NHTSA data · free2013 Toyota HighlanderProblems: Top Complaints, Recalls & Failures (NHTSA)
Every owner complaint and safety recall the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has on file for the 2013 Toyota Highlander, ranked by the component that failed most.
Complaints on file
211
Recalls issued
3
Crashes reported
26
Fires reported
0
What breaks most
- Steering46 complaints · 21.8%
- Engine31 complaints · 14.7%
- Vehicle Speed Control31 complaints · 14.7%
- Electrical System26 complaints · 12.3%
- Structure19 complaints · 9%
Recalls on this model year
- Seats
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2013 Highlander vehicles manufactured March 13, 2013, through August 6, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the second row left hand seat may not lock in place when positioned in the forward front or second adjusting position. As such, the vehicles do not conform
Campaign 14V148000 · reported 27/03/2014 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer
- Equipment › Other › Labels
Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-20
Campaign 13V123000 · reported 09/04/2013 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer
- Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module-Inactive
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model y
Campaign 13V014000 · reported 16/01/2013 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer
What owners report
Steering
- Steering column cracks, no help from Dealer. Many complaints on internet. Remedy requires expensive new steering column. Defective spindle type bearing defective. The noise is ongoing. It feels lik
- When I turn the steering faster than a certain speed, it will lock up for a moment, either turning right or left. Sometimes a light indicating a steering fault lights up on the dash cluster, sometime
- - The car was purchased in 2015 used and the steering wheel has made a clunking sound when turning a hard sharp left or right since the day of purchase -While on a road trip of approximately 3,000 mil
Engine
- I purchased the car in 2020 with 73K miles on it. It has sporadically had incidents of unintended acceleration. I happens when I slow for a stop sign, red light, or crosswalk. My foot is on the bra
- The issue started when the car was over 84,000 miles. The engine burns excessive oil. I have to add oil every 2200 miles. When I press on the gas pedal to rev the car, oil come out of the tail pipe. W
- Engine is burning/consuming oil excessively; no leaks or any other unusual symptoms found. I was on an interstate highway and all of a sudden engine sound changed and excessive knocking started. No OI
Vehicle Speed Control
- AS I BEGIN DRIVING AND COME TO STOP IT TENDS TO REV UP AND THEN DROPS BACK TO NORMAL. IT FEELS LIKE VEHICLE REVS UP A LITTLE WHILE YOU ARE TRYING TO STOP IT BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL.IT FEELS LIKE V
- THE DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING AND I WAS FORCED TO PAY TO REPAIR THEM AFTER OWNING CAR FOR LESS THAN 6 MONTHS. THE POWER WINDOWS FAIL TO OPERATE AT RANDOM TIMES. THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE
- ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASING MY 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHILE MY FOOT IS FIRMLY PRESSED ON THE BRAKE. ON TWO OCCASIONS I COULD NOT STOP THE LURCHING OF THE VE
Electrical System
- The factory Blizzard Pearl paint on this vehicle is experiencing severe chemical delamination down to the bare primer and sheet metal on multiple body panels. This structural failure aligns exactly wi
- THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND DRIVER DOOR LOCK/ACTUATOR DOES NOT WORK. THE PASSENGER DOOR FIRST HAPPENED 1 TO 1.5 YEARS AGO. I HAVE NOT FIXED IT BECAUSE OF THE OUTRAGEOUS COST. NOW, THE DRIVER DOOR AC
- FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR DOES NOT WORK, MAKING LOCK INEFFECTIVE AND NOT WORKABLE. TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. UNSURE HOW INEFFECTIVE LOCKS ARE NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIAL
Structure
- The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact discovered that the paint on the top of the vehicle was peeling. The contact did research and wa
- The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while attempting to close the liftgate, the contact was unable to close the liftgate. The contact had not activated the power assist liftg
- POWER SUNROOF DRAINS INTO FLOORBOARDS. FROM MY RESEARCH THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH HIGHLANDERS AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR A WEEK AGO. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID THE LI
Excerpts are anonymized owner complaints as filed with NHTSA, trimmed to 200 characters.
Check your own VIN
This page covers the 2013 Toyota Highlander in general. Enter your VIN for the recalls, complaints and crash ratings specific to your exact vehicle.
Buying a used 2013 Toyota Highlander?
A full vehicle history report checks title brands, accident records, and odometer readings for the specific VIN — none of which government complaint or recall data covers.
Run a vehicle history reportOther model years
Disclosure: some links on this page (vehicle history reports, warranty options) are affiliate links. They fund the free checker, and your price never changes. Recall, complaint, rating and fuel-economy data are official U.S. government records for the year, make and model and are not a substitute for an inspection or a title history report on the specific vehicle. Not affiliated with any government agency.