2009 Toyota Highlander problems and complaints
Owners have filed 134 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Toyota Highlander. The most-reported areas: Service Brakes (26), Engine (23), Electrical System (20).
Key takeaways
- 134 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 6 involve a crash, 5 a fire, 9 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 26 | 19% |
| Engine | 23 | 17% |
| Electrical System | 20 | 15% |
| Structure | 15 | 11% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 10% |
| Steering | 11 | 8% |
| Air Bags | 8 | 6% |
| Power Train | 7 | 5% |
| Tires | 6 | 4% |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 | 4% |
| Hydraulic | 5 | 4% |
| Suspension | 5 | 4% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Toyota Highlander 4-DR. w/SAB | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic - filed 2025-07-30
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal, loud clunking sound. The ABS, the parking brake, and the traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed tha...
Service Brakes - filed 2025-04-09
1. Component/System that Failed: The component that has malfunctioned is the ABS actuator, which affects the vehicle’s anti-lock braking system. The issue has been diagnosed and confirmed by two independent repair shops. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. 2. Safety Risk: This issue has placed my saf...
Air Bags,forward Collision Avoidance - filed 2024-10-20
My airbag light came on and I don't understand why the airbag light came on. I took it to a auto shop and they said I would have to take it to a Toyato dealer. Also, my emergency brake is all the way to the floor and it has never released. It will not release at all. It has been that way ever since I bought the vehicle...
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More for the 2009 Toyota Highlander
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.