THE PRIMARY ISSUE OF CONCERN IS REGARDING THE VEHICLES VALVE SPRINGS. AS A RESULT OF THE VALVE SPRING WHICH WAS IN PLACE, THE VEHICLE IN WHICH I DROVE, STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY, BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET IT CHECKED. IN ORDER TO RECTIFY THIS IT COST OVER…

12/30/2015 · NHTSA ODI #10817136.0

2008 Highlander · electrical

THE SENSOR LIGHTS FOR ABS AND VSC HAVE GONE ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY ON MY 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES ENGAGED THE SKID CONTROL, BRAKING CAPABILITY IS LOST AND OTHER TIMES THE SPEED NEEDLE DOES NOT GAGE PROPERLY. THE SYSTEM WAS INSPECTED BY TOYOTA, WHO…

12/30/2010 · NHTSA ODI #10373470.0

2008 Highlander · tires

THIS REPORT CONCERNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW AS A DEALER LEFTOVER. THE VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 20,000 MILES AND THE TOYO OPEN COUNTRY A20 TIRES ARE SHREDDING AND HAVE PIECES OF THE TREAD MISSING. THIS IS ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THE TIRES ARE…

12/30/2010 · NHTSA ODI #10373475.0

2008 Highlander · steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE DRIVESHAFT DETACHED FROM THE MOUNT DUE TO A FAILED SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY.…

12/29/2014 · NHTSA ODI #10668821.0

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Active recalls showing 3 of 4

severe NHTSA 09E022000 27/04/2009

TOYOTA IS RECALLING 39,100 STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST TIPS SOLD BY TOYOTA AS AN OPTIONAL ACCESSORY FOR USE ON MY 2008 HIGHLANDER AND HIGHLANDER HYBRID VEHICLES

THE ORIGINAL CLAMP AND THE TOYOTA STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST TIP MAY FALL OFF THE VEHICLE'S EXHAUST PIPE AND BECOME A ROAD HAZARD WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Fix: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE CLAMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 4, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER AT 1 888-270-9371 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 5:00 AM TO 6:00 PM, SATURDAY 7:00 AM THROUGH 4:00 PM PACIFIC TIME.

severe NHTSA 11V245000 21/04/2011

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 RAV4 VEHICLES

INADVERTENT ACTIVATION OF THE CSA AND/OR THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER CAN CAUSE INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

Fix: TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE AIRBAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ONE CONTAINING IMPROVED ROLL RATE SENSORS, FREE OF CHARGE. TOYOTA INTENDS TO SEND AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS EARLY TO MID-MAY, 2011 WHEN SUFFICIENT PARTS AND REMEDY BECOMES AVAILABLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

severe NHTSA 08V181000 18/04/2008

TOYOTA IS RECALLING 90,189 MY 2008 HIGHLANDER AND HIGHLANDER HYBRID PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THIRD ROW SEAT

HOWEVER, FOR THE TWO THIRD ROW DSP'S ON THESE VEHICLES, THE ALR MODE DEACTIVATES BEFORE THE WEBBING IS FULLY RETRACTED, SO THAT IT WILL NOT LOCK WHEN CERTAIN REAR-FACING CRS'S THAT HAVE A SHORT SEAT BELT ROUTING PATH ARE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THIS CAN ALLOW THE SEAT BELT WEBBING TO SPOOL OUT DURING NORMAL DRIVING MANEUVERS, WHICH COULD AFFECT THE STABILITY OF A CHILD RESTRAINT INSTALLED AT THOSE SEATING POSITIONS. AS SUCH, THIS COULD DISCOURAGE THE USE OF A CHILD RESTRAINT AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED SEAT BELT COMPONENT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

View all 4 recalls →

Common questions

Is the 2008 Toyota Highlander reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.4 out of 10 based on 403 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Toyota Highlander has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

What's the most common problem on the 2008 Toyota Highlander?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 70 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. 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 2008 Toyota Highlander?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 403 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, 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 aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. 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.