Toyota Highlander Years to Avoid — the eight-speed years, and the hybrid exception.
Be wary of a gas 2017–2022 Highlander: 780 complaints across those years name the transmission, and the 2021 and 2019 drew 539 and 511 complaints, the most of any Highlander. The 2014–2016 drew a fraction of that, and owners say the hybrid avoids the problem.
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Quick Answer
- What Toyota Highlander years should you avoid?
- The gas 2017–2022, for the transmission. 223 of the 2019's 511 complaints and 236 of the 2021's 539 name it, and 609 across the six years describe it failing or being replaced. No recall on NHTSA's list covers it.
- What is the best year for a used Highlander?
- The 2014–2016 are the safest bet in NHTSA's records: 136, 193 and 111 complaints, with 12 naming the transmission across all three. The 2016 drew the fewest of any Highlander from 2001 to 2021. Owners also recommend a hybrid from any year.
- Is the Highlander Hybrid more reliable?
- On the transmission, NHTSA's records back the owners. Of 2017–2022 complaints from owners who say their Highlander is a hybrid, one of 109 mentions the transmission, against 779 of the other 2,079 (37%). Owners say the hybrid doesn't use the eight-speed automatic.
Five checks matched to the Highlander's weak years
Most Highlanders run a very long time. These checks find the ones that won't.
- 1Read the year and powertrain from the VINThe 10th character gives the year; the VIN also tells a hybrid from a gas V6.
- 2Gas 2017–2022: drive it cold and in trafficHarsh shifts, clunks or hesitation are what owners describe before a failure.
- 3Ask about transmission workOwners describe replacements quoted at $7,500–$11,000; a receipt is worth a lot.
- 4Look up open recallsThe 2021–2025 seat recall 26V128000 is recent; check it is done.
- 5Check title and mileage recordsHigh mileage is normal on a Highlander; a gap in its records is not.
Avoid: the 2017–2022 Gas Highlander (Unless It's Been Sorted)
For 2017, the gas V6 Highlander got an eight-speed automatic, and transmission complaints rose from 1 on the 2016 to 65 on the 2017. They peaked on the 2019 (223) and 2021 (236), the two Highlander years with the most complaints of any kind, where the power train is the component owners named most.
Owners describe harsh or delayed shifts, hesitation when pulling away, and transmissions that fail outright: 609 complaints across 2017–2022 describe the transmission failing or being replaced. Several mention waiting weeks for a replacement unit.
No recall on NHTSA's list covers the 2017–2022 transmission. A gas Highlander from those years with a documented transmission replacement, or a long service history with no shift complaints, is a different proposition from one with neither.
2017–2022 by the numbers
- 65 · 73 · 223 complaints naming the transmission on the 2017, 2018 and 2019.
- 131 · 236 · 52 on the 2020, 2021 and 2022.
- 609 in all describe the transmission failing or being replaced.
- Recall 20V162000: 2020 V6 Highlanders, an engine-computer error that can starve the engine of fuel when stop-start restarts it.
Why Owners Say "Get the Hybrid"
The advice on Reddit is consistent: a hybrid from any year, or a gas Highlander from 2016 or earlier, stays clear of the eight-speed. Testing that is not as simple as it sounds. NHTSA once filed the Highlander Hybrid under its own name, but from 2018 it lists only a handful of complaints a year that way; the rest are filed as "Highlander". So we searched the 2017–2022 complaints for owners who say their car is a hybrid.
The claim holds up. 109 complaints come from owners who mention a hybrid, and one of them mentions the transmission. Of the other 2,079, 779 do (37%). Not every hybrid owner says so in a complaint, so the second group includes some hybrids, which if anything understates the gap.
A hybrid has its own things to check, chiefly the condition of the hybrid battery, which no history report can see. But if the transmission is your worry, the owners' advice matches the federal record.
Every Toyota Highlander Model Year Compared
NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns for every Highlander from 2001 to 2026, read on 12 November 2026.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crash · fire reports | Recalls | Most-cited component |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1st | 139 | 20 · 2 | 3 | Visibility |
| 2002 | 1st | 328 | 27 · 6 | 2 | Visibility |
| 2003 | 1st | 270 | 34 · 1 | 2 | Engine And Engine Cooling |
| 2004 | 1st | 286 | 32 · 3 | 5 | Power Train |
| 2005 | 1st | 225 | 35 · 4 | 6 | Power Train |
| 2006 | 1st | 279 | 29 · 4 | 7 | Service Brakes |
| 2007 | 1st | 124 | 11 · 1 | 4 | Service Brakes |
| 2008 | 2nd | 406 | 44 · 14 | 13 | Service Brakes |
| 2009 | 2nd | 134 | 6 · 5 | 9 | Service Brakes |
| 2010 | 2nd | 238 | 19 · 2 | 10 | Electrical System |
| 2011 | 2nd | 187 | 14 · 0 | 5 | Steering |
| 2012 | 2nd | 191 | 16 · 3 | 2 | Steering |
| 2013 | 2nd | 212 | 26 · 0 | 3 | Steering |
| 2014 | 3rd | 136 | 5 · 1 | 5 | Electrical System |
| 2015 | 3rd | 193 | 17 · 6 | 2 | Electrical System |
| 2016 | 3rd | 111 | 14 · 1 | 3 | Service Brakes |
| 2017 | 3rd | 272 | 18 · 2 | 4 | Power Train |
| 2018 | 3rd | 276 | 23 · 1 | 5 | Power Train |
| 2019 | 3rd | 511 | 22 · 1 | 3 | Power Train |
| 2020 | 4th | 323 | 16 · 0 | 4 | Power Train |
| 2021 | 4th | 539 | 17 · 4 | 4 | Power Train |
| 2022 | 4th | 267 | 20 · 1 | 5 | Power Train |
| 2023 | 4th | 192 | 12 · 0 | 9 | Structure |
| 2024 | 4th | 43 | 4 · 0 | 7 | Service Brakes |
| 2025 | 4th | 11 | 2 · 0 | 4 | Vehicle Speed Control |
| 2026 | 4th | 0 | 0 · 0 | 0 | — |
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not divided by sales. NHTSA lists no complaints yet for the 2026. Highlander Hybrids filed under their own name (mostly before 2018) are not in this table; later hybrid complaints mostly are. The Grand Highlander is filed separately.
Older Highlanders: Visors, Pedals and Brakes
Before the eight-speed, the Highlander's complaints were smaller and more scattered.
2002: sun visors
139 of the 2002's 328 complaints are about sun visors falling down while driving.
2004–2006: pedal clip
Recall 11V112000: a loose carpet-cover clip can let the cover catch the accelerator pedal.
2008–2010: floor-mat pedal trap
Recall 10V023000: an unsecured floor mat can hold the pedal wide open.
2008: brakes and airbags
The 2008 drew 406 complaints, 111 mentioning the brakes.
2015: power steering
Recall 15V144000: a damaged power-steering control part can fail over time.
2018–2019: fuel pump
Recall 20V012000: a fuel pump that can fail and stall the engine, across many Toyota and Lexus models.
What Highlander Owners Say on Reddit and YouTube
Highlander owners defend their cars hard, and the comments are full of 200,000- and 300,000-mile examples, especially 2005–2016. The bitter ones are mostly about the transmission on 2017–2022 gas models.
One video claimed the 2008–2010 burn oil; owners pushed back. NHTSA's records side with the owners: 8 of 778 complaints on the 2008–2010 describe oil burning.
In owners' words (paraphrased)
- r/ToyotaHighlander: a commenter says to avoid 2017–2022 unless it's a hybrid, because the UA80 eight-speed transmission is failing in large numbers.
- r/ToyotaHighlander, years to consider: a commenter says a hybrid from any year, or a 2016-or-older gas model, keeps you clear of the eight-speed; they would also avoid a panoramic roof.
- YouTube, 2018 Highlander: an owner says the transmission went at 100,000 miles; the dealer quoted $7,500 and a wait of at least two months.
- YouTube, 2019 Limited Platinum: an owner says the transmission failed at 98,000 miles and a new one was quoted at $11,000.
- YouTube, 2015 and 2020: an owner says the 2015 reached 174,000 miles without a single repair, while the 2020 needed a new transmission at 53,000.
- YouTube, 2015 XLE: an owner says they drove 208,000 miles with $300 in repairs, then sold it to a dealer for $11,500.
- YouTube, 2008 Highlander: an owner at 167,000 miles says it doesn't use any oil, rejecting the video's claim.
- YouTube, 2005 V6: an owner reports 334,000 miles after 20 years in the family.
The Highlanders Our Visitors Check
Between 7 June 2026 and 11 November 2026, visitors ran 886 different Toyota Highlander VINs through our free preview. 349 (39%) were 2017–2022 models, the eight-speed years, against 110 (12%) from 2014–2016. The most-checked single year was the 2021, at 76 VINs.
So a large share of Highlander shoppers are looking at exactly the years with the most transmission complaints. The VIN tells you whether you're looking at a gas or hybrid model; only the service records tell you whether the transmission has been replaced.
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Highlander Complaints by Year Group
The 2017–2022 stand out against everything before them. The 2014–2016 are the quietest run in the Highlander's record; the 2023 onward have had less time to collect complaints.
Fewest vs. Most Highlander Complaints
The five Highlander years from 2001 to 2021 with the fewest NHTSA complaints, against the five with the most.
Fewest complaints (2001–2021)
- 2016: 111 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2007: 124 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2009: 134 complaints, 9 recalls
- 2014: 136 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2001: 139 complaints, 3 recalls
Most complaints
- 2021: 539 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2019: 511 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2008: 406 complaints, 13 recalls
- 2002: 328 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2020: 323 complaints, 4 recalls
Recall counts include multi-model campaigns.
What to Check on a Used Highlander
By year and powertrain.
Gas 2017–2022: the shifts
Drive it cold, in traffic and up a hill. Every shift should be smooth.
Gas 2017–2022: the paperwork
Ask whether the transmission was replaced, and get the invoice.
Hybrid: the battery
Ask for a hybrid battery health check; no history report covers it.
2008–2010: the floor mats
Make sure the mats are secured and recall 10V023000 is done.
2021–2025: the second-row seats
Check that recall 26V128000 has been done.
Any year: VIN records
Open recalls, title brands and odometer history.
Reading Highlander Complaint Numbers
NHTSA complaints are owner reports, not verified and not divided by sales. The Highlander's totals are modest next to the Pilot's or the Escape's, so a jump matters: one transmission complaint on the 2016 against 223 on the 2019 is the signal.
The fault counts come from searching the words owners used, so treat them as a minimum: an owner who wrote "it lurches when I pull away" without naming the transmission is not counted. The 2023-onward Highlanders have had a year or two to collect complaints, which is why the "fewest" list stops at 2021.
Related Checks and Guides
Recalls, history checks and the Highlander's rivals.
Where These Facts Come From
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's own records; owner experiences are linked so you can read them in full.
NHTSA records read 12 November 2026. Written by the CarCheckerVIN editorial team with AI assistance, from NHTSA's complaint and recall records, our own preview logs and the owner posts linked above; figures checked November 2026. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Toyota.
Toyota Highlander Years to Avoid — Frequently Asked Questions
The transmission years, the hybrid and what to check.
What is the worst year for the Toyota Highlander?+
By NHTSA complaint count, the 2021 (539), then the 2019 (511) and the 2008 (406).
Which Highlander years have transmission problems?+
The gas 2017–2022. 780 complaints across those years name the transmission, 1 of them from owners who say the car is a hybrid, against 12 on the 2014–2016.
Did Toyota recall the Highlander transmission?+
Not according to NHTSA's recall list: no campaign on the 2017–2022 Highlander covers the transmission. Owners describe repairs under warranty or paid out of pocket.
Is the 2016 Highlander a good used buy?+
It drew 111 complaints, the fewest of any Highlander from 2001 to 2021, and owners on Reddit name it as the last gas year before the eight-speed.
Does the 2008 Highlander burn oil?+
NHTSA's records don't suggest a pattern: 8 of the 778 complaints on the 2008–2010 describe oil burning, and owners in the comments report high mileage without it.
Will your report show these problems?+
No history report can see inside a transmission. Ours lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos for the VIN. Recalls are free to check on NHTSA's site.
A Good Highlander Has the Paperwork
The year tells you what to check; the VIN and the service records tell you what's been done. Free preview first; the full report is $14.99 and lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos.
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's public records as read on 12 November 2026; complaints are unverified owner reports. Owner comments are paraphrased from the linked posts. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Toyota. Records in our reports reflect what was reported to our data providers. Our reports do not include police or repair-shop accident entries.
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