2009 Toyota HIGHLANDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
134 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 105 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 134 complaints (17.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 36 | 26.9% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 7.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 6.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.2% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 23 |
| Service Brakes | 21 |
| Electrical System | 19 |
| Steering | 11 |
| Structure:Body | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
Engine: 23; Service Brakes: 21; Electrical System: 19; Steering: 11; Structure:Body: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 10; Air Bags: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 31 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 16 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 19 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 31; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 10
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 29 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2009: 4; 2010: 21; 2011: 4; 2012: 5; 2013: 12; 2014: 9; 2015: 17; 2016: 5; 2017: 8; 2018: 7; 2019: 13; 2020: 8; 2021: 4; 2022: 6; 2023: 4; 2024: 5; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 36 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 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 10293809 · 2009-11-29 (November 29, 2009)
I PURCHASED A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, IN FEBRUARY 2009. ON JUNE 1, 2009, I WAS NORTHEAST OF ROCKVILLE, INDIANA ON HIGHWAY 47 IN THIS TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. I APPROACHED A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF ROADWAY AND PASSED THE VEHICLE. AS I WAS PASSING I FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS GOING FASTER THAN I WAS ACCELERATING. WHEN I PULLED BACK INTO THE RIGHT LANE THE CAR WAS GOING EVEN FASTER AND I REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. LUCKILY, I WAS STILL ON A LONG STRAIGHT SECTION OF THE ROAD AND HAD SOME TIME. I FIRST TRIED TO BR…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,648 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10303030 · 2010-01-28 (January 28, 2010)
I PURCHASED A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, IN FEBRUARY 2009. ON JUNE 1, 2009, I WAS NORTHEAST OF ROCKVILLE, INDIANA ON HIGHWAY 47 IN THIS TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. I APPROACHED A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF ROADWAY AND PASSED THE VEHICLE. AS I WAS PASSING I FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS GOING FASTER THAN I WAS ACCELERATING. WHEN I PULLED BACK INTO THE RIGHT LANE THE CAR WAS GOING EVEN FASTER AND I REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. LUCKILY, I WAS STILL ON A LONG STRAIGHT SECTION OF THE ROAD AND HAD SOME TIME. I FIRST TRIED TO BR…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,648 miles reported. Look up ODI 10303030 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10351233 · 2010-08-23 (August 23, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS LOOSE AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE BRAKES WOULD GO TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD NO LONGER MOVE BACKWARD, AND WAS POSITIONED ENTIRELY TOO CLOSE TO HE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS LITTLE ROOM FOR MOVEMENT WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FOUR SEPARATE DEALERS AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE …
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10351233 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10542057 · 2013-09-05 (September 5, 2013)
ABOUT EIGHTY MILES/TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, AN INTERMITTENT WHINE/HUMMING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE VICINITY OF THE DRIVER SIDE DASH AREA WHILE TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT UNUSUAL AS THE POWER STEERING IS ELECTRICALLY ASSISTED AND THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS LIKELY MAKING THE NOISE. TWO DAYS AFTER THE FIRST SOUNDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED UPON ENGINE START. THE STEERING WHEEL IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN NOW. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10542057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10318696 · 2010-04-12 (April 12, 2010)
2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WAS INVOLVED IN THE FLOOR MAT RECALL. WHEN VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE FLOOR MATS WERE NOT TOYOTA FLOOR MATS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED AT TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND STATED THE BATTERY WAS WEAK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10318696 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10704638 · 2015-04-09 (April 9, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V743000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10704638 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10315196 · 2010-03-01 (March 1, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON AT LEAST FOUR OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN THE DRIVER WOULD DEPRESS THE PEDAL GENTLY AFTER A STOP. THE VEHICLE ALSO ACCELERATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND WHAT THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE WAS. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE REPRESENTATIVE INSTRUCTED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315196 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10335417 · 2010-06-09 (June 9, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE TURNING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN THE SNOW. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO REVERSE BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 11,000. UPDATED 11/03/10 *BF UPDATED 11/04/10
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10335417 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10533441 · 2013-08-03 (August 3, 2013)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY WITH THE FAMILY (50MPH), CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL SUDDENLY TURN ON AND FLICKER ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. ENGINE POWER HESITATES. AT THE STOPLIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO TURN ON, AND OFF RANDOMLY, AS WELL AS TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT. ENGINE APPEARS TO BE STALLING AT TIMES, AND RPM BOUNCES BETWEEN 500-900. ACCELERATION WHEN PRESSING AGAINST GAS PEDAL RESULTS IN UNEVEN ACCELERATION. PULLED VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE, TURNED ENGINE OFF, AND EXAMINED VEHICLE. EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DO NOT SEE ANYT…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10533441 at NHTSA ↗