"How reliable is the 2012 Toyota Highlander?"

"Based on 228 NHTSA complaints, the 2012 Toyota Highlander has a median complaint mileage of 48000 miles. The most common issue is Steering."

"What are common problems with the 2012 Toyota Highlander?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2012 Toyota Highlander is Steering, accounting for a significant portion of the 228 total complaints filed."

2012 Toyota Highlander: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 228 complaints

228

Total Complaints

48,000mi

Median Mileage

Steering

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

14,250 25th Percentile

48,000 Median Mileage

71,579 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Steering

Electrical System

Unknown Or Other

Engine

Visibility/Wiper

Vehicle Speed Control

Body

Service Brakes

Air Bags

Power Train

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE IN PRIVATE SHOPPING MALL AT SLOW RATE OF SPEED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING RAPIDLY ACCELERATED FORWARD INTO VEHICLE PARKED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WENT UP AND OVER PARKED VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. NO ONE WAS HURT IN T..."

"OCCASIONALLY, AFTER COMING TO A STOP, AND THEN TAKING OFF AND TURNING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT, THE ENGINE WILL LOSE POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE ENGINE DOES NOT SHUT OFF, IT JUST SLOWS DOWN TO JUST ABOVE IDLE SPEED FOR 3 OR 4 SECONDS AND THEN RESUMES NORMAL ACCELERATION OPERATION. *TR"

"DRIVERS AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT. FRONT END CRUSHED, PROBABLY $20,000 DAMAGE TO FRONT END ALTHOUGH TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID IT WAS TOTALED. WIFE WAS DRIVING AND COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED IF SEAT BELT HAD FAILED ALSO. *TR"

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.

Steering 46 complaints

25th: 49,000 mi Median: 68,000 mi 75th: 85,000 mi

Electrical System 27 complaints

25th: 27,600 mi Median: 48,523 mi 75th: 76,184 mi

Unknown Or Other 23 complaints

25th: 55,000 mi Median: 63,000 mi 75th: 85,500 mi

Engine 17 complaints

25th: 5,765 mi Median: 31,900 mi 75th: 104,475 mi

Visibility/Wiper 14 complaints

25th: 24,500 mi Median: 41,370 mi 75th: 58,027 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 32 NY: 28 FL: 18 TX: 17 MD: 14 PA: 11 VA: 10 GA: 9 NC: 7 NJ: 7

Who Files Complaints?

1.8%

Original Owners

98.2%

Second+ Owners

Toyota Highlander — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
2001	158	53,000	Vehicle Speed Control	28
2002	335	70,000	Visibility	27
2003	316	94,000	Engine	43
2004	335	55,675	Automatic Transmission	42
2005	289	52,991	Vehicle Speed Control	50
2006	344	68,483	Service Brakes	38
2007	159	60,500	Service Brakes	15
2008	502	77,900	Service Brakes	59
2009	177	58,000	Engine	7
2010	271	52,000	Electrical System	28
2011	228	52,355	Steering	16
2013	279	30,500	Steering	44
2014	155	38,500	Electrical System	8
2015	242	30,800	Electrical System	19
2016	137	24,000	Unknown Or Other	22
2017	348	20,380	Power Train	32
2018	328	15,163	Service Brakes	38
2019	576	10,000	Power Train	38
2020	318	12,995	Power Train	19
2021	516	15,000	Power Train	29
2022	252	17,781	Service Brakes	22
2023	194	28,000	Unknown Or Other	14
2024	42	-	Unknown Or Other	9

Active Recalls (2)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Sensor/Control Module-Inactive

Campaign 13V014000 | 16/01/2013

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 de

Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Labels

Campaign 13V123000 | 09/04/2013

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.

Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-

Protect Your Steering System

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Get a wheel alignment annually or after hitting a significant pothole
Don't hold the steering wheel at full lock for more than a few seconds
Check power steering fluid monthly on hydraulic systems
Address wandering, vibration, or play in the wheel promptly
Replace worn tie rod ends before they cause tire wear

Compare Toyota Highlander

vs Honda Pilot →

Vehicle Rankings

Most complained Worst transmissions Worst engines Worst brakes Most crashes Compare vehicles

Looking for a replacement?

Based on the data above, here are relevant options.

2012 Toyota Highlander parts on Amazon

→

Affiliate link

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