10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,850 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2009 Toyota Highlander engine problems

engine problem

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2009 Toyota Highlander Owner Comments

problem #4

Oct 102014

Highlander 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The rubber hose between the oil pump and the vvt keeps breaking. I was doing some research and found that the rubber hose has been replace with a metal one. Can you please help me" is this something that is possibly still under warrant and can be fixed" thank you for help in advance.

- Chicago , IL, USA

problem #3

Oct 232012

Highlander

  • miles
I was traveling 50 -60 miles per hour on the New Jersey garden state parkway. While driving all of a sudden a huge vibration occurred through out the vehicle. While it vibrated a loud noise occurred. It was so loud my dog began to bark and my ears could not take the noise of the vehicle. I tried to brake and the noise continued as well as the vibration. I continued to try and get in the right lane however the noise and vibration continued. The vibration felt like when you go across speed bumps that gives a rumble sound. The road was smooth and there were no speed bumps however it felt as if I was going over speed bumps. On 10/25/12 I took the vehicle to Toyota of hackensack NJ where the vehicle was purchased on. I informed the service guy about the situation. They did a multi-point inspection and nothing came up. They test drove the vehicle in city limits and nothing came up. I then informed them that the vibration does not occur until you are on the highway. The technician then test drove with me in the vehicle. The vibration did not occur. This specific vibration and noise has only occurred twice since I purchased the vehicle. I purchased the vehicle over a month ago due to a faulty 2005 Kia sorento crankshaft bolt design. If it happens again I will file another complaint.

- Bloomfield, NJ, USA

problem #2

Sep 112009

Highlander 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 400 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the suspension was loose and the braking system would not operate properly. The brakes would go to the floorboard when depressed. The brakes would not engage intermittently when depressed. The contact stated that the driver's seat would no longer move backward, and was positioned entirely too close to he steering wheel. The contact stated there was little room for movement when driving. The vehicle was taken to four separate dealers and the contact was told that the vehicle was operating as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 400 and the current mileage was 6,500. The consumer stated when she realized a police officer was behind she attempted to stop, the vehicle continued to accelerate and the brakes collapsed very low to the floor. The consumer had to pump the brakes to slow the vehicle down. The consumer also stated the lug nuts broke on the front driver side wheel. The cruise control was inoperative, and the engine had a slight ticking sound and the rotors were rusting. Updated evoq 12/23/10 the consumer stated the seat belt wrapped tightly around her throat. The front wheel was loose, there was a whining noise coming from the vehicle. When the consumer attempted to accelerate the vehicle would stall, the cruise control no longer worked. The accelerator pedal no longer stays in place and the steering wheel turned in different directions. Updated 07/07/11.

- Henderson, NC, USA

problem #1

Jan 222010

Highlander

  • 11,000 miles
2009 Toyota highland had been drived for about 10 minutes, parked, locked at 7:25 am on Jan 22, 2010. Approximately 20 minutes later a 6th ft high flames were discovered by the owner coming from the engine. Someone had already reported the fire and the fire department responded by 7:50 am.

- Rockville, MD, USA

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