What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2006 Toyota Highlander

Typical pattern

7.5% of complaints about the 2006 Toyota Highlander came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2006 vehicle — around the middle of the 250 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.6 yr in service. The most-reported system is service brakes (70 complaints), typically at 14.8 yr or about 150,500 miles.

Complaints
322
Median age at failure
7.6 yr
Median mileage
75,000 n=233
Crash / fire / tow
11.8% of reports
Safety recalls
7

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Service brakes
70 reports · 150,500 mi
14.8 yr
7.1%
Speed control
33 reports · 55,000 mi
5.3 yr
30.3%
Electrical system
26 reports · 90,000 mi
6.5 yr
0%
Power train
21 reports · 49,389 mi
2.3 yr
4.8%
Engine cooling
20 reports · 67,996 mi
5.1 yr
10%
Engine
19 reports · 102,000 mi
10.2 yr
5.3%
Service brakes, hydraulic
18 reports · 46,000 mi
4.3 yr
33.3%
Steering
15 reports · 105,000 mi
8.7 yr
13.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

16V396000 2016-06-02
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

14V743000 2014-11-19
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.

11V112000 2011-02-24
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 LEXUS RX330, RX350, AND RX400H VEHICLES. IF THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, WHICH IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE CENTER CONSOLE, IS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM.

IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. A STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN UNINTENDED AND SUSTAINED VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

10V499000 2010-10-21
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 LEXUS RX, AND MODEL YEAR 2006 LEXUS GS AND IS VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS LUBRICANTS FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON. IF THIS OCCURS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID COULD SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE SEA

A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

10V035000 2010-02-03
Equipment:other:labels

GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

10V036000 2010-02-03
Equipment:other:labels

SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

09V223000 2009-06-15
Equipment:other:labels

TOYOTA IS RECALLING 27,080 MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2010 PASSENGER CARS BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 TO MAY 4, 2009. THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS."

INCORRECT LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING OVERLOADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Engine cooling 140 mi 1 mo in service
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID-I HAVE LOST ABS BRAKES, STABILITY CONTROL AND POWER STEERING ALONG WITH THE HYBRID ENGINE ON TWO OCCASIONS WITH MY 2 WEEK OLD 2006 HIGHLANDER. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TWICE-THE FIRST TIME THEY FOUND "MALFUNCTION CODES" AND "REBOOTED" THE COMPUTER AND TOLD ME IT WAS OPERATING AS "DESIGNED," ONLY TO HAPPEN AGAIN 2 DAYS LATER. CURRENTLY, THEY ARE REPLACING A COMPUTER. DATE OF INCIDENT AND PURCHASE OF VEHICLE IS ACTUALLY 2006 BUT IS NOT AN OPTION BELOW. I AM CONCERNED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IN THE FUTURE. *JB
Engine cooling 5 mi 8 mo in service
WHEN I USE THE A/C AND TURN IT OFF A BAD ODOR COMES FROM THE VENT . THIS IS A NEW 2006 HIGHLANDER, THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER HE SAID TAKE FOR SERVICE , THEY TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT FOR A FEW MORE DAYS . I PUT 1500 MILES AND THE ODOR IS STILL THERE . I TOOK IT FOR SERVICE AGAIN . THE MECHANIC SAID TO USE A DEODORIZER ON THE VENT. I AM NOT A SATISFIED CUSTOMER. I WANT THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. I PAID FOR THE HIGHLANDER NOT THE SMELL THAT CAME WITH IT. *NM
Engine cooling 38,000 mi 3.5 yr in service crash / fire / tow
FROM A PARKED POSITION, I STARTED ENGINE ON 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CAR MOVED FORWARD FOR A FEW SECONDS AT SLOW SPEED, THEN VERY RAPIDLY ACCELERATED SO THAT I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. SERIOUS INJURIES OCCURRED. CAR FLEW THROUGH AIR AND ONLOOKERS HEARD ENGINE REV UP.WE LANDED IN A WATER CANAL. *TR
Steering 140 mi 1 mo in service
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID-I HAVE LOST ABS BRAKES, STABILITY CONTROL AND POWER STEERING ALONG WITH THE HYBRID ENGINE ON TWO OCCASIONS WITH MY 2 WEEK OLD 2006 HIGHLANDER. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TWICE-THE FIRST TIME THEY FOUND "MALFUNCTION CODES" AND "REBOOTED" THE COMPUTER AND TOLD ME IT WAS OPERATING AS "DESIGNED," ONLY TO HAPPEN AGAIN 2 DAYS LATER. CURRENTLY, THEY ARE REPLACING A COMPUTER. DATE OF INCIDENT AND PURCHASE OF VEHICLE IS ACTUALLY 2006 BUT IS NOT AN OPTION BELOW. I AM CONCERNED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IN THE FUTURE. *JB

Other Highlander model years

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