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ProblemsByVin File / 2007-TOYOTA-HIGHLANDER NHTSA data synced 1 day ago
Toyota

2007 Toyota Highlander problems

The 2007 Toyota Highlander has 123 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.

The 2007 Toyota Highlander has 123 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is brakes at 28 complaints, typically surfacing around 107,368 miles (~$450 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Toyota Highlander owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2005 Highlander 225 6
2006 Highlander 274 7
2007 Highlander (this page) 123 4
2008 Highlander 403 13
2009 Highlander 134 9
2010 Highlander 238 10
2007 Toyota Highlander
Photo: Alexander Migl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · representative photo of the Toyota Highlander
0 5 10
Reliability score
7.0 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
3
Severe
1
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2007 Highlander?
Acceptable — with caveats

Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

Buying a used 2007 Toyota Highlander? Check these first

Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.

What to inspect on this specific car

⚠ The one to take seriously: brakes is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 107,368 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 4 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 7.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.

We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.

See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →
✦ Ask the data · AI

Ask anything about your 2007 Toyota Highlander

A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.

Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.

Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.

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<iframe src="https://problemsbyvin.com/embed/reliability/2007-toyota-highlander/" width="100%" height="340" style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:8px;max-width:640px" title="2007 Toyota Highlander reliability snapshot" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p style="font:12px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#64748b;max-width:640px;margin:6px 0 0">Source: <a href="https://problemsbyvin.com/2007-toyota-highlander/" style="color:#b8540a;font-weight:600">2007 Toyota Highlander reliability snapshot — ProblemsByVin</a></p>

Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

brakes
28 reports · fails ~107,368 mi · avg $450
severe
electrical
19 reports · fails ~111,444 mi · avg $850
severe
visibility
15 reports · fails ~79,145 mi · avg $350
moderate
cruise control
10 reports · fails ~37,293 mi · avg $600
severe
powertrain
8 reports · fails ~39,698 mi · avg $2,500
moderate
tires
7 reports · fails ~22,714 mi · avg $150
moderate
engine
6 reports · fails ~76,148 mi · avg $3,100
moderate
steering
6 reports · fails ~109,500 mi · avg $700
moderate

Your road ahead on this 2007 Toyota Highlander

When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.

  1. ~40,000 micruise control~$600
  2. ~62,000 mivisibility~$350
  3. ~100,000 mibrakes~$450
  4. ~123,000 mielectrical~$850

"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.

Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2007 Highlander's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2007 Highlander?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2007 Highlander · steering
All motor mounts are rotted. While driving when take foot off the gas, the car sways and pulls. It happens at all speeds.
12/22/2020 · at 200,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11384591.0 · see steering pattern →
2007 Highlander · cruise control Crash
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Toyota highlander. When entering a parking space the vehicle accelerated forward without intention. Consequently she crashed into a sign. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician installed a secondary hook to secure the floor-mat. The…
12/16/2009 · at 50,398 mi · NHTSA ODI #10296093.0 · see cruise control pattern →
2007 Highlander · brakes
About a month ago, my wife called me from far away telling me that she suddenly had brake-related warming lights. I quickly read up on the ABS system failures in this car, and since she did not yet have symptoms, I told her to drive back carefully. I then reviewed my files…
12/15/2020 · at 168,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11383602.0 · see brakes pattern →
2007 Highlander · electrical
Slow intermittent drain on Toyota highlander hybrid 2007 auxiliary battery. Since april 2007, the battery has died 5 times. Dealer replaced with new battery, new dvd player but still cannot identify the source of the battery draw. *tr
12/14/2007 · at 1,995 mi · NHTSA ODI #10211935.0 · see electrical pattern →
View all 123 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2007 Toyota Highlander? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 3 of 4

severe NHTSA 16V396000 June 2, 2016

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 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element

If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
severe NHTSA 14V743000 November 19, 2014

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, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner

Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.

Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
severe NHTSA 10V036000 February 3, 2010

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

A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
View all 4 recalls →

Common questions

Is the 2007 Toyota Highlander reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 123 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2007 Toyota Highlander is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

Should you avoid the 2007 Toyota Highlander?

The 2007 Toyota Highlander is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Brakes: 28 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 73,000–150,000 mi; Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average; 4 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What should I check before buying a used 2007 Toyota Highlander?

Inspect the brakes first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 28 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 107,368 miles. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.

Is the 2007 Toyota Highlander a good used car to buy?

It scores 7.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 123 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is brakes. Typical failure occurs around 107,368 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.

What's the most common problem on the 2007 Toyota Highlander?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is brakes, with 28 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 107,368 miles. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The brakes is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 107,368 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Toyota Highlander has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2007 Toyota Highlander?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 123 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $450, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Toyota/Highlander. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Toyota. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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