2012 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
86,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 9 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 11.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 11.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 11.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Seats | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
Structure:Body: 2; Electrical System: 1; Fuel System, Other: 1; Hybrid Propulsion System: 1; Power Train: 1; Seats: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Steering: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2018: 4; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10504203 · 2013-03-22 (March 22, 2013)
TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE 15,000 MILES CHECK UP. THIS VEHICLE ISN'T EVEN A YEAR OLD. THEY TOLD US THE FUEL TANK CHARCOAL CANISTER WAS CRACKED, HOWEVER THE PLASTIC SHROWD WAS NOT. THE DEALER WANTED $1,100 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HOW COULD THIS CAR LESS THAN 20,000 MILES AND LESS THAN A YEAR OLD HAVE A CRACKED CANISTER, WITHOUT THE SHROWD BEING CRACKED. DEALER SAID THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A DEFECT THEN THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,445 miles reported. Look up ODI 10504203 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10559803 · 2014-01-14 (January 14, 2014)
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO DEALER FOR A FACTORY RECALL TO REPLACE THE REAR DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY. THE CAR WAS DRIVING COMPLETELY NORMALLY WHEN TAKEN IN FOR THIS SERVICE. BUT WHEN PICKED UP, THE CAR WAS UNSAFE. IT DROVE NORMALLY AT LOW SPEEDS LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP. BUT A COUPLE OF MILES LATER WHEN GETTING ONTO THE FREEWAY, AT ABOUT 50 MPH, THE REAR END STARTED TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS A DRAG ON FORWARD MOVEMENT, AND FELT LIKE IT WAS SWAYING FROM SIDE TO SIDE, MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. NO UNUSUAL NOISES WERE HEARD. EMERGENCY FLA…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,690 miles reported. Look up ODI 10559803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10608193 · 2014-07-04 (July 4, 2014)
SEVERAL SMALL PAINT BUBBLES ON REAR HATCH. ONE HAD BURST AT SEAM OF TRIM AND IS RUSTING. SCREWS HOLDING THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT AND ASSEMBLY ARE RUSTED. UNDERSIDE OF "HIGHLANDER" EMBLEM TRIM WHERE REAR CAMERA IS LOCATED IS CORRODED AND RUSTED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 25,510 miles reported. Look up ODI 10608193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10683807 · 2015-02-17 (February 17, 2015)
NO PRIOR HISTORY OF HYBRID PROBLEMS DURING PREVIOUS 65,000 MILES. ON MONDAY MORNING, THE HIGHLANDER HYBRID STARTED UP FINE. AFTER WARMING UP FOR 5 MINUTES TO SCRAPE OFF SNOW, SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND BEGAN DRIVING. CAR SHUT DOWN AFTER ABOUT 12 FEET. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON DISPLAY, INDICATING HYBRID SYSTEM PROBLEM. AAA CAME, PUT ON FLATBED, AND TOOK TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OR FIX PROBLEM FOLLOWING 6+ HOURS OF TROUBLESHOOTING BY THEIR HYBRID EXPERT YESTERDAY. THEY INDICATE…
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10683807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11075617 · 2018-03-01 (March 1, 2018)
THE SUNROOF EXPLODED AND SHUTTERED WITH A LOAD EXPLOSION NOISE WHILE I WAS DRIVING 55MPH ON A HIGHWAY 17 IN CALIFORNIA WITH MY CHILDREN.
Owner-reported narrative. 105,002 miles reported. Look up ODI 11075617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11101251 · 2018-06-11 (June 11, 2018)
THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A CLUNK OR KNOCK TYPE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. IT OCCURRED AT SLOW SPEEDS SUCH AS TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION. THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THIS IS A KNOWN , REPORTED DEFECT ON HIGHLANDERS FROM 2008 - 2013. IT NEEDS TO BE ELEVATED TO THE LEVEL OF A RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 82,427 miles reported. Look up ODI 11101251 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11152787 · 2018-11-20 (November 20, 2018)
BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP/ABS ACTUATOR C1391/C1256 WERE CODES GIVEN IN ATTACHED REPORT FROM TOYOTA. THIS IS APPARENTLY BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHER MODELS OF TOYOTAS AND ARE COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT, HOWEVER THE 2012 IS NOT COVERED. NOTHING SEEMS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THEY CANNOT REALLY TELL ME WHAT EXACTLY IS WRONG OR IF IT IS A BAD SENSOR, HOWEVER THEY WANT $4,200 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX FROM PREVIOUS MODELS AND WOULD LIKE IT COVERED DUE TO POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK.
Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11152787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11156484 · 2018-12-06 (December 6, 2018)
VEHICLE POWER UNLOCKING MECHANISM IS UNRELIABLE, AND SHOWS SIGNIFICANT DEFECT IN THE UNLOCKING CAPABILITIES OF ALL BUT THE DRIVERS DOOR. AFTER SEVERAL LOCK ACTUATOR REPLACEMENTS, THE VEHICLE STILL EXHIBITS IMPROPER OPERATION. DEALERSHIP AGREES THAT THERE IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND IT'S LOCK OPERATION. BIGGEST ISSUE I SEE IS HAVING TO LEAVE MY CHILDREN UNATTENDED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK DOORS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS EXTENSIVELY, AND FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE, IN MANY FORUMS ETC - TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWL…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11156484 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.