Best Toyota Highlander Years to Buy
No single Toyota Highlander year separates clearly from the pack in federal data yet — the year-by-year record below shows the full spread, with 2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 the only years to actively avoid.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of October 2026 · How we rate model years
Buy these years
Skip these years
Full failure breakdown: Toyota Highlander years to avoid →
Every Toyota Highlander year, ranked by federal record
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 3 | OK |
| 2024 | 39 | 7 | OK |
| 2023 | 162 | 9 | AVOID |
| 2022 | 219 | 5 | AVOID |
| 2021 | 473 | 4 | AVOID |
| 2020 | 298 | 4 | AVOID |
| 2019 | 464 | 3 | AVOID |
| 2018 | 254 | 5 | AVOID |
| 2017 | 260 | 4 | AVOID |
| 2016 | 109 | 3 | OK |
| 2015 | 186 | 2 | OK |
| 2014 | 133 | 5 | OK |
| 2013 | 210 | 3 | OK |
| 2012 | 190 | 2 | OK |
| 2011 | 186 | 5 | OK |
| 2010 | 238 | 10 | OK |
| 2009 | 134 | 9 | OK |
| 2008 | 403 | 13 | AVOID |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts are severity-weighted rates per year on the road, compared within the model’s own history.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best year for the Toyota Highlander?
Federal data doesn't crown a single Toyota Highlander year yet; recent years generally carry the cleanest records. See the year-by-year table for the full picture.
Which Toyota Highlander years should I avoid?
2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by transmission issues. The full breakdown is on our Toyota Highlander years-to-avoid page.
Is a used Toyota Highlander a good buy?
Year-dependent. Across 3,965 NHTSA owner complaints on record, the spread between the cleanest and worst Toyota Highlander years is significant — pick from the best-year list, confirm the specific car's history by VIN, and negotiate from what buyers actually paid rather than asking prices.
How do I buy the best Toyota Highlander year for the right price?
Two steps: verify the exact car (free VIN decode, then the recall/complaint record for that VIN), and negotiate the out-the-door price in writing. CarWhere's AI car-buying agent does the second part for you — it contacts dealers about the exact Toyota Highlander you pick, requests written itemized out-the-door quotes, and negotiates them down while you approve every message ($34.99/month, includes Pro pricing data).