2013 Toyota Highlander problems and complaints
Owners have filed 212 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota Highlander. The most-reported areas: Steering (46), Engine (32), Vehicle Speed Control (31).
Key takeaways
- 212 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 26 involve a crash, 0 a fire, 12 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 46 | 22% |
| Engine | 32 | 15% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 31 | 15% |
| Electrical System | 26 | 12% |
| Unknown Or Other | 24 | 11% |
| Structure | 19 | 9% |
| Service Brakes | 18 | 8% |
| Air Bags | 18 | 8% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 | 6% |
| Power Train | 12 | 6% |
| Seats | 10 | 5% |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Toyota Highlander SUV AWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2013 Toyota Highlander SUV FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-09-18
I purchased a 2013 Toyota Highlander in 2018 or.2019 with 64,000 miles. I was told to go 5000 miles before changes. My oil was gone many times when I did this. I reported this to Toyota dealership.I eventually stopped using them because they were hearing my problem. The complaints of lack of power and changing to 3000...
Electrical System - filed 2026-09-03
The factory Blizzard Pearl paint on this vehicle is experiencing severe chemical delamination down to the bare primer and sheet metal on multiple body panels. This structural failure aligns exactly with Toyota Customer Support Program ZKG. Large sheets of brittle paint regularly flake and peel off while driving at high...
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-07-02
This is related to the Faulty Spiral Cable Assembly (HORN) that on line evidence suggests should have been a Toyota Recall item for this year and model. In 2014, Toyota issued a recall for 97,000 Hylanders for this very thing however it only covered 2008-2010 at that time. In review of safety recalls for faulty Spira...
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More for the 2013 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.