Best and worst Toyota Highlander Hybrid years

Every model year, judged against the others.

NHTSA did not answer for model years 1995 to 2003, 2012, 2013, 2026 and 2027, so any with records are missing here. For 2004, 2005, 2011, 2014 to 2016, 2018 and 2019, NHTSA answered only in part, so some counts say “No answer”. The verdicts may change once NHTSA answers. Try again in a minute.

Best and worst Highlander Hybrid years

Look for 2015, 2016, 2018 to 2023, the newest Worthy years. Skip 2006. Careful with 2008 and 2017.

Best years

Of the newer years to look for, the ones with the fewest owner complaints for their age. A year few people bought can look the same.

Years to avoid

Pass years first, then the Maybe years with the most owner complaints against a typical year at the same age.

From owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Only years old enough to judge. Still have any car inspected.

Every year at a glance

11Worthy
2Maybe
1Pass
6Not judged

Newest Worthy years

The most recent judged years that came out Worthy.

Worthy
1.2× a typical year

Lightest for their age

Worthy years with the fewest owner complaints against a typical year at the same age. A year with few sales can look the same.

Worthy

Education, not financial or mechanical advice. Have any used car checked by a mechanic you trust before you buy.

How we judge a year

Each year’s owner complaints, held up against a typical year of the Highlander Hybrid at the same age. Popular cars collect more complaints just by selling more, so a year is never compared with another model.

Worthy: At least 5 complaints, and under 1.5 times a typical year (1.2 if most are costly parts).
Maybe: 1.5 times a typical year or more, with at least 15 complaints. Or 1.2 times, with at least 25, most about costly parts. Too many to be chance either way.
Pass: 2.5 times a typical year or more, with at least 25 complaints, too many to be chance.
Not judged: Too new (the newest 2 years), too few complaints, or too few to tell a real problem from chance.

Every rule, in full

Gathering every model year from NHTSA. The first look at a model can take a little while.

Best and worst Highlander Hybrid years

Look for 2015, 2016, 2018 to 2023, the newest Worthy years. Skip 2006. Careful with 2008 and 2017.

Best years

Of the newer years to look for, the ones with the fewest owner complaints for their age. A year few people bought can look the same.

Years to avoid

Pass years first, then the Maybe years with the most owner complaints against a typical year at the same age.

From owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Only years old enough to judge. Still have any car inspected.

Best and worst Highlander Hybrid years

Best years

Years to avoid

Every year at a glance

Newest Worthy years

Lightest for their age

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Best and worst Highlander Hybrid years

Best years

Years to avoid

Every year at a glance

Newest Worthy years

Lightest for their age

Think twice

Year	Verdict	Owner complaints	Recalls	Top problem area
2025	Not judged	0	3	None on file
2024	Not judged	0	4	None on file
2023	Worthy	9	6	Body and frame
2022	Worthy	6	4	Brakes
2021	Worthy	15	4	Air bags
2020	Worthy	9	4	Air bags
2019	Worthy	6	No answer	Engine
2018	Worthy	5	No answer	Body and frame
2017	Maybe	224	2	Electrical
2016	Worthy	108	No answer	Brakes
2015	Worthy	182	No answer	Electrical
2014	Not judged	No answer	1	No answer
2011	Not judged	No answer	1	No answer
2010	Worthy	238	4	Electrical
2009	Worthy	174	4	Brakes
2008	Maybe	602	8	Brakes
2007	Worthy	234	2	Brakes
2006	Pass	649	6	Brakes
2005	Not judged	No answer	1	No answer
2004	Not judged	No answer	1	No answer