2010 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
43,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 22 complaints (22.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 31.8% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 18.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 13.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 9.1% |
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 | 5 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Service Brakes: 5; Engine: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Electrical System: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter: 2; Steering: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 2 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 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 2 |
2010: 1; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2018: 5; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10331551 · 2010-05-21 (May 21, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, DURING BRAKING THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE RESPONSE TIME. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN IN AN IDLING POSITION THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE CAUSING A JERKING MOTION TO OCCUR. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTIONS WHICH THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10331551 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10383059 · 2011-02-17 (February 17, 2011)
KEYLESS FOB RESULTED IN CAR BEING LEFT ON ALL NIGHT IN ENCLOSED GARAGE. THE DESIGN DEFECT IN NOT AUTOMATICALLY TURNING THE ENGINE OFF WHEN THE FOB LEAVES THE IMMEDIATE AREA IS WELL-KNOWN. THE ADDITIONAL PROBLEM IN THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID IS THAT THE GREEN POWER LIGHT GOES ON WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE CAR, LEADING THE DRIVER TO BELIEVE THAT THE POWER IS NOW ON, WHEN IN FACT IT IS OFF. THE DRIVER THEN STEPS ON THE BRAKE AND PRESSES POWER AGAIN, THINKING THAT THEY ARE NOW TURNING THE CAR OFF BECAUSE THE POWER BUTTON IS NO LONGER GREEN. THE HYBRID…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10383059 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10496728 · 2013-02-07 (February 7, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TEST SHOWED A DEFECTIVE COIL PACK WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COIL AS WELL AS THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,400.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10514848 · 2013-06-03 (June 3, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10514848 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10462357 · 2012-06-20 (June 20, 2012)
MULTIPLE BATTERY FAILURES REQUIRING JUMP STARTS: SEVEN (7) TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THIS SUV IN FEB 2011. THREE TIMES THERE WAS A POSSIBLE KNOWN CAUSE FOR THE BATTERY DRAIN: THE PASSENGER VANITY MIRROR LIGHT WAS LEFT ON FOR 15 MINUTES, 2 HOURS, AND AN UNKNOWN LENGTH OF TIME. NONE OF THESE THREE EPISODES WAS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO CAUSE A COMPLETELY DEAD BATTERY IN ONE THAT HAS BEEN EVALUATED AS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I DRIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS ALL WINTER. GETTING STRANDED IN AN ISOLATED PLACE CAN BE DEADLY DUE TOO EXPOSURE, RISK OF COLLISION …
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462357 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10840076 · 2016-03-05 (March 5, 2016)
VERY COMMON PROBLEM IS BEING REPORTED IN ALL OF THE HIGHLANDERS OF 2008 FORWARD. AT LOW MILEAGE, THE STEERING COLUMN HAS A BEARING IN IT CALLED A STUB SHAFT BUT APPARENTLY GETS LOOSE LEAVING TO A CLUNK AND LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING. IT IS SO COMMON THAT OUR DEALER HAS TO KEEP MULTIPLE REPLACEMENT PARTS IN STOCK. PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THIS WITHIN THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY, MY CAR BEGAN TO DO IT AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES. IT IS A $700 REPAIR. LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS POSSIBLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10840076 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11084019 · 2018-04-09 (April 9, 2018)
DEFECTIVE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. CLUNKING, ETC. SEEMS DANGEROUS, NO RECALL.... THIS IS ONE COMPLAINT TO ADD TO THE NUMEROUS OTHERS. TOYOTA, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?
Owner-reported narrative. 112,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11084019 at NHTSA ↗