2005 Toyota Highlander: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 289 complaints
289
Total Complaints
52,991mi
Median Mileage
Vehicle Speed Control
Top Issue
50
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
28,644
25th Percentile
52,991
Median Mileage
89,750
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Vehicle Speed Control
33
Automatic Transmission
27
Electrical System
22
Steering
21
Power Train
17
Visibility
13
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
12
Visibility/Wiper
8
Air Bags
7
Exterior Lighting
7
Severity Assessment
50
Crashes
8
Fires
34
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"AFTER PLACING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED. *AK"
"I HAVE JUST PURCHASED A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED. I FIND THAT IN THE BRIGHT FLORIDA SUNSHINE, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (SPEEDOMETER ETC.) IS SO DEEPLY RECESSED INTO THE DASH, THEY ARE DARK AND IMPOSSIBLE TO READ -- ESPECIALLY WITH SUN GLASSES. THIS IS RATHER DISCONCERTING WHEN I CANNOT SEE/READ ..."
"WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. DRIVER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE , AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NOR..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Vehicle Speed Control
33 complaints
25th: 25,000 mi
Median: 52,991 mi
75th: 81,689 mi
Automatic Transmission
27 complaints
25th: 3,500 mi
Median: 15,000 mi
75th: 50,497 mi
Electrical System
22 complaints
25th: 37,000 mi
Median: 57,770 mi
75th: 79,500 mi
Steering
21 complaints
25th: 44,389 mi
Median: 57,750 mi
75th: 85,260 mi
Power Train
17 complaints
25th: 65,220 mi
Median: 90,000 mi
75th: 99,000 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 40
NY: 22
VA: 22
FL: 21
PA: 18
TX: 15
GA: 15
MA: 14
MD: 14
CO: 11
Who Files Complaints?
18.3%
Original Owners
81.7%
Second+ Owners
Toyota Highlander — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (6)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Seat Heater/Cooler
Campaign 16V396000 | 02/06/2016
If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Campaign 11V539000 | 09/11/2011
IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1
Accelerator Pedal
Campaign 11V112000 | 24/02/2011
IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. A STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN UNINTENDED AND SUSTAINED VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE FREE OR CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Labels
Campaign 10V035000 | 03/02/2010
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.
Accelerator Pedal
Campaign 06V253000 | 13/07/2006
THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO FLOOR CARPET COVER RETAINING CLIPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 24, 2006, AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY EARLY SEPTEMBER 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
Master Cylinder
Campaign 10V499000 | 21/10/2010
A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAL WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 AND LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
General Vehicle Maintenance
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule in your owner's manual
- Don't ignore warning lights — early diagnosis prevents expensive repairs
- Keep records of all maintenance and repairs
- Use OEM or equivalent-quality parts for repairs
- Address unusual noises, vibrations, or smells promptly
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28