The best and worst Toyota Highlander years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Toyota Highlanders old enough to judge (2005–2022), the 2007, 2014, 2016 and 2022 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2008 and 2010 have the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2022 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2008 Toyota Highlander · 36.1 per 10,000 sold (2.4× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 83,800 miles; then abs module and wheel speed sensors.
2010 Toyota Highlander · 23.2 per 10,000 sold (1.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Doors, windows, latches, seats and trim, typically around 57,000 miles; then body control and other modules.
Years with the fewest complaints
2007 Toyota Highlander · 7.6 per 10,000 sold (0.5× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: ABS module and wheel speed sensors, typically around 150,000 miles.
2014 Toyota Highlander · 9.2 per 10,000 sold (0.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Doors, windows, latches, seats and trim, typically around 47,000 miles.
2016 Toyota Highlander · 5.7 per 10,000 sold (0.4× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Doors, windows, latches, seats and trim, typically around 25,000 miles.
2022 Toyota Highlander · 10.7 per 10,000 sold (0.7× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Doors, windows, latches, seats and trim, typically around 27,500 miles.
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Toyota Highlander year: 14.8 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Toyota Highlander?
Among Toyota Highlanders old enough to judge (2005–2022), the 2008 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 36.1, about 2.4× a typical Toyota Highlander year. The 2010 also stands out.
What is the best year for the Toyota Highlander?
The 2016 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Toyota Highlanders from 2005–2022: 5.7, against 14.8 for a typical year. The 2007, 2014 and 2022 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2008 Toyota Highlander?
The most-reported problem on the 2008 Toyota Highlander is airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 83,800 miles.
Why aren't the newest Toyota Highlander years ranked?
The 2023–2026 haven't been on the road long enough. Newer cars have fewer complaints mainly because they're newer, so ranking them would flatter them.
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Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.