Toyota Highlander Hybrid Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 151 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid across 12 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (74). The words owners use most often: “inverter failed” (7% of reports).
- 151electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $12,300typical repair cost reported by owners
- 42%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Inverter failed: mentioned in 10 of 151 complaints (7%)
- Check vsc: mentioned in 10 of 151 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid at $12,300, and half of them between $11,600 and $13,000.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2010–2018), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 136 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 151 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 6 a fire.
Toyota Highlander Hybrid electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Highlander Hybrid | 1 | 11% | 6,000 |
| 2022 Highlander Hybrid | 2 | 33% | 26,500 |
| 2021 Highlander Hybrid | 1 | 7% | 77,900 |
| 2017 Highlander Hybrid | 1 | 33% | 10 |
| 2015 Highlander Hybrid | 2 | 50% | 16,425 |
| 2014 Highlander Hybrid | 1 | 50% | 17,200 |
| 2012 Highlander Hybrid | 1 | 11% | 86,000 |
| 2010 Highlander Hybrid | 2 | 9% | 19,000 |
| 2009 Highlander Hybrid | 3 | 8% | 103,600 |
| 2008 Highlander Hybrid | 35 | 18% | 123,000 |
| 2007 Highlander Hybrid | 28 | 25% | 115,250 |
| 2006 Highlander Hybrid | 74 | 20% | 114,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Electrical system:software; seat belts
Model years: 2014
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles may have improper software installed in the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) for the operation of the front passenger seat belt force limiter, and as a result, the force limiter may use the restraint setting designed for small occupants, such as those that weigh approximately 110 pounds, for all occupants regardless of their size. As such, some of these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: In the event of a crash, a larger front passenger seat occupant may not be properly restrained and be at an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a software update in the air bag electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Electrical system
Model years: 2006, 2007
Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 highlander hybrid and lexus rx400h passenger cars manufactured from february 16, 2005, through august 30, 2006. A module inside the inverter module may contain inadequately soldered transistors that during high-load driving, may be damaged by heat caused by the large current. If this occurs, various warning lamps, including the malfunction indicator lamp, slip indicator light, brake system warning light, and master warning light, will be illuminated on the instrument panel.
Risk: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. It is possible that the hybrid system will shut down while the vehicle is being driven, causing the vehicle to stall unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota/lexus mailed an interim owner notification on july 19, 2011 to advise owners of this recall and the fact that they will receive a future notice when parts become available to complete repairs. Toyota dealers will inspect the hybrid inverter production number to determine whether the inverter contains suspect transistors and replace the module free of charge. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that the second-row seats had been making an abnormal rattling sound. Additionally, the contact stated that there was an abnormally strong foul odor inside the vehicle. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the car…
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the instrument panel lights were flashing. The vehicle then independently turned off and restarted repeatedly. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was determined that the battery level was…
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 92,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the…
The contact's wife owns 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 70 MPH, the vehicle shut off with the "Maintenance Required Visit Your Dealer" message displayed. The contactâs wife restarted the vehicle and immediately pulled over to the shoulder. Despite…
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, there was a hesitation, and the vehicle surged forward before coming to a stop. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact became aware of TSB 0059/23, NHTSA ID Number: 10244133…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Toyota Highlander Hybrids have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 151 owner complaints about electrical system for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid electrical system?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
Owners report a typical cost of $12,300 (half paid between $11,600 and $13,000), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
The most frequent phrase is “inverter failed”, in 10 of 151 complaints, followed by “check vsc” (10).
Other Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems
- Service Brakes problems (230)
See all Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems.