2005 Toyota HIGHLANDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
224 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
56,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 170 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 224 complaints (14.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 52 | 23.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 36 | 16.1% |
| Steering behavior | 24 | 10.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 27 |
| Electrical System | 22 |
| Steering | 21 |
| Power Train | 17 |
| Visibility | 13 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 12 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 8 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 33; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 27; Electrical System: 22; Steering: 21; Power Train: 17; Visibility: 13; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 12; Visibility/Wiper: 8
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 | 33 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 44 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 25 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 24 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 33; 50,000 to 74,999: 44; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 24; 150,000 and above: 9
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (44). 54 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 21 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2007 | 14 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2010 | 53 |
| 2011 | 24 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 21; 2006: 17; 2007: 14; 2008: 9; 2009: 14; 2010: 53; 2011: 24; 2012: 6; 2013: 12; 2014: 14; 2015: 13; 2016: 6; 2017: 5; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 52 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 36 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 24 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 10128880 · 2005-07-15 (July 15, 2005)
1-MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE, AND MAKING A TURN AND MERGING INOT TRAFFIC 2-ENGINE HESITATION FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN VEHICLE RESPONDS WITH SURGE IN SPEED. CARS COMING BEHIND ME HAD TO BRAKE/CHANGE LANES TO KEEP FROM HITTING ME. 3-I DIDN'T TRY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED, BECAUSE I UNDRSTAND THAT TOYOTA IS SAYING THIS IS NORMAL, AND NOT A PORBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10128880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135915 · 2005-09-08 (September 8, 2005)
DT: 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6- THE CONSUMER DROVE OFF THE LOT ON JUNE 3, 2005; THE CRUISE CONTROL BEHAVED ERRATICALLY AND IT OFTEN FELT AS IF IT WAS ACCELERATING A COUPLE OF MILES BEHIND THE DESIRED SPEED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO PASS THIS TURKEY WHICH YIELDED DIFFERENT RESULTS. THERE IS SOMETIMES AWKWARD DOWN SHIFTING AND RAPID ACCELERATION WHICH IS PRECEDED BY HESITATION. THE CONSUMER APPROACHED A VILLAGE INTERSECTION, DOWNHILL WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CONSUMER TOOK HIS FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE AND BEGAN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ONTO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10135915 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114325 · 2005-03-19 (March 19, 2005)
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER: TRANSMISSION TERRIBLY SLOW TO RESPOND. VERY DANGEROUS. TAKES AT LEAST A FULL SECOND TO RESPOND -- EITHER TRANSMISSION OR THROTTLE IS DEFECTIVE. *AK TOYOTA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. THE COMPANIES ATTITUDE IS: "IF WE DON'T ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM, THERE IS NO PROBLEM. "
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10114325 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116888 · 2005-04-13 (April 13, 2005)
TOYOTA, HIGHLANDER 2005. GOING DOWN A MOUNTAIN AT APPROXIMATEKY 50 MPH AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY, BACK END FLIPPED UP, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FISH TAIL. THE VEHICLE SLID INTO A BUSY ITERSECTION THEN STALLED. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO TOYOTA, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. WHILE WORKING ON THE VEHICLE I DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM W/A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT GETTING A NEW VEHICLE. (THIS VEHICLE WAS ONLY 3 MONTHS OLD). AND WAS TOLD THAT IF I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO ARBITRATION THEY WOULD IMMEDIATLY CEAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10153955 · 2006-03-28 (March 28, 2006)
I WAS REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK WHILE STOPPED COMPLETELY ON THE HARDY TOLL ROAD IN HOUSTON. THE TRUCK WAS GOING APPROX 30 MPH. MY SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK AND MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL RESULTING IN A CONCUSSION. TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT SEAT BELTS PROVIDE NO PROTECTION DURING A REAR END COLLISION. I THINK THEY ARE WRONG. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 22,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10153955 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154060 · 2006-03-14 (March 14, 2006)
2005 HIGHLANDER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT WAS BENT, THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO MAKE A RATTLING NOISE. *TS THE RATTLING OCCURRED WHEN GOING OVER ROAD EXPANSION GAPS AND MINOR BUMPS. ***NAR***
Owner-reported narrative. 13,811 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154060 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10254917 · 2009-01-13 (January 13, 2009)
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, 2005 YR, DEFECTIVE RIBBON ELECTRICAL CABLE BETWEEN HEAT/AIR CONTROL ON DASH AND COMPUTER IN CAR. HEAT ON, HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND AIR CONDITIONING COMES ON FULL BLAST OR THE REVERSE IN THE SUMMER. OTHER REPORTS ON INTERNET INDICATE SAME PROBLEM WITH 2001 & 2002 YEAR VEHICLES. COMMENTS ARE THE ELECTRICAL CABLE BECOME HARD AND BRITTLE WITH AGE AND BREAKS OR CROSS CONNECTS CAUSING PROBLEM. DEALER COST IS $600 - $900 TO CORRECT -- REPLACE WHOLE UNIT -- ALTHOUGH ONE COMMENT IS THAT NEW WIRE CAN BE SOLDERED. IT IS MY OP…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10254917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10329914 · 2010-05-11 (May 11, 2010)
2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. ERRATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL FROM HEATER. WHEN SET ON COOL WILL SUDDENLY BLOW HOT AIR AND VICE VERSA. ON-LINE COMPLAINTS INDICATE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM RESULTING FROM DEFECTIVE CONTROL UNIT IN THIS AND OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES OVER SEVERAL YEARS. THE CONTROL KNOW COMES LOOSE AND THEN THE WIRING BEHIND IT BREAKS FROM THE CIRCUIT BOARD RESULTING IN ERRATIC AIR TEMPERATURES. I ALSO HAVE CONCERN THAT THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE COULD CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL SHORTS OR PROBLEMS. DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE CONTROL UNIT …
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10329914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10343774 · 2010-07-17 (July 17, 2010)
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005 - 4 CYL DRIVING IN THE RAIN, OVER PUDDLES OF WATER THAT CREATE A SPLASH UP TO ABOUT 3/4 THE HEIGHT OF THE TIRE (PASSENGER SIDE), WILL CAUSE THE DISCHARGE WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON AND CAUSE LOSS OF POWER STEERING (HARD TO TURN). SUDDENLY, THE WARNING LIGHT WILL GO OFF AND POWER STEERING WILL RETURN. THIS IS MY WIFE'S VEHICLE AND I JUST NOTICED THIS ISSUE RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN. THE FAULT IS REPEATABLE AS I NOTICED IT FOR A SECOND TIME TODAY, AND I MANAGED TO HAVE IT REPEAT THE FAILURE EVERY TIME. THIS FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 78,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343774 at NHTSA ↗