VehicleVerdict

Toyota Highlander years to avoid

The Toyota Highlander years to avoid are 2019, 2021, 2008, 2017 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 2000 is the cleanest year on record.

7,000

Total complaints

54

Recall campaigns

1997–2026

Years covered

4

Years to avoid

Complaints by model year

Toyota Highlander NHTSA complaints by model year613 complaints1997: 1 complaints1998: 1 complaints1999: 0 complaints2000: 0 complaints2001: 158 complaints2002: 335 complaints2003: 316 complaints2004: 337 complaints2005: 289 complaints2006: 344 complaints2007: 159 complaints2008: 502 complaints2009: 178 complaints2010: 272 complaints2011: 229 complaints2012: 228 complaints2013: 280 complaints2014: 158 complaints2015: 245 complaints2016: 137 complaints2017: 364 complaints2018: 342 complaints2019: 613 complaints2020: 348 complaints2021: 590 complaints2022: 291 complaints2023: 219 complaints2024: 54 complaints2025: 9 complaints2026: 1 complaints
Toyota Highlander NHTSA complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Highlander years to avoid

YearWhyComplaints
2019High complaint rate613
2021High complaint rate590
2008High complaint rate502
2017High complaint rate364

Every Highlander year

YearComplaintsRecalls
202610
202593
2024547
20232199
20222915
2021avoid5904
20203484
2019avoid6133
20183425
2017avoid3644
20161373
20152452
20141585
20132803
20122282
20112295
201027210
20091789
2008avoid50213
20071594
20063447
20052896
20043375
20033162
20023352
20011583
200000
199900
199810
199710

Common questions

What are the worst Toyota Highlander years?

Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the Highlander years to avoid are 2019, 2021, 2008, 2017. The cleanest year on record is 2000.

What is the best year for the Toyota Highlander?

By complaint volume, 2000 has the cleanest NHTSA record among Highlander years with enough data to compare.

How many recalls does the Toyota Highlander have?

Across all model years, the Highlander has 54 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 7,000 consumer complaints on file.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 28, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.