2008 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
197 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
110,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 180 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 94 of 197 complaints (47.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 139 | 70.6% |
| Engine operation | 17 | 8.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 6.6% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 4.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 94 |
| Electrical System | 34 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 25 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 13 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
Service Brakes: 94; Electrical System: 34; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 25; Vehicle Speed Control: 18; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 13; Power Train: 11; Engine: 10; Unknown Or Other: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 70 |
| 150,000 and above | 34 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 70; 150,000 and above: 34
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (70). 17 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 36 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 21 |
| 2017 | 31 |
| 2018 | 42 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2008: 3; 2009: 7; 2010: 36; 2011: 2; 2012: 9; 2013: 17; 2014: 8; 2015: 8; 2016: 21; 2017: 31; 2018: 42; 2019: 10; 2021: 1; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 139 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 17 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10255226 · 2009-01-15 (January 15, 2009)
I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. DURING THE SNOW DAYS WE WERE TRYING TO DRIVE IT UP MY SNOW COVERED ROAD BUT COULD NOT DUE TO THE SLIGHT INCLINE AND THE COMPACT SNOW. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND GRANDPA WAS IN THE BACK. ONCE WE STOPPED THE CAR WAS PUT INTO 'PARK', I GOT OUT AND WAS WALKING AROUND THE BACK. BY THEN MY WIFE AND GRANDPA WERE JUST OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE DOORS STILL OPEN. THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS BUMPING INTO ME AND KNOCKING ME OVER ALMOST RUNNING OVER ME. MY WIFE AND GRANDPA…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274024 · 2009-06-16 (June 16, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN DECEMBER OF 2008. THE CONTACT NOTICED PAINT CHIPPING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND REAR DOOR. SHE ALSO NOTICED CORROSION UNDERNEATH THE PAINT. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CORROSION WAS CAUSED BY BRAKE DUST. THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD GIVE THE VEHICLE AN ACID WASH. THE CONTACT WILL NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10368157 · 2010-11-29 (November 29, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE STOPPED AT A RAILROAD CROSSING, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING A TRAIN TO HIT IT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING INSPECTION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ARRANGED AN INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 25,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10368157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10427565 · 2011-09-27 (September 27, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF THE FAILURE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY WITH THE FLICKERING OF THE POWER BUTTON INDICATOR LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THERE WAS A FAULTY BATTERY INVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE W…
Owner-reported narrative. 165,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10427565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10305329 · 2010-02-04 (February 4, 2010)
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE HIGHLANDER IN THE FIRST WEEK WE HAD THE CAR. SHE WAS DRIVING IN SLOW MOVING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN CAMBRIDGE MA AT LESS THAN 15 MPH. WHEN A CAR IN FRONT OF HER STOOPED QUICKLY, SHE HIT THE BRAKES WHICH INITIALLY STOPPED, BUT ON THEIR OWN RELEASED FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND AND THEN RE-ENGAGED. THIS CAUSED HER TO HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR. INITIALLY WE REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA AND WERE TOLD THAT IT HAD TO WITH THE HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS TYPE OF BRAKE RELEASE HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST ON A WEEKLY BASIS AND BUT IS …
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305329 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10324598 · 2010-04-08 (April 8, 2010)
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2008 REQUIRES FREQUENT JUMPING DUE TO DEAD BATTERY, THIS HAS BEEN SINCE I BOUGHT IT, BUT MORE RECENTLY I HAVE HAD TO JUMP THE CAR ONCE A WEEK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10324598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10244046 · 2008-09-30 (September 30, 2008)
THERE IS A "CLICKING SOUND" IN THE STEERING COLUMN, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION, AND WORSE IF TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE GOING OVER A BUMP. FEELS AS IF SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. ALMOST FEELS LIKE A LOOSE CV JOINT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PICKED THE CAR UP FROM THE DEALER. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A "CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE". PROBLEM HAS BEEN PERSISTING, AND I SHOWED THIS TO ANOTHER DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND IS WORKING ON IT. SPOKE WITH TOYOTA, WHO DENI…
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10244046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10283751 · 2009-09-12 (September 12, 2009)
I PURCHASED A 2008 HIGHLANDER BY TOYOTA. AFTER DRIVING 20K MILES , I NOTICED A VIBRATION IN MY STEERING. I THEN NOTICED MY TIRES BELTS WERE SEPARATING AND THE TREAD ON ALL WAS WORN DOWN TO ALMOST ZERO. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO MILEAGE WARRANTY. YET MY UNDERSTANDING WAS 60 MONTHS. WHEN I READ IT AGAIN IT SAID 60 MONTHS OR THE AMOUNT OF TREAD LEFT. NEW TIRES $900. THESE TIRES ARE A HAZARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY. I HAVE NEVER HAD A NEW VEHICLE NEED NEW TIRES WHEN IT IS BARELY ONE YEAR OLD. THE TIRES WE…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283751 at NHTSA ↗