2009 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
40 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
63,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 34 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 40 complaints (42.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 32 | 80.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 10.0% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 7.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.5% |
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 | 17 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
Service Brakes: 17; Service Brakes, Electric: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5; Engine: 4; Electrical System: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter: 2; Tires: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 16 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 |
2010: 16; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 5; 2017: 4; 2018: 3; 2019: 4
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 10303845 · 2010-02-02 (February 2, 2010)
BRAKES FADE FOR A BRIEF MOMENT -- PERHAPS HALF OF A SECOND -- AND THEN COME BACK. ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED CONSISTENTLY THROUGHOUT, THE SENSATION IS AS IF THE DRIVER WERE EASING OFF THE BRAKE AND THEN COMING BACK ON WITH MORE PRESSURE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10303845 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10305276 · 2010-02-04 (February 4, 2010)
I OWN A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID, PURCHASED NEW IN AUG. 2009. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A FEW INCIDENTS RELATED TO BRAKING THAT ARE SIMILAR TO WHAT'S BEING DESCRIBED BY PRIUS OWNERS. ON CERTAIN ROAD SURFACES/CONDITIONS, I HAVE FELT WHAT I WOULD DESCRIBE AS A PAUSE IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. IT'S ALMOST LIKE A SLIDING SENSATION ON ICE, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS NOT SLIDING. THE DURATION IS FOR PROBABLY LESS THAN A SECOND IN DURATION, BUT ENOUGH TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE DRIVER. IT HAS HAPPENED ONLY IN ISOLATED CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THE MAJORITY OF THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10307746 · 2010-02-09 (February 9, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKE WOULD RELEASE ON ITS OWN AT A DISTANCE; HOWEVER, WHEN HIS SPEED INCREASED THE BRAKES PERFORMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN HE APPROACHED A STOP SIGN IN COLDER WEATHER. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM SENT POWER TO THE BATTERY AND THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. HE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,773. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100.
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10307746 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10316586 · 2010-03-04 (March 4, 2010)
TOYOTA HYBRIDS SURGE WHEN BRAKING. I TOOK THE CAR IN TWICE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY WERE AWARE OF THE SURGE. IT OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS BRAKING AND THE CAR GOES FROM GAS TO CHARGING THE BATTERY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10316586 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10328602 · 2010-05-03 (May 3, 2010)
IN EARLY FEBRUARY 2010 DURING HEAVY SNOWFALL, I LOST PARTIAL TRACTION IN MY ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE (AWD), 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WHILE DRIVING UP THE STEEP STREET TO MY HOME. WHEN THE TRACTION LOSS OCCURRED, ALL POWER FROM THE GAS ENGINE AND THE FRONT AND REAR WHEEL ELECTRIC MOTORS WAS CUT OFF BY THE COMPUTERIZED VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC)/TRACTION CONTROL (TRAC) SYSTEM. THE LOSS OF POWER TO ALL FOUR WHEELS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE SKIDDING PERPENDICULAR TO THE STREET AND THEN SLIDING SIDEWAYS DOWN THE MOUNTAIN ABOUT 200 FEET. THAT SITUATIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328602 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10499998 · 2013-02-25 (February 25, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED THEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO MORE TIMES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000. UPDATED 6/21/13 *CN UPDATED 07/18/2013 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10499998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11220968 · 2019-06-18 (June 18, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, STEERING SYSTEM, AND BATTERY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, "STOP VEHICLE IN A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 124,842 miles reported. Look up ODI 11220968 at NHTSA ↗