2011 Toyota Highlander Reliability
The 2011 Toyota Highlander has 186 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about visibility / wipers and steering. 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
186
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
14
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2011 Toyota Highlander complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 model year, filed between 2010 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility / wipers | 35 | 19% |
| Steering | 34 | 18% |
| Body structure | 27 | 15% |
| Electrical system | 23 | 12% |
| Engine | 18 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 18 | 10% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 16 | 9% |
| Unknown or other | 15 | 8% |
2011 Toyota Highlander recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2011 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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… |
| 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 2011 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 174 | 10 | Service brakes | Solid |
| 2010 | 238 | 11 | Electrical system | Caution |
| 2011 (this page) | 186 | 5 | Visibility / wipers | Caution |
| 2012 | 191 | 2 | Steering | Solid |
| 2013 | 212 | 3 | 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 2011 Toyota Highlander
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 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 2011 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.
2011 Toyota Highlander reliability FAQ
Is the 2011 Toyota Highlander reliable?
The 2011 Toyota Highlander has 186 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about visibility / wipers and steering. 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 2011 Toyota Highlander problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Toyota Highlander are visibility / wipers (35), steering (34), body structure (27), electrical system (23). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2011 Toyota Highlander have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2011 Toyota Highlander, including 13V014000 (air bags — frontal / sensor/control module-inactive) and 13V123000 (equipment — other / labels). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2011 Toyota Highlander compare with the 2010 and 2012 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2010 has 238 complaints and 11 recalls (caution); the 2012 has 191 complaints and 2 recalls (solid). The 2011 has 186 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2011 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 2011 Highlander, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.