Toyota Highlander Years to Avoid: Common Problems & Reliable Models

If you are looking for a used car for your daily commute, then the Toyota Highlander is a great option. However, before buying, you should know the Toyota Highlander years to avoid, so you are not stuck in an expensive repair cycle.

The Toyota Highlander is a great choice of vehicle in the United States. It is popular because of its reliability, family-friendly interior, and strong resale value. In short, it is a dependable vehicle you can have for years to come.

However, like all vehicles, not every model of the Toyota Highlander is equally reliable. Some of the Toyota Highlander model years have reported serious engine, transmission, and electronics issues that can result in expensive repairs. These issues can be a safety hazard at times, so fixing them on time is very important.

So, if you are planning to buy a used Toyota Highlander for your personal use, it is important to know the Toyota Highlander years to avoid. In the long run, it will save you thousands of dollars and extra frustration.

In this article, we will reveal the Toyota Highlander years to avoid, the issues in them, and will also point out the best years you can consider to buy.

Overview of the Toyota Highlander

The Toyota Highlander was introduced in 2001, and you can say it was a great hit of its time. It is because it covered a gap in the market by introducing a car especially designed for big families. It is a crossover car that gives the comfort and feel of a sedan and the space and versatility of an SUV. The Toyota Highlander has three rows of seating and can easily accommodate seven to eight people, along with ample cargo space. In short, it is a perfect practical choice for a big family’s everyday use.

In recent years, the Toyota Highlander has evolved a lot. It has been available in different choices such as four-wheel or all-wheel drive, four-cylinder or V6 engines, and hybrid variants to improve fuel efficiency.

Moreover, in the vehicle market, the Toyota Highlander competes with some top cars such as the Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, and Mazda CX-9. The interesting fact is that it stands out among all of them because of its dependability and its driving experience.

Yet, reliability is still an issue. As it can vary by model year. So, if you plan to buy one, we suggest you make a careful selection decision to save yourself from high repair costs.

Toyota Highlander Generations Explained

The Toyota Highlander production can be divided into four distinct generations. Knowing all these generations will help you understand why some Toyota Highlander years have some serious issues in them.

First Generation (2001–2007)

The first generation of the Toyota Highlander was based on the Toyota Camry platform. It helped the vehicle to get an SUV feel. Also, the early model years had V6 engine options, making it really attractive. These models are generally reliable but surely will exhibit some typical age-related issues today.

Second Generation (2008–2013)

The production of the second generation brought a larger body size and an improved interior. Toyota also introduced hybrid Highlander models during this generation, making it worth buying. However, some early-year models had some reliability issues that were related to transmission and oil consumption. But, fortunately, they were improved in the later model years.

Third Generation (2014–2019)

The third generation of the Toyota Highlander had a major redesign. It was designed according to the modern theme with some new enhanced technologies and safety features. Despite all the new advancements, there were some complaints related to transmission and electrical components in some early years.

Fourth Generation (2020–Present)

The fourth generation of the Toyota Highlander is built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform. This generation of model years has improved fuel efficiency, safety, driving comfort, and overall performance. The hybrid models in this generation have earned special attention from the customers.

Toyota Highlander Years to Avoid

Here are the Toyota Highlander years you should avoid buying.

2003 Toyota Highlander

The 2003 Toyota Highlander model year is considered the worst buying option. It is because this car model introduced the V6 engine option, but it turned into a failure. The V6 engine was considered an untested update that turned into an expensive choice for the owners. There were engine oil sludge problems that built up and led to overheating of the engine, internal damage, and complete engine failure in some cases.

Many owners reported the issue of expensive repairs, making this year’s model a risky choice today.

2008 Toyota Highlander

2008 marked the start of the second generation of the Toyota Highlander. It was a completely new design, but came in with some untested upgrades. Some of the 2008 model year owners reported serious transmission hesitation issues, rough shifting, and brake wear issues. These issues later turned into an expensive headache for the owners. These problems reduced the long-term reliability of the 2008 model, making it an unsafe option to buy.

2010 Toyota Highlander

The 2010 Toyota Highlander model had a serious issue of excessive oil consumption. Many of the owners of 2010 model years noticed rapid oil loss between oil changes. They finally came to the point that models equipped with V6 engines had this issue.

This problem looks minor, but it can cause premature engine wear if not kept unmonitored. Also, the maintenance cost and reliability concerns make it a poor choice among other model years.

2014 Toyota Highlander

The 2014 Toyota Highlander was the first production model of the fourth generation. Just like some early models of previous generations, it also had some production flaws that were left untested for all conditions. The major problems that were reported were transmission shifting delays, electrical system malfunctions, and infotainment glitches. 

However, this model year was not a total failure because of its new tech and features, but we can say that it had more flaws than later third-generation model years.

2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 model was launched under the fourth generation, which was built on the TNGA platform. But there were some problems reported by the owners. These problems were freezing of the infotainment system, sensor and warning light malfunction, and software-related bugs. These problems seem minor, but they’re very frustrating for the owners and surely will be expensive to repair once the warranty expires. 

In short, buying the 2020 model of the Toyota Highlander is not recommended. If you ever end up with one of these problematic models, there are ways to sell it quickly – even if it has issues – similar to our guide on getting $500 cash for junk cars.

Common Problems Found in Problematic Years

Here is a list of the common problems found in all the problematic model years of the Toyota Highlander.

• Transmission failure or rough shifting
• Engine oil burning
• Electrical malfunctions
• Suspension and steering noise
• Infotainment and sensor failures
• High repair costs after warranty expiration

Toyota Highlander Years You Can Consider Instead 

Here is the list of Toyota Highlander years you can consider buying, and they are a reliable investment.

• 2012–2013: Improved reliability in the second generation 
• 2016–2018: Best balance of tech and durability
• 2021–2023: Refined newer generation

These years stand out among all the model years because they have fewer complaints from the owners, have a better resale value, and have improved safety ratings.

Average Lifespan of a Toyota Highlander

The Toyota Highlander is a great car. It has a typical lifespan of 250,000-300,000 miles, which is above average for a mid-size SUV. However, a lot of factors affect the lifespan of this car. The factors include regular oil changes, car maintenance history, driving habits, and, in some cases, the climate conditions. 

If we do a comparison of the Toyota Highlander with its competitors, it often outlasts many American and European SUVs. It is one of the reasons why the Toyota Highlander is still a popular option on the used car market.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy a Used Toyota Highlander?

The Toyota Highlander is one of the safest options in the mid-size SUV range if you are looking for a used car. However, you need to choose the right model year. Knowing the Toyota Highlander years to avoid can provide you with many years of trouble-free ownership and good resale value. 

We’ll recommend you avoid the first-year models of every generation as they come with some untested upgrades that later turn into expensive troubles. And will suggest you go for well-reviewed model years with a solid maintenance history. Also, in the end, we will highly recommend checking service records and getting a pre-purchase inspection so that you can make a smart final decision about your Toyota Highlander purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions