Toyota Highlander Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 634 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Toyota Highlander across 26 model years. The 2019 model year has the most (56). The words owners use most often: “door lock” (6% of reports).
- 634electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 16mention a crash
- 11mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $1,100typical repair cost reported by owners
- 32%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.
- Door lock: mentioned in 35 of 634 complaints (6%)
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 at $1,100, and half of them between $800 and $1,450.
Based on 27 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2026), 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 382 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 634 complaints, 16 mention a crash, 26 a fire, 11 an injury.
Toyota Highlander electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Highlander | 1 | 10% | — |
| 2024 Highlander | 6 | 14% | 13,357 |
| 2023 Highlander | 12 | 6% | 120,000 |
| 2022 Highlander | 21 | 8% | 17,781 |
| 2021 Highlander | 28 | 5% | 75,055 |
| 2020 Highlander | 18 | 6% | 11,000 |
| 2019 Highlander | 56 | 11% | 5,100 |
| 2018 Highlander | 24 | 9% | 14,900 |
| 2017 Highlander | 46 | 17% | 35,500 |
| 2016 Highlander | 14 | 13% | 25,000 |
| 2015 Highlander | 52 | 27% | 41,000 |
| 2014 Highlander | 35 | 26% | 40,000 |
| 2013 Highlander | 26 | 13% | 38,150 |
| 2012 Highlander | 29 | 16% | 48,151 |
| 2011 Highlander | 23 | 13% | 42,500 |
| 2010 Highlander | 53 | 25% | 66,000 |
| 2009 Highlander | 20 | 15% | 72,900 |
| 2008 Highlander | 44 | 11% | 85,000 |
| 2007 Highlander | 23 | 19% | 60,500 |
| 2006 Highlander | 26 | 9% | 90,000 |
| 2005 Highlander | 25 | 11% | 57,770 |
| 2004 Highlander | 18 | 6% | 63,750 |
| 2003 Highlander | 15 | 6% | 113,500 |
| 2002 Highlander | 13 | 4% | 103,500 |
| 2001 Highlander | 5 | 4% | 64,575 |
| 1998 Highlander | 1 | 100% | 14,325 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Model years: 2023, 2024, 2025
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner vehicles. Due to an error in the instrument panel software at vehicle startup, the instrument panel may fail to display vehicle speed, brake system, and tire pressure warning lights.
Risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 5, 2025. Additional letters will be sent, anticipated in May 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB08 and 25TA08. Lexus' numbers for this recall are 25LB05 and 25LA05.
Electrical system:wiring; service brakes, hydraulic:fluid
Model years: 2016
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Highlander vehicles manufactured May 26, 2016, to September 16, 2016. The brake fluid level sensor may not be connected to the wire harness, preventing the sensor from detecting the brake fluid level. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: If the brake fluid level is low and is not detected, the braking performance may be decreased, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, connect the wire harness to the sensor, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this G03.
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
On November 19, 2025, the 12.3-inch infotainment display in my 2021 Toyota Highlander Limited went black and never recovered. That screen is the only display for the rear-view backup camera. With it dead, there is no backup camera image when reversing. The failure started as an intermittent blank…
I am writing to formally express my dissatisfaction regarding a failure of the power liftgate on my Toyota Highlander and the fact that I was required to pay out of pocket to have it repaired. The liftgate is an important and frequently used component of the vehicle, and I did not expect it to fail…
LTA malfunction, SRS airbag system malfunction, pre-collision system malfunction and headlight system malfunction lights came on.
Pre-collision system malfunction and headlight system malfunction lights came on.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 Toyota Highlander. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. The contact stated that at the time of purchase the mileage was 106,000. After obtaining a Carfax report, the contact became aware that the mileage…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Toyota Highlanders have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 634 owner complaints about electrical system for the Toyota Highlander. 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 electrical system?
Yes: 3 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?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,100 (half paid between $800 and $1,450), from 27 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Toyota Highlander?
The most frequent phrase is “door lock”, in 35 of 634 complaints.
Other Toyota Highlander problems
- Power Train problems (1,040)
- Service Brakes problems (589)
- Engine problems (536)
- Structure problems (446)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (444)
- Steering problems (365)
- Air Bags problems (356)
- Visibility problems (318)
See all Toyota Highlander problems.