Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 224 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and it carries 2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 33 | 15% |
| Unknown or other | 24 | 11% |
| Engine | 13 | 6% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 13 | 6% |
| Visibility/wiper | 12 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 8 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
After getting gas, the vehicle will not start. It will crank and crank but not turn over, like it is starving for gas. Then after 10-15 minutes it will start barely and to keep it running I have to floor the accelerator.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I have had this car seat for 1 year and 10 months and I just found out that the headrest foam piece is split in half (06/26/2025). It has been handled with extreme care and I got it in September of 2023. It has stayed in
NHTSA complaint: Carry handle
I have had this car seat for 1 year and 3 days and I just found out that the headrest foam piece came off the plastic base frame(06/26/2025). It has been handled with extreme care and I got it in June 2024. It has stayed
NHTSA complaint: Carry handle
Car suddenly began to slip out of gear and have difficulty shifting smoothly. After having car examined by 2 repair shops it was determined the UA80 Transmission needed replaced. Repair shop advised car was not safe to
NHTSA complaint: Power train
Car is shaking heavily when stopped. Several misfires while engaging the brakes. Mechanic is telling me that he has seen many vehicles of this model with faulty purge valves.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The transmission on my Highlander is making a whining noise. I took it to Blackstone Toyota Service for inspection, in Fresno, CA, after my own mechanic inspected it and told me that it was a transmission problem. Toyo
NHTSA complaint: Power train
Driver side interior visor has failed and does not secure in place causing obstruction of view while driving.
NHTSA complaint: Visibility/wiper
My 2017 Highlander XLE AWD had complete transmission failure at 106,000 miles. Toyota has an extended coverage warranty for this but according to them my VIN number was not included even though it failed for the same rea
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. 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.
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2017 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles equipped with accessory roof rail cross bars. The fasteners for the roof rails may not be torqued properly.
Risk: The roof rails may loosen and possibly detach from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GST will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and properly torque the fasteners, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2017. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. G
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as state
Risk: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States custom
| Reliability | 72 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 82 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 74 | good |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 50 | average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 224 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 33 of them (15%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 72/100 (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 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2017 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 75/100. 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.