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U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Toyota HIGHLANDER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

137 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

58,300 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 80 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 137 complaints (10.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2921.2%
Transmission and shifting75.1%
Steering behavior64.4%
Fuel system concerns42.9%
Engine operation10.7%
Electrical and battery issues10.7%

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.

Vehicle Speed Control
14
Visibility
12
Engine And Engine Cooling
9
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
9
Structure:Body
9
Air Bags
6
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
6
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control14
Visibility12
Engine And Engine Cooling9
Power Train:Automatic Transmission9
Structure:Body9
Air Bags6
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder6

Vehicle Speed Control: 14; Visibility: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Structure:Body: 9; Air Bags: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
16
25,000 to 49,999
16
50,000 to 74,999
11
75,000 to 99,999
16
100,000 to 149,999
15
150,000 and above
6
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00016
25,000 to 49,99916
50,000 to 74,99911
75,000 to 99,99916
100,000 to 149,99915
150,000 and above6

Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 6

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 57 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.

2001
24
2002
11
2003
13
2004
18
2005
3
2006
8
2007
3
2008
4
2009
5
2010
20
2011
3
2012
8
2013
5
2014
3
2015
4
2016
1
2017
2
2018
1
2020
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200124
200211
200313
200418
20053
20068
20073
20084
20095
201020
20113
20128
20135
20143
20154
20161
20172
20181
20201

2001: 24; 2002: 11; 2003: 13; 2004: 18; 2005: 3; 2006: 8; 2007: 3; 2008: 4; 2009: 5; 2010: 20; 2011: 3; 2012: 8; 2013: 5; 2014: 3; 2015: 4; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 29 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 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 10026251 · 2003-06-30 (June 30, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING 2-3 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE WENT INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, RUNNING INTO GARAGE DOOR. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026251 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031428 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HEAVY VIBRATION AND CAUSED A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK AT 55 MPH WHEN BRAKING, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO THE CONTROL THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER AT 75-80 MPH, WHEN BRAKING (NO EMERGENCY), THE STEERING SHOOK VIOLENTLY. *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031428 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10011054 · 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)

I BOUGHT MY 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN AUGUST 2001..........AT 15 MONTHS/50,000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION STARTED LEAKING AND WHEN IT STARTED SLIPPING TOYOTA RAPIDLY REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION. A LEAK WAS DETERMINED WITHIN WEEKS OF THE REPLACEMENT AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER SEAL (TCS) HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPON REPLACING THE TCS THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS FOUND TO BE DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. HAS THE HIGHLANDER REQUIRED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS?*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011054 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10098738 · 2004-11-12 (November 12, 2004)

2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, V6 ENGINE, AUTO TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A DEFINITE HESITATION/LAG/DELAY IN SHIFTING AND ACCELERATION. THIS CONDITION HAPPENS ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME AND CREATES A REAL SAFETY CONCERN. MODERATE ACCELERATION WILL PRODUCE THIS CONDITION. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS CONDITION BUT IS DOING NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10098738 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10083225 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)

AFTER PULLING OFF THE ROAD ONTO A SIDE STREET CONSUMER HEARD A STRANGE NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. UPON MERGING BACK ONTO THE ROAD STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD POPPING NOISE AFTER DRIVING FOR LESS THAN A BLOCK. CONSUMER THEN PULLED INTO PARKING LOT. THE SMOKE BECAME WORSE. THE CONSUMER POPPED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. WHEN THEY ARRIVED THE ENTIRE ENGIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083225 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10096960 · 2004-11-22 (November 22, 2004)

THE CONSUMER STRUCK AN UNIDENTIFIED ROAD DEBRIS. THE FUEL TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM *SC

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096960 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10173304 · 2006-11-13 (November 13, 2006)

WIFE COMPLAINED OF INTERMITTENT GAS SMELL IN 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER,V-6/AWD, FOR 2-3 WEEKS. I CHECKED IT MORE THAN ONCE FOR LEAKING UNDER HOOD AND UNDER FRONT OF ENGINE; COULD NOT FIND SOURCE. ON 10/27/06 I STARTED CAR FOR 2-3 MINUTES TO POSITION IN FRONT OF GARAGE TO INSTALL FRONT BRAKE PADS. SHUT OFF AND STARTED TO JACK WHEN I NOTICED GAS DRIPS ON CEMENT, COMING FROM ABOVE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIPPING DOWN & OFF STILL FAIRLY COOL EXHAUST PIPE REAR BANK OF V-6 . STARTED ENGINE AGAIN, CHECKED FOR LEAKS; NOTHING DETECTED. TOLD MY WIFE IT WAS …

Owner-reported narrative. 52,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173304 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10161755 · 2006-07-07 (July 7, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD WHERE IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SLUDGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER ONCE BEFORE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE WAS CLEANED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161755 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10651774 · 2014-11-01 (November 1, 2014)

WIRING PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT. KEPT REPLACING BULB, THEN REPLACING SOCKET, NOW GOING TO PUT A WHOLE KIT. TOYOTA NEGLECTED TO TELL ME THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE, EVEN AFTER SEVERAL TICKETS AND WASTED MONEY ON DIFFERENT THINGS TELLING ME IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10651774 at NHTSA ↗