2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: common problems

Owners of the 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about structure and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 9

What fails most often

1 Structure 22% of all complaints
2 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
3 Fuel system 11% of all complaints
4 Hybrid propulsion system 11% of all complaints
5 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
6 Seats 11% of all complaints
7 Service brakes 11% of all complaints
8 Steering 11% of all complaints

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

Structure: 2 complaints (22% of all).
Electrical system: 1 complaints (11% of all).
Fuel system: 1 complaints (11% of all).
Hybrid propulsion system: 1 complaints (11% of all).
Powertrain: 1 complaints (11% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 9 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

knocking, grinding or other noise2 · 22%
rear-view camera1 · 11%
rust, corrosion1 · 11%
vibration1 · 11%
warning lights, check engine1 · 11%
windows, sunroof1 · 11%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Structure	2	0	0
Electrical system	1	0	0
Fuel system	1	0	0
Hybrid propulsion system	1	0	0
Powertrain	1	0	0
Seats	1	0	0
Service brakes	1	0	0
Steering	1	0	0
Visibility	1	0	0
Other	1	0	0

What owners report

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

The mid-row seats shake and rattle when driving and no one is sitting on them.
Seats · 2019-06-12 · NHTSA complaint #11219597
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.
Structure · 2018-12-06 · NHTSA complaint #11156484
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.
Service brakes · 2018-11-20 · NHTSA complaint #11152787
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.
Steering · 2018-06-11 · NHTSA complaint #11101251
The sunroof exploded and shuttered with a load explosion noise while I was driving 55mph on a highway 17 in california with my children.
Visibility · 2018-03-01 · NHTSA complaint #11075617
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.
Electrical system · 2015-02-17 · NHTSA complaint #10683807
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.
Structure · 2014-07-04 · NHTSA complaint #10608193
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.
Powertrain · 2014-01-14 · NHTSA complaint #10559803

When owners complained

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

20131
20142
20151
20184
20191

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 11,366 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 31% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Highlander Hybrid has 38 complaints (22 years in the data). This year has 9, below average.

What to check before buying

Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Hybrid propulsion system. HV battery state, hybrid codes, water ingress.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: structure, electrical system, fuel system. Total complaints: 9. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (22%), rear-view camera (11%), rust, corrosion (11%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2012 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 2012 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 2012 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.