Toyota / Highlander / 2009
2009 Toyota Highlander problems
Owners have filed 178 complaints about the 2009 Toyota Highlander with NHTSA. Engine accounts for 12.9% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of service brakes at 11.8%.
Complaints178
Crashes7
Fires7
Injuries9
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Engine 12.9% · 23
Service brakes 11.8% · 21
Electrical system 11.2% · 20
Vehicle speed control 9.0% · 16
Structure 8.4% · 15
Steering 6.7% · 12
Air bags 4.5% · 8
Power train 3.9% · 7
Severity
Of those complaints, 7 describe a crash, 7 describe a fire and 9 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 23 model years of the Toyota Highlander in this data, 2009 sits 19th by complaint volume. 2019 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 13 in the last three years against 23 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 58,000 miles.
In owners' own words
The water pump went on my Toyota highland. I looked it up online and found out the water pumps are faulty and will make a sound like there is gravel in the motor. I had Toyota fix the problem under warranty, but I looked online and found that other people have the same problem. Should be looked into due to being bad pumps. Engine · reported at 45,000 miles
When starting it would make grinding noise,sounds like metallic noise until the engine oil starts circulating.Dealer said that its normal due to cold starts but this can happen even when the engine is up to temperature.Toyota refuse to remedy the issue. Engine
The coolant pump pulley broke and engine got overheated and stopped on a major highway and had to be towed. The vehicle has less than 60k miles on it. Dealer tells me that both the engine and water pump have to be replaced and would cost over $9,000. Engine · reported at 58,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…