2010 Toyota Highlander Reliability
The 2010 Toyota Highlander has 238 owner complaints and 11 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and visibility / wipers. Compared with other Highlander model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Highlander's typical year, while the 2009 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
238
NHTSA owner complaints
11
Recall campaigns
19
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2010 Toyota Highlander complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 model year, filed between 2009 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 55 | 23% |
| Visibility / wipers | 42 | 18% |
| Service brakes | 36 | 15% |
| Speed control / throttle | 23 | 10% |
| Steering | 23 | 10% |
| Unknown or other | 18 | 8% |
| Engine | 15 | 6% |
| Body structure | 15 | 6% |
2010 Toyota Highlander recalls
11 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2010 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10V017000 | Jan 21, 2010 | Speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal | Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 avalon, model year 2007-2010 camry, model year 2009-2010 corolla, corolla matrix, rav4, model year 2010 Highlander, model year 2008-2010 sequoia, and model year 2007-2010 tundra vehicles. Due to the manner in… |
| 10V023000 | Jan 27, 2010 | Speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal | Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Highlander, model year 2009-2010 corolla, venza and matrix passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's… |
| 10V035000 | Feb 3, 2010 | Equipment — other / labels | Gulf states Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between September 1, 2005 and June 2, 2008… |
| 10V036000 | Feb 3, 2010 | Equipment — other / labels | Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying… |
| 13V014000 | Jan 16, 2013 | 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… |
| 13V123000 | Apr 9, 2013 | 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… |
| 13V396000 | Sep 4, 2013 | Hybrid propulsion system — inverter | Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured February 16, 2005, through July 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008 Lexus RX400h vehicles manufactured February 23, 2005, through December 2, 2008. The Intelligent Power… |
| 14V168000 | Apr 9, 2014 | Air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module | 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… |
| 14V743000 | Nov 19, 2014 | Seats — front assembly / seat heater/cooler | 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,… |
| 15V689000 | Oct 22, 2015 | Visibility / wipers — power window devices and controls | 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… |
| 16V396000 | Jun 2, 2016 | Seats — front assembly / seat heater/cooler | 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… |
How the 2010 compares with nearby Highlander years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Highlander analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 602 | 14 | Service brakes | Avoid |
| 2009 | 174 | 10 | Service brakes | Solid |
| 2010 (this page) | 238 | 11 | Electrical system | Caution |
| 2011 | 186 | 5 | Visibility / wipers | Caution |
| 2012 | 191 | 2 | Steering | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2010 Toyota Highlander
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 11 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2010 Toyota Highlander can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2010 Toyota Highlander reliability FAQ
Is the 2010 Toyota Highlander reliable?
The 2010 Toyota Highlander has 238 owner complaints and 11 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and visibility / wipers. Compared with other Highlander model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Highlander's typical year, while the 2009 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2010 Toyota Highlander problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2010 Toyota Highlander are electrical system (55), visibility / wipers (42), service brakes (36), speed control / throttle (23). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2010 Toyota Highlander have recalls?
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2010 Toyota Highlander, including 10V017000 (speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal) and 10V023000 (speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2010 Toyota Highlander compare with the 2009 and 2011 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2009 has 174 complaints and 10 recalls (solid); the 2011 has 186 complaints and 5 recalls (caution). The 2010 has 238 complaints and 11 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2010 Toyota Highlander?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Toyota Highlander research
Other Toyota Highlander model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2010 Highlander, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.