2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: common problems

Owners of the 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid filed 22 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and engine. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 22
involving a crash: 1

What fails most often

1 Service brakes 27% of all complaints
2 Engine 14% of all complaints
3 Electrical system 9% of all complaints
4 Fuel/propulsion system 9% of all complaints
5 Hybrid propulsion system 9% of all complaints
6 Steering 9% of all complaints
7 Electronic stability control 5% of all complaints
8 Engine and cooling 5% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Service brakes: 6 complaints (27% of all).
Engine: 3 complaints (14% of all).
Electrical system: 2 complaints (9% of all).
Fuel/propulsion system: 2 complaints (9% of all).
Hybrid propulsion system: 2 complaints (9% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 22 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

knocking, grinding or other noise3 · 14%
stalls while driving3 · 14%
jerking, harsh shifts2 · 9%
warning lights, check engine2 · 9%
battery drain1 · 5%
door locks, latches, handles1 · 5%
loss of power / limp mode1 · 5%
vibration1 · 5%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Service brakes	6	0
Engine	3	0
Electrical system	2	0
Fuel/propulsion system	2	0
Hybrid propulsion system	2	0
Steering	2	0
Electronic stability control	1	0
Engine and cooling	1	0
Equipment	1	0
Structure	1	0
Vehicle speed control	1	1
Other	4	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

Accelerator moved to full speed as backing up began. Auto plowed 110 feet full speed through plants and trees, coming to a stop by some trees. Car was parked on private driveway. Driver slightly injured. Rear end car damage is $6,000+.
Vehicle speed control · crash · 2016-01-09 · NHTSA complaint #10819165
A loud clunk was heard and the car would not move forward. The engine was still running but car would not accelerate and had to be pushed out of the road. "check hybrid system" warning flashed.
Fuel/propulsion system · 2019-07-02 · NHTSA complaint #11228964
While using the tailgate close button on the key fob,car shut off and parked, a loud bang was heard while the door was closing and the door jammed, slightly opened and immovable. Had to take the car to a certified toyota repair facility to get the closing servo disconnected so the door would shut.
Structure · 2018-10-24 · NHTSA complaint #11142413
I got a warning light on the dash as I was pressing the brakes, later the car did not wanted to stop, but it did not prevent me from hitting the other car. I press on the emergency brake and I was able to stop the car.
Service brakes · 2018-05-26 · NHTSA complaint #11098111
Clunking, etc. Seems dangerous, no recall.... This is one complaint to add to the numerous others. Toyota, when are you going to do something about this?
Steering · 2018-04-09 · NHTSA complaint #11084019
I was driving to pick up my son when a brake malfunction warning light came on indicating a problem with abs system. After picking up my son I went directly to the dealer and the found the problem was given by code c1391, a brake accumulator vacuum leak.
Service brakes · 2018-01-05 · NHTSA complaint #11060726
At low mileage, the steering column has a bearing in it called a stub shaft but apparently gets loose leaving to a clunk and looseness in the steering. It is so common that our dealer has to keep multiple replacement parts in stock.
Steering · 2016-03-05 · NHTSA complaint #10840076
Thus, there is a risk of a sudden loss of power. The toyota dealer was unable to offer any explanation other than thee things happen. The vehicle had only 80,000 miles, had been maintained by toyota dealers on a regular basis and is five years old.
Engine · 2015-10-26 · NHTSA complaint #10786138

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20101
20113
20121
20132
20144
20152
20162
20185
20192

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 7,904 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 22% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Highlander Hybrid has 38 complaints (22 years in the data). This year has 22, below average.

What to check before buying

Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, engine, electrical system. Total complaints: 22. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (14%), stalls while driving (14%), jerking, harsh shifts (9%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2010 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.