BEST TOYOTA HIGHLANDER MODEL YEARS FOR RELIABILITY

The Toyota Highlander is arguably the quintessential mid-sized SUV. It's plenty powerful enough for everyday driving, boasts a plethora of luxurious and entertaining amenities inside, and it is spacious enough to cater for almost every family-friendly need imaginable. Sure, larger options like the new Grand Highlander will be more capable, but as a mid-size, the 2024 Toyota Highlander is perfectly well-appointed.

Boasting over two decades of production history, though, the Highlander also needs to make sense as a used car purchase. The majority of old Highlanders will be out of warranty, and therefore, their reliability and dependability is all the more important. For that reason, we have highlighted the best Toyota Highlander years so far, in addition to pointing out the years to avoid.

Toyota Highlander History

Like so many other now-household SUV nameplates, the Highlander was first introduced onto the scene shortly after we entered the new millennium. The automotive landscape of America was beginning to turn into the crossover-SUV-dominant scene we know it to be today. It made sense then, for Toyota to launch a practical, family-orientated mid-size SUV at the time.

Initially offered with a mix of four and six-cylinder engines, the first-gen Highlander, known by the model code XU20, lasted well in the segment – from 2001 'til 2007. During the production run, a hybrid V6 model was introduced. This was not a great surprise, as Toyota was a pioneer in the hybrid segment at that time. Throughout the second and third generations, both of which enjoyed numerous updates and facelifts, the Highlander became more practical, offering a wider array of standard and optional equipment. Materials throughout were updated, as was the exterior, in an effort to keep the model looking fresh in a constantly evolving market segment.

The fourth, and current, Highlander generation, dubbed the XU70, first debuted as a 2020 model year. Base power plants are now turbocharged four-cylinder engines, with hybrid and V6 options available, too. While this generation of Highlander does still offer a third row, it no longer has to worry about being a massively practical row, as Toyota has since introduced the Grand Highlander for larger families. This means the current XU70 Highlander can simply focus on being the best mid-size SUV it can be, prioritizing practical storage solutions, impressive fuel economy, and helpful tech.

The Best Toyota Highlander Years

As most of the Toyota Highlander generations were a huge success, there are quite a few used examples for sale. To help you decide which to invest in, we've determined the most reliable (and least reliable) models by consulting the authorities, consumer ratings, and recall information. These are the Toyota Highlander's best years:

2012 Toyota Highlander: XU40 Generation

The 2012 model year Toyota Highlander is approaching the end of the second XU40 generation's production run, and is a facelifted model. As is often the case, in the latter years of one generation, the brand is able to address most quirks and concerns, meaning the later model year cars are more reliable than earlier examples. Only two recalls have been attributed to the 2012 Highlander, which is strong evidence that this is one of the more reliable years.

The first recall relates to an inaccurate load carrying capacity label, which means there is a risk of over-loading the car, putting extra stress on components. While still noteworthy, it's not the most dangerous or reliability-hindering recall out there, by a long stretch. The other recall could potentially be more serious, as it's linked to a potential fault with a passenger airbag not going off in the case of an accident.

However, it's reassuring for potential buyers to see that zero recalls are present and relating to the running and operating of the 2012 Toyota Highlander, which bodes well if you're considering buying one as a daily driver.

2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: XU50 Generation

Just as the 2012 Highlander was at the tail-end of XU40 production, the 2018 Highlander was the penultimate year of production for the XU50 generation. While all the trims of this model Highlander look to be a great buy, it's the Highlander Hybrid model that stands out with zero recalls on record. The only other year to achieve this was the 2019 Highlander Hybrid, but as the 2018 model year has fewer complaints attributed, it makes the cut in place of the latter example.

The NHTSA logs 240 complaints for the 2019 Highlander; by contrast, the 2018 model has 190 complaints. The same pattern applies from consumer-submitted complaints, with CarComplaints.com listing 30 for the 2018 models, and 39 for 2019. Of the 30 complaints logged, which is low-to-average for the model, most are in relation to either brake or paint/body issues. The former is more serious, but at least there are very few concerns surrounding the power and drivetrain of the Highlander Hybrid.

2021 Toyota Highlander: XU70 Generation

Surely a reassuring sight for anyone looking to buy a new or nearly new Toyota Highlander, the fourth and current XU70 generation makes our list of the most reliable, too. In particular, we have highlighted the 2021 Highlander. When comparing recalls for 2021-2024 model years, it's the 2021 MY that stands out for having the least recalls. It's worth mentioning that 2024 models also have 3 recalls, but that model is new, and these figures aren't final.

A total of three recalls relate to the 2021 Toyota Highlander, and none relate to the actual mechanical operation of the car, which suggests good news for anyone hoping to achieve high miles in one. Recalls are for:

• Tires with insufficient load ratings
• OCS sensors may short circuit
• Front bumper assembly may detach

There are only seven complaints from CarComplaints.com, and these are quite varied, which suggests no widespread common problems. Corroborating this is an 82 out of 100 quality and reliability rating from JD Power, which drops by one point for every year after 2021.

Toyota Highlander: Years To Avoid

Toyota has built up an enviable reputation as one of the most dependable and trusted automakers around the globe. However, nothing is entirely perfect, and that includes the Toyota Highlander, as suggested by the fact that some models receive a high number of complaints and/or recalls. The following model years are the Toyota Highlanders we would propose steering clear of.

2003 Toyota Highlander: XU20 Generation

On the face of things, the 2003 Toyota Highlander looks like a great buy. For the model year, Toyota made significant improvements to the car, such as introducing a helpful third-row of seats, in addition to making minor visual tweaks. Furthermore, the NHTSA only flagged up two recalls for this 21-year-old SUV. So, what's the problem?

The the 2003 Highlander scores poorly due to the severity - and high cost to fix - its main issue: stripped engine bolt threads that could lead to catastrophic failure. This correlates to many of the 269 complaints listed by the NHTSA, too. The average repair cost for such issues is estimated to be around $3,720. It's worth noting that, out of 30 complaints, 16 of these were only solved by fitting an entirely new engine. In terms of reliability, it doesn't get much worse than that.

2008 Toyota Highlander: XU40 Generation

JD Power awarded the 2008 Toyota Highlander an impressive score of 86/100 for quality and reliability, so, why do we rank it as one of the Toyota Highlander years to avoid? Firstly, it has 13 recalls logged by the NHTSA - 14 for the hybrid - and 395 complaints with the authority (590 for the hybrid). This is seconded by consumer data, with CarCompaints demarcating it the second most-complained about Highlander, with a shocking 81 complaints - just two behind the 2015 model.

From faulty airbags, through to stuck open accelerators and ineffective rear seatbelts, there is a lot to worry about with the 2008 Toyota Highlander. The silver lining, if you want to see it, is that the engine and transmission seem typically dependable, but the rest of the car is seemingly not built to the traditionally high Toyota standards.

Summary: Toyota's Highlander Could Be The Answer You're Looking For

Older cars are naturally less reliable than new ones, simply because they've been on the road for years, and have thousands of miles under their belt. Much of it comes down to how well the previous owner(s) looked after the car. However, find one of those with a good recall sheet that's been cherished, be sure to check the service and maintenance history, and you're likely to have a gem on your hands. The majority of Toyota Highlanders are genuinely dependable; the high-recall and complaint-heavy models mentioned above are the years to avoid buying a Toyota Highlander. Shop around in 2012 or 2018, however, as these are the best Highlander years yet.

Sources: JDPower.com, NHTSA, CarComplaints.com

2024-09-17T13:07:40Z dg43tfdfdgfd