UsedScore

2010 Toyota Highlander: Use caution

Owners filed 97 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Toyota Highlander in its first five years on the road, about 108 for every 100,000 sold: 1.3× the rate of a typical Highlander year. That's above average, so use caution.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the brakes (18% of complaints, median 20,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.3×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Highlander year
Rank
11th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
97
first five years; 108 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
11
campaigns
2nd generation, 2008–2013 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2008–2010 Toyota Highlander Limited

Photo: 2008–2010 Toyota Highlander Limited · IFCAR, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Brakes18% · 17 complaints · median 20,000 miles
  2. Visibility29% · 28 complaints · median 50,000 miles
  3. Speed control20% · 19 complaints · median 3,000 miles
  4. Air bags4% · 4 complaints
  5. Electrical13% · 13 complaints · median 21,000 miles
  6. Engine7% · 7 complaints · median 25,000 miles
  7. Steering6% · 6 complaints · median 20,000 miles
  8. Body and structure5% · 5 complaints
  9. Fuel and propulsion4% · 4 complaints
  10. Wheels and tires5% · 5 complaints · median 5,000 miles

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Brakes

Many owners of this model, especially the Hybrid version, report brake system warning lights tied to a failing brake actuator or accumulator, sometimes with reduced or delayed stopping power. Repairs can be costly, and several owners say a manufacturer support program that once covered this repair had expired by the time they needed it.

Warning signs:
Owners report warning lights (ABS, brake malfunction, VSC, traction control), unusual pump noise, soft or delayed brake pedal response, and dashboard messages to pull over immediately.
What shops did:
Dealers often diagnosed a brake accumulator or actuator fault (code C1391), sometimes replacing the pump or actuator, and some owners were told a manufacturer support program had expired and repairs would not be covered.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 80,000 miles, among 28 complaints that give it

“The ABS warning came on the display, as well as a warning saying "Brake Malfunction: pull over car immediately.”

“When the brakes are first applied, they are soft and mushy.”

Speed control

Owners of this Highlander describe episodes of sudden, unintended acceleration, often while braking, parking, or backing up, sometimes leading to crashes into walls, trees, or other vehicles. Many had the accelerator recall completed, but some say the problem happened again afterward and dealers couldn't identify a cause.

Warning signs:
Some report the accelerator pedal feeling stiff or sticking, RPMs climbing rapidly, and brakes seeming ineffective or slow to respond during the acceleration.
What shops did:
Many had the accelerator pedal recall performed, but several say sudden acceleration recurred afterward, and dealers often could not find a cause or repair the issue.
Mileage:
most between 0 and 50,000 miles, among 17 complaints that give it

“The accelerator pedal was hard to push, to the point where when it actually went down, the vehicle jerked”

Visibility

Many owners of this Highlander report the driver's sun visor breaking and drooping into their line of sight, obstructing their view of the road. Some also mention windshield distortion, sunroof glass cracking or shattering, and power windows sticking or coming off track.

Warning signs:
Owners report hearing a pop or snap and then the visor falling or hanging at an angle directly into their line of sight while driving.
What shops did:
Some dealers replaced or diagnosed a broken visor bracket or hinge, often charging owners out of pocket, while others said the part was not covered under warranty.
Mileage:
most between 35,000 and 60,000 miles, among 35 complaints that give it

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (11)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 16V396000June 20167,749 vehicles

    Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

    Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory.

  • NHTSA 15V689000October 20151,814,284 vehicles

    Visibility: power window devices and controls

    Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.

    Risk: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found.

  • NHTSA 14V743000November 20143,233 vehicles

    Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

    Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.

    Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 14V168000April 20141,486,413 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module

    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, 2008-2010 Highlander, and 2009-2010 Tacoma, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and General Motors Pontiac Vibe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the steering column assembly contains electrical connections to the driver's airbag module housed in a spiral cable assembly, which includes a Flexible Flat Cable (FFC). Due to the shape and location of the FFC's retainer, the FFC could become damaged when the steering wheel is turned.

    Risk: If the FFC is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated. The failure of the driver's air bag to deploy in the event of a crash that typically necessitates deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver.

    Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota vehicle owners, and General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners.

  • NHTSA 13V396000September 2013133,081 vehicles

    Hybrid propulsion system: inverter

    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured February 16, 2005, through July 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008 Lexus RX400h vehicles manufactured February 23, 2005, through December 2, 2008. The Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module may contain transistors that have higher operating temperatures than the solder can support and the transistors may be heat damaged by the solder. If this occurs, various warning lamps, including the malfunction indicator lamp, slip indicator light, brake system warning light, and master warning light, will be illuminated on the instrument panel.

    Risk: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. It is possible that the hybrid system will shut down while the vehicle is being driven, causing the vehicle to stall unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the IPM free of charge.

  • NHTSA 13V123000April 20137,525 vehicles

    Equipment: other: labels

    Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Risk: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.

    Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation.

  • NHTSA 13V014000January 20133,235 vehicles

    Seats · Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

    Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

    Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary.

  • NHTSA 10V035000February 2010271,417 vehicles

    Equipment: other: labels

    Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.

    Risk: This does not meet the standard requirements.

    Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge.

  • NHTSA 10V036000February 2010153,418 vehicles

    Equipment: other: labels

    Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.

    Risk: A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge.

  • NHTSA 10V023000January 20101,126,915 vehicles

    Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 highlander, model year 2009-2010 corolla, venza and matrix passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat. This recall is an expansion of a campaign of 3.8 million other toyota vehicles announced in 2009 for the same issue (see 09v-388).

    Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.

    Fix: Toyota will modify or replace the accelerator pedals on the subject vehicles.

  • NHTSA 10V017000January 20102,230,661 vehicles

    Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 avalon, model year 2007-2010 camry, model year 2009-2010 corolla, corolla matrix, rav4, model year 2010 highlander, model year 2008-2010 sequoia, and model year 2007-2010 tundra vehicles. Due to the manner in which the friction lever interacts with the sliding surface of the accelerator pedal inside the pedal sensor assembly, the sliding surface of the lever may become smooth during vehicle operation. In this condition, if condensation occurs on the surface, as may occur from heater operation (without a/c) when the pedal assembly is cold, the friction when the accelerator pedal is operated may increase, which may result in the accelerator pedal becoming harder to depress, slower to return, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position.

    Risk: The accelerator pedal may become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will install a reinforcement bar in the accelerator pedal which will allow the pedal to operate smoothly.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Toyota sent NHTSA 351 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2010 Highlander. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • TSB003220 · August 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ?
  • TTT063620 · March 2022TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions
  • T-SB-0014-22 · March 2022TSB: This Service Bulletin includes procedures to replace damaged or loose front carpet floor retainer(s) without replacing the carpet assembly.
  • T-TT-0636-20 Rev · March 2021TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
  • T-TT-0636-20 · December 2020TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
  • ZKC_Dealer Packa · August 2019Dealer Package: Toyota has received reports regarding the Brake Actuator Assembly and Brake Booster Pump Assembly on certain 2008 - 2010 model year Highlander Hybrid vehicles.
  • ZKC_Toyota POL19 · August 2019Warranty Enhancement Program: Toyota has received reports regarding the Brake Actuator Assembly and Brake Booster Pump Assembly indicating certain internal malfunctions.
  • ZKC_Region Email · June 2019Region Email: Toyota has received reports regarding the Brake Actuator Assembly and Brake Booster Pump Assembly on certain 2008 - 2010 model year Highlander Hybrid vehicles.

All 2010 Highlander bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2010 Toyota Highlander reliable?
Owners filed 97 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Toyota Highlander in its first five years on the road, about 108 for every 100,000 sold: 1.3× the rate of a typical Highlander year. That's above average, so use caution. Ratings compare Highlander years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2010 Highlander problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the brakes (18%), visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (29%) and speed control (20%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2010 Toyota Highlander been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2010 Toyota Highlander, the most recent in June 2016 (seats). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Toyota. The 2010 Toyota Highlander on NHTSA.gov · How we rate