2010 Toyota HIGHLANDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
216 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
54,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 169 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 50 of 216 complaints (23.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 47 | 21.8% |
| Steering behavior | 20 | 9.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 6.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 2.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 0.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 50 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 31 |
| Service Brakes | 25 |
| Steering | 21 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 |
| Unknown Or Other | 15 |
| Air Bags | 14 |
| Engine | 12 |
Electrical System: 50; Visibility/Wiper: 31; Service Brakes: 25; Steering: 21; Vehicle Speed Control: 18; Unknown Or Other: 15; Air Bags: 14; Engine: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 42 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 31 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 39 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 27 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 20 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 42; 25,000 to 49,999: 31; 50,000 to 74,999: 39; 75,000 to 99,999: 27; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 10
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (42). 47 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 | 2 |
| 2010 | 30 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 27 |
| 2015 | 18 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 22 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2009: 2; 2010: 30; 2011: 10; 2012: 7; 2013: 16; 2014: 27; 2015: 18; 2016: 13; 2017: 20; 2018: 22; 2019: 10; 2020: 10; 2021: 10; 2022: 7; 2023: 5; 2024: 5; 2025: 2; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 47 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 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 10303728 · 2010-02-01 (February 1, 2010)
ON JAN.26,2010, I WAS STOPPED BEHIND CARS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. MY 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER STARTED CREEPING FORWARD/I THOUGHT I'D TAKEN MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, AND THEN THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING TO AN OUTRAGEOUS LEVEL. THE HARDER I BRAKED THE MORE THE ENGINE REVVEDAND THE CAR TRIED TO JUMP FORWARD. IT WAS SO LOUD THE DRIVER AHEAD OF ME TURNED AROUND TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON BEHIND HIM. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO REAR-END HIM UNTIL I REMEMBERED TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE RETURNED TO ITS NORMAL RPMS, BUT I WAS REALLY SHAKEN. I …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10303728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10305087 · 2010-02-04 (February 4, 2010)
2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED HYBRID--BRAKING PROBLEMS. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE FIRST APPLIED, THEY ARE SOFT AND MUSHY. IF YOU SLAM ON THE BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY, THEY STOP, BUT IN EVERYDAY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO ENGAGE UNTIL YOU REALLY PUT SOME WEIGHT ON IT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 MONTHS AGO. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 17 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305087 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10315706 · 2010-03-02 (March 2, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL DRIFTED TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT AND HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT ENGAGE; HOWEVER, AFTER 5 SECONDS THE VEHICLE BEGAN DRIVING NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN AND TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,280 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,295…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315706 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10372574 · 2010-12-27 (December 27, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EQUIPPED WITH TOYO A20 TIRES (NA), SIZE 245/55/R19. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN RECEIVING THE VEHICLE, IT SWAYED TO THE SIDE IT WAS TURNED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND REFERRED HIM TO THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAND OF THE TIRES WAS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES, THE VEHICLE WOULD LEAN INTO THE CORNER CURVE MORE THAN NORMAL, WHICH WOULD CAUSE …
Owner-reported narrative. 208 miles reported. Look up ODI 10372574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10362031 · 2010-10-27 (October 27, 2010)
2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER FROM REGARDING TOYOTA PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO HIM AND HIS WIFE DURING THE SALES SUSPENSION PERIOD OF TOYOTA VEHICLES WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR RECALL WORK BEING COMPLETED. ALSO, AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR FIVE DAYS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER STATED THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10362031 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10373903 · 2011-01-03 (January 3, 2011)
2010 HIGHLANDER 4WD: SYSTEM CHECK PANEL I INDICATING THE REAR DOOR IS OPEN, WHEN IT'S NOT. BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES. CAR HAS 6000 MILES ON IT. THE REAR DOOR OPEN INDICATOR EFFECTS DOOR LOCKING ABILITY WITH KEY FOB AS WELL AS CONTINUAL CHIME INDICATING REAR DOOR IS OPEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH TURNING DOME LIGHT OFF AND ON. DEALER THOUGHT IT WAS REAR DOOR STRIKE PLATE. ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY. THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. 3RD VISIT TO DEALER STILL TRYING TO PINPOINT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING SO FAR NO LUCK. ELECTRICAL BAD DOOR SENSOR FAULTY ELECTRICAL DOOR SWI…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10373903 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10326649 · 2010-04-20 (April 20, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SITTING IDLE IN A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO JUMP A NEARBY CURB, CRASHED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT DID NOT REPORT ANY INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACTS INSURANCE COMPANY WAS HANDLING THE INVESTIGATION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10330299 · 2010-05-13 (May 13, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 1,700.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10330299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10679333 · 2015-01-27 (January 27, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10679333 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11195672 · 2019-04-11 (April 11, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE WHILE IN TRAFFIC. ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL, WHICH CAUSED IT TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE…
Owner-reported narrative. 158,297 miles reported. Look up ODI 11195672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10305870 · 2010-02-04 (February 4, 2010)
ON PENNSYLVANIA TPKE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2010 MODEL BOUGHT A MONTH AGO JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AFTER AN HOUR DRIVE, CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED THAT IT HAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM AND THAT WAS REPLACED. THE WAS RETURNED AFTER A WEEK. ON OUR WAY BACK AGAIN AFTER APPROX. AN HOUR DRIVE THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. WE ESCAPED 2 MAJOR ACCIDENTS BY GOD'S GRACE. THE CAR IS STILL WITH ROCKLAND TOYOTA. THIS TIME THEY SAID THE FUEL PUMP WAS THE PROBLEM, THEN THEY SAID IT IS LOOSE WIRE ETC. ETC. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 737 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305870 at NHTSA ↗