10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
64,727 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #12

Dec 122023

Highlander

  • miles
The engine failed and locked up. Maintenance is completed every 3-4 months on schedule. There was no oil or water. Car was towed to a mechanic.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #11

Jun 152022

Highlander

  • miles
Driving with small child daughter in suv, after getting car wash and ice cream, got on highway then got off-??never any oil or engine lights illuminating ever. Smoke coming from front and tire areas. Other people in cars staring and pointing at our suv! Very scary! Oil leaking from front passenger area all over ground trailing. Pulled over! Pulled dip stick it was bone dry. Still no oil light! No engine light! Conrad-??s shop looked at it got estimate it is the Toyota oil cooler line that failed that soooo many ppl have had but there-??s no recall yet from Toyota seriously dangerous and horrible! Suv only has 86000 miles on it!

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #10

Dec 162018

Highlander

  • miles
2010 Toyota Highlander caught on fire while parked in garage of residence, destroying the Highlander and the car parked adjacent to it, along with most of the house. Prior to the fire, there were no issues with the vehicle. The Highlander was stationary, with the ignition off and parked in the garage. A subsequent investigation including inspecting burn patterns and thermal damage indicated the fire originated at the front of the Toyota Highlander on the driver's side where the fuse panel, battery and starter/solenoid were located. All three sources of ignition remain energized with the ignition off. The upper portion of the plastic housing on the fuse panel and battery had melted exposing the receivers for the fuses and plates inside the battery. The ends of the receivers had alloying on the receivers, but no failures were noted on fuse panel or battery. Extreme thermal damage was observed on the connector end of the solenoid where most of the facing had melted or was consumed. Lines of demarcation from extreme heat was observed on the remaining section of the solenoid facing. The cable connecting the battery to the solenoid was not connected to the solenoid due to the extreme damaged to the solenoid. The terminal connector on the cable sustained arcing and/or melting of the metal terminal. The conclusions were that the fire was caused by a failed solenoid attached to the starter on the 2010 Toyota Highlander. Lab analysis of the starter/solenoid revealed failure at the connection end of the solenoid with beading and arcing on contacts inside the solenoid.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #9

Aug 272020

Highlander

  • 129,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 30-40 mph, there was an abnormal noise detected. A message indicating to pull over was flashing. The oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The driver checked under the hood and noticed that the oil level was extremely low. The vehicle was towed to folsom lake Honda (12505 automall pkwy, rancho cordova, ca 95742, (916) 367-4178) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the oil cooler hose needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The failure millage was 129,000.

- Rancho Cordova, CA, USA

problem #8

Dec 272019

Highlander

  • 90,403 miles
My vehicle experienced a loss of oil pressure and massive oil loss while being driven due to the failure of the oil cooler line while driving on pa 291 in philadelphia. It had to be towed. This is apparently a common problem for the Highlander and the Lexus RX350.

- Clifton Heights, PA, USA

problem #7

Mar 072019

Highlander

  • 158,297 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Highlander. While driving, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact powered off the engine while in traffic. Once restarted, the vehicle was able to be driven to his residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was burning oil, which caused it to stall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 158,297.

- Alyria, OH, USA

problem #6

Nov 212018

Highlander

  • 136,055 miles
We were traveling on the interstate after about a 7 hour drive and the low oil pressure warning display was flickering on and off but never stayed on consistently. I pulled over and there was no oil in the engine, I mean it was bone dry. I'm truly surprised the car was still operating. When oil was put in, it poured, and I mean poured, right back out. We had to be towed because the car could not be driven. It was determined that the engine oil cooler line was leaking.

- Gibsonia, PA, USA

problem #5

Feb 202018

Highlander

  • 103,000 miles
Stopped at a traffic light with the brake applied, the engine began to rev uncontrolled and began to move forward towards the car ahead of us, even with the brake fully applied. To stop the problem, the transmission was shifted to park and ignition turned off.

- Saint Augustine, FL, USA

problem #4

Mar 072017

Highlander

  • 55,973 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Highlander. While driving approximately 60 mph, a rattling noise was heard underneath the vehicle. The failure occurred without warning. The dealer replaced the water pump, which was rusted and fractured. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 55,973.

- Clinton, NC, USA

problem #3

Nov 152014

Highlander

  • 3,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Highlander. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on several occasions. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 3,000.

- Manhattan Beach, CA, USA

problem #2

Sep 012014

Highlander 6-cyl

  • 31,000 miles
Twice in September 2014, as I was approaching a stop light, I pressed the brakes and slowed to nearly a stop. The engine suddenly accelerated very high, and if I had not already had a foot on the brakes, I would have gone into an intersection. The engine was running so high that it was difficult to keep it from moving. I shifted into neutral, came to a complete stop, and while the transmission was in neutral, took my foot off the brake pedal. The engine immediately returned to normal idle. This same sequence happened both times. This has happened twice this month, but these are the first occurrences since I purchased the vehicle new. I called the Toyota dealer, and the service person said that if the vehicle isn't demonstrating that behavior when I bring it in, they would not be able to find what caused it. They indicated that the vehicle data recorder would not record such an event. They said they would add a note about this to the record they have on this vehicle (they have done all the service since I purchased it from them). I have already decided that should it happen again, I will trade the vehicle. I don't like having to keep my hand on the gearshift, ready to shift into neutral. I saw a report in usatoday that sudden acceleration in Toyota is being investigated again. I wanted to add my experience to the mix.

- Denton, TX, USA

problem #1

Feb 222014

Highlander

  • 70,000 miles
While driving on the interstate at 70 mph, a deer hit my car. Airbags did not deploy, damaged front end, minor damage to the bumper, major damage to engine compartment and windshield was cracked why did the airbag not deploy our major concern concern that will the airbag work after repairs??

- Spring Lake, NC, USA