MODELYEARINDEX

Toyota Highlander

2,696 complaints across 12 scored model years and 40 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · Toyota Highlander Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2021 vs model median 2.5×
Model median3× median
Drivetrain 87
Brakes 54
Airbags & Restraints 45
Avoid

2019 · 2021

Best

2012 · 2016

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.84× 119 C
2011
0.68× 109 B
2012
0.68× 90 B
2013
1.29× 161 C
2014
0.53× 81 B
2015
1.01× 153 C
2016
0.67× 99 B
2017
1.50× 194 D
2018
1.43× 199 D
2019
2.33× 290 F
2020
0.99× 162 C
2021
2.49× 420 F
2022 P
1.81× 313 D
2023 P
1.39× 239 D
2024 P
0.42× 54 B
2025 P
0.12× 13 A

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

Combined MPG24.5
City / Highway21.5 / 28.5
Engine2.4L, 4 cyl
DriveFront-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost$2,500

Recalls

40 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
10V017000 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL 2010 2,230,661
20V012000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2018, 2019 1,830,752
15V689000 VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS 2010, 2011 1,814,284
20V682000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2017–2019 1,525,742
14V168000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010 1,486,413
10V023000 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL 2010 1,126,915
25V744000 BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION 2023–2025 1,024,407
23V865000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION 2020, 2021 999,901

+ 32 further campaigns

Others in Midsize SUVs

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Model Years to avoid Grade
Acura MDX
20162020
C
Audi Q7
20172021
C
Audi Q8
2019
C
BMW X5
20112021
D
BMW X6
none flagged
C
Chevrolet Traverse
20102011
C
Dodge Durango
20112012
C
Dodge Journey
20142015
C

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2021 Highlander
Complaints in window
420
Severity-weighted
565
Model median (weighted)
227
vs model median
2.49×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
4
Open investigations
0
Score 27.8 F