The window was inoperable and fell out of the track. 
Oct 2012

63200 mi
Transmission was slipping. After EXTENSIVE (6 days) analysis, no problem was found. 
Toyota Highlander in Kansas, United States
Jun 2011 - Feb 2012
Jul 2011

24000 mi
Strut leaking, replace strut.  

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2010 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

245-horsepower 3.5L V6 Hybrid CVT AWD

Toyota Highlander in Wisconsin, United States
Jun 2011 - Jul 2019
Jul 2011

10000 mi
driver window, clip & track. window would drop, not stay up. 
May 2012

16000 mi
noises from the wheel area. Dealer was not able to replicate, so we don't know what the exact problem was/is. 
Sep 2012

26000 mi
steering became much looser over a very short period of time. dealer could not find anything wrong. 
Nov 2013

37700 mi
wouldn't always start on the first try. 
Toyota Highlander in California, United States
Feb 2014 - Jan 2022
Feb 2016

64400 mi

US $189
Drivers window made noise when lowered 
Aug 2016

68900 mi

US $1800
Replaced right & left bushings Replaced one motor mount 
Jan 2022

109000 mi

US $500
Front axle boot torn - replaced boot and other axle parts 

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2010 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

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

Toyota Highlander in Minnesota, United States
Oct 2011 - Jun 2022
Apr 2013

34200 mi

US $154
Engine light came on - opened the gas cap and replaced it tightly as instruced in manual. We were out of town so brought it to dealer. They reset the computer and light went off. driver side window not operating correctly. Bolt replaced. 
Toyota Highlander in Arizona, United States
Jun 2011 - Jun 2022
Feb 2017

82000 mi

US $600
The rear hatch sensor was always showing ajar, even when closed. 
Toyota Highlander in Florida, United States
Jun 2012 - Nov 2014
May 2014

63900 mi

US $78
Window was making noise when going up. Second time it happen since owning vehicle. 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. 
Sep 2014

71000 mi
Aux jack wasn't working. 
Nov 2014

71000 mi
Passenger arm rest on door panel broke and sunk in. Returned to dealer to have the aux jack repaired, ended up trading the Highlander for a Sienna. 

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2010 Toyota Highlander 4-door

6-cylinder CVT AWD

Toyota Highlander in New Hampshire, United States
Sep 2014 - Apr 2017
Jul 2015

77700 mi

US $375
Power window mechanism - wouldn't work 
Sep 2015

81000 mi

US $50
ignition coil failed 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Toyota models.

2010 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 2010 Toyota Highlander problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.