2012 Toyota HIGHLANDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
182 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
51,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 127 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 46 of 182 complaints (25.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 44 | 24.2% |
| Braking behavior | 21 | 11.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 5.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.1% |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 46 |
| Electrical System | 27 |
| Unknown Or Other | 23 |
| Engine | 17 |
| Structure:Body | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 14 |
| Service Brakes | 12 |
Steering: 46; Electrical System: 27; Unknown Or Other: 23; Engine: 17; Structure:Body: 14; Vehicle Speed Control: 14; Visibility/Wiper: 14; Service Brakes: 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 | 36 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 26 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 31 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 36; 25,000 to 49,999: 26; 50,000 to 74,999: 31; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (36). 55 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 13 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 22 |
| 2019 | 26 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2012: 13; 2013: 12; 2014: 16; 2015: 19; 2016: 13; 2017: 17; 2018: 22; 2019: 26; 2020: 12; 2021: 9; 2022: 8; 2023: 5; 2024: 3; 2025: 5; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 44 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 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 10489150 · 2012-12-18 (December 18, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND STEERING TO THE RIGHT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY EMITTED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHEN POWERING OFF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE DEFROSTER FOR THE REAR WINDOW WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO REMAIN FOGGY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES. THE M…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10489150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10519433 · 2013-06-12 (June 12, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SWAYING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO A BILLBOARD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10519433 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10456842 · 2012-04-30 (April 30, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THE CONTACT THEN ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH WAS UNRESPONSIVE. THE ENGINE RMPS INCREASED UP TO 3,000. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED REPEATEDLY AND THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO UNINTENDEDLY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING TO THE DESTINATION AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456842 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457095 · 2012-05-01 (May 1, 2012)
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT, MY HIGHLANDER SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL! MY HIGHLANDER WENT UP OVER THE CURB WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW. I HAD BRAKES AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE, COMING TO A SAFE STOP. NOT BEFORE SLASHING MY LEFT FRONT TIRE AND BENDING MY TIRE RIM. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS INJURED. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 1,104 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457095 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10467938 · 2012-07-27 (July 27, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY INSTEAD. SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE HOWEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD BECOME VERY STIFF. SHE HAD TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED 15 FEET LATER. SHE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN IDLE UP CLUTCH DEFECT, WHICH OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN THE AIR C…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467938 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10914882 · 2016-10-08 (October 8, 2016)
DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I HAD TO COVER THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. I GOT IT DONE TODAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE 3 DEFECTIVE DOORS HAVE AN ISSUE AND SOME PART MUST BE CHANGED AT A TUNE OF $1700! IF THE CAR HAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD COVER IT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT INVOLVES 3 OUT OF 4 DOORS. THERE WAS NOTHING I DID OR COULD HAVE DONE TO MESS UP THE 3 DOORS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10914882 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10960048 · 2017-03-10 (March 10, 2017)
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND EXITING A HIGHWAY, APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, DASHBOARD FLICKERED, AND ENGINE DIED. THE RED STEERING WHEEL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY, BUT THE WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PERIOD OF A FEW MINUTES. BATTERY & ALTERNATOR WERE TESTED - NO MALFUNCTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 71,579 miles reported. Look up ODI 10960048 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11196195 · 2019-04-15 (April 15, 2019)
WITH 1000 MILES LEFT ON AN OIL CHANGE OR SO OUR CAR WOULD RANDOMLY STALL WHEN YOU MAKE CERTAIN TURNS. OCCAISIOANLLY THE OIL LIGHT WOULD POP ONE WHEN IT WOULD STALL. I CHECKED THE DIPSTICK AND YOU COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING ON IT. I ADDED OIL AND TOOK IT INTO DEALER. THEY ARE DOING A CONSUMPTION TEST TO SEE HOW MUCH WE LOSE IN 1000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 86,000 MILES ON IT. WE HAVE NO LEAKS AND NO VISIBLE SMOKE COMING OUT OF EXHAUST. THIS HAS ME WORRIED OF SIMILIAR PROBLEMS THEY HAD WITH ONE OF THERE OTHER 4CYL ENGINES.
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11196195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11397781 · 2021-02-24 (February 24, 2021)
WHEN FILLING THE HIGHLANDER WITH FUEL, IT LOOKS LIKE A WATERFALL OF FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A GAS TANK ISSUE BUT A PROBLEM WITHIN THE LINES? ONCE YOU STOP FUELING WITH THE MAJOR LEAK AND GO TO ANOTHER AREA THERE IS NO FUEL DROP UNDERNEATH THE TANK.
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11397781 at NHTSA ↗