2010 Toyota Highlander: common problems

Owners of the 2010 Toyota Highlander filed 216 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and visibility. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 216
involving a crash: 18

What fails most often

1 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
2 Visibility 19% of all complaints
3 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
4 Vehicle speed control 10% of all complaints
5 Steering 10% of all complaints
6 Air bags 6% of all complaints
7 Structure 6% of all complaints
8 Engine 6% of all complaints

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

Electrical system: 53 complaints (25% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Visibility: 42 complaints (19% of all).
Service brakes: 30 complaints (14% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Vehicle speed control: 22 complaints (10% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Steering: 21 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

2.7 L · petrol · 4 cyl
3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
3.3 L · hybrid · 6 cyl
automatic, 5-speed
automatic, 6-speed
CVT

Drive: FWD, AWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 216 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

warning lights, check engine27 · 13%
windows, sunroof24 · 11%
knocking, grinding or other noise12 · 6%
headlights and tail lights10 · 5%
airbags did not deploy8 · 4%
airbag warning light5 · 2%
brake failure5 · 2%
door locks, latches, handles5 · 2%
infotainment or screen glitches5 · 2%
smoke, burning smell, fire5 · 2%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Electrical system	53	1
Visibility	42	0
Service brakes	30	5
Vehicle speed control	22	6
Steering	21	1
Air bags	14	8
Structure	14	2
Engine	12	1
Exterior lighting	12	0
Powertrain	6	0
Electronic stability control	5	0
Equipment	4	0
Wheels	4	0
Engine and cooling	2	0

What owners report

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

There have never been any warning lights, or sounds that would indicate an issue.
Service brakes · crash · 2024-01-17 · NHTSA complaint #11566144
The driver's air bag deployed; however, the front passenger air bag failed to deploy. The front passenger sustained injuries to the chest and lower back. The contact sustained injuries to the arms, neck, back, and right ankle. Medical attention was received. A police report was filed.
Air bags · crash · 2019-01-17 · NHTSA complaint #11170537
The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle sustained extensive damage to the front and middle sections. The driver of the vehicle sustained a broken nose, a concussion, multiple facial abrasions and contusions. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not repaired.
Air bags · crash · 2014-03-04 · NHTSA complaint #10566981
Airbags did not deploy, damaged front end, minor damage to the bumper, major damage to engine compartment and windshield was cracked why did the airbag not deploy our major concern concern that will the airbag work after repairs??
Air bags · crash · 2014-03-01 · NHTSA complaint #10566585
No warning lights came on and the airbags did not deploy. The passenger side headlight was smashed, the hood was smashed, front bumper and passenger side fender were also smashed. The only thing that stopped the car was the tree. Once it stopped, I simply turned the ignition off.
Service brakes · crash · 2013-04-27 · NHTSA complaint #10509771
This pattern leads me to believe that in instances of hard braking, damage to the brake pedal and/or load sensor can occur, causing a loss of brake power possibly resulting in an accident.
Service brakes · crash · 2012-08-03 · NHTSA complaint #10469061
The left front of the highlander sustained grille damage, left fender, headlight and running light, driver door and left mirror. Fender pushed back prevented driver door from being opened. Air bags did not deploy. The highlander was purchased 1/4/2010. The accelerator recall was performed by the dealer in march 2010.
Vehicle speed control · crash · 2010-12-13 · NHTSA complaint #10371326
My car all of a sudden went into limp mode while driving on the 91 freeway with my kids in the car on may 21 2026. It had master warning â ï¸ light and check engine light and a circle warning light that is the braking system also it said on the screen check hybrid system stop the vehicle in a safe place immediately…
Fuel/propulsion system · 2026-05-28 · NHTSA complaint #11740752

When owners complained

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

20092
201030
201110
20127
201316
201427
201518
201613
201720
201822
201910
202010
202110
20227
20235
20245
20252
20262

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 1,878 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 5% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Highlander has 200 complaints (29 years in the data). This year has 216, about average.

What to check before buying

Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.

Questions and answers

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

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, visibility, service brakes. Total complaints: 216. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (13%), windows, sunroof (11%), knocking, grinding or other noise (6%).

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

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 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.