Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 134 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Toyota Highlander, and it carries 9 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 18 | 13% |
| Service brakes | 16 | 12% |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 7% |
| Steering | 9 | 7% |
| Structure | 7 | 5% |
| Air bags | 6 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 4% |
| Visibility/wiper | 5 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal, loud clunking sound. The ABS, the parking brake, and the traction control warning l
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
1. Component/System that Failed: The component that has malfunctioned is the ABS actuator, which affects the vehicle’s anti-lock braking system. The issue has been diagnosed and confirmed by two independent repair shops.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
My airbag light came on and I don't understand why the airbag light came on. I took it to a auto shop and they said I would have to take it to a Toyato dealer. Also, my emergency brake is all the way to the floor and it
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
the ABS pump and actuator on this vehicle have failed. The warning lights on dash indicate ABS, BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL, and (!). Toyota knows that the actuator on over one hundred thousand vehicles has an internal lea
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
245/55R19 is the tire size. I went to have my tires balanced and aligned on [XXX] at a local shop, Arrow. Alignment here in Eau Claire, WI. They advised me that the ply in all 4 tires was separating and that is why the
NHTSA complaint: Tires
Brakes failed at a low rate of speed despite pumping them and pushing the petal all the way to the floor. Several witnesses in the car support this narrative. Vehicle ended up slowly rolling into the car in front of us.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the power window master switch inoperable. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V689000 (Visibility). There were no warnings lights illuminate
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid; mileage 97,849. While driving a red BRAKE alert showed up along with an ABS light, traction symbol and an encircled exclamation mark. This malfunction (which I now see is a known safety i
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2009 Toyota Highlander. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 affec
Risk: 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.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected
Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vib
Risk: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, 2008-2010 Highlander, and 2009-2010 Tacoma, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and General Motors Pontiac Vibe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the steering column assembly contains electrical connections to the driver's airbag module
Risk: If the FFC is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated. The failure of the driver's air bag to deploy in the event of a crash that typically nece
Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota vehicle owners, and General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Toyota sent owners an interim notification letter in May 2014 to advise owners of the recall. To
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 Priu
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact
| Reliability | 65 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 82 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 74 | good |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 134 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 18 of them (13%). There are 9 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 65/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2009 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.