2008 Toyota Highlander vs 2009 Toyota Highlander
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2008 Toyota Highlander | 2009 Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 403 | 134 |
| Recall campaigns | 11 | 9 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 281 | 292 |
| Investigations | 2 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 44 | 6 |
| Fire reports | 14 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–26 | 19–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 78,000 mi | 67,260 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Toyota Highlander | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 66 | 21 |
| Engine | 58 | 23 |
| Air Bags | 57 | 8 |
| Electrical System | 43 | 20 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 45 | 14 |
| Steering | 40 | 11 |
| Tires | 25 | 6 |
| Structure | 11 | 15 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 24 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 22 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 20 | 9 |
| Hesitation / surging | 13 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 11 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 7 | 0 |
2008 Toyota Highlander
2009 Toyota Highlander
Compare all Toyota Highlander vs Toyota Highlander years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.