POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Toyota.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Toyota Highlander tires problems
moderate 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $150 · see tires across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 23 tires complaints filed for the 2008 Toyota Highlander, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 14 model years of Toyota Highlander we track for tires problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 23.
No new NHTSA tires complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 15 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering tires on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TSB: REVISION NOTICE February 12, 2018 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2015 ? 2018 model year vehicles. January 23, 2014 Rev1: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2013 ? 2014 model year vehicles. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. Toyota vehicles are equipped with either conventional or run-flat tires. Sometimes punctures may occur as a result of contact with road debris or other hazards. If a puncture occurs, it may be possible to repair the tire and return it to service. With a conventional tire it is not possible to drive for an extended amount of time with the tire at low pressures as damage to the tire may occur. With run-flat t
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: REVISION NOTICE February 12, 2018 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2015 ? 2018 model year vehicles. January 23, 2014 Rev1: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2013 ? 2014 model year vehicles. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. Toyota vehicles are equipped with either conventional or run-flat tires. Sometimes punctures may occur as a result of contact with road debris or other hazards. If a puncture occurs, it may be possible to repair the tire and return it to service. With a conventional tire it is not possible to drive for an extended amount of time with the tire at low pressures as damage to the tire may occur. With run-flat t
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Toyota vehicles are equipped with either conventional or run-flat tires. Sometimes punctures may occur as a result of contact with road debris or other hazards. If a puncture occurs, it may be possible to repair the tire and return it to service. With a conventional tire it is not possible to drive for an extended amount of time with the tire at low pressures as damage to the tire may occur. With run-flat tires, due to reinforced sidewalls, it is possible to drive for up to 100 miles (160 km) at speeds less than 55 mph (90 km/h) with little or no damage to the tire.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2008 Highlander came equipped with either Toyo Open Country A20 (245/55R19) or Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400 tires, and dozens of owners report both fail prematurely and handle poorly in wet and winter conditions. Most complaints center on the Toyo A20s wearing to legal limits or below by 20,000–24,000 miles—well short of typical tire life. Owners describe tread shredding in flakes and pieces, tread separation from the carcass, and missing chunks across all four tires. One owner found thread separation at highway speed with sidewall cracking on three other tires. Bridgestone units fail similarly and also hydroplane in light rain. Both tire types cause severe rear-end sliding and fishtailing in snow and ice, even at low speeds and despite the vehicle's 4WD system; stability control cannot fully compensate. One owner slid under eight lanes of interstate viaduct on black ice at under 15 mph. Owners note the 245/55R19 size is proprietary—only Toyo and Bridgestone originally offered it, forcing owners into expensive replacements ($750–$900) or different tire sizes requiring new wheels. Toyota dealers offered no help; Toyo provided only partial discounts. Switching to higher-rated brands (Hankook, others) immediately solved traction problems for owners who could afford the change.
Failure modes owners describe
Premature tread wear and separation
Owners report tires wearing to legal limits or below in 15,000–30,000 miles (most commonly 20,000–24,000 miles). Multiple complaints describe tread shredding, flaking, pieces missing, and tread separation on all four tires. One owner reported rear driver-side tire thread separation at highway speed (60 mph) with cracked sidewalls on other three tires.
When: 15,000–30,000 miles; most failures reported around 20,000–24,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Tread worn to 2/32 inch or below (near/below legal limits); Tread shredding and flaking in pieces; Tread separation from sidewall; Pieces of tread missing; Sidewall cracking; Abnormal wear pattern on shoulder/inside of tires
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement tire costs owners $750–$900+ per set, plus alignment and TPMS reprogramming. Limited replacement options due to unique tire size (245/55R19); only Toyo, Bridgestone, and Hankook offered this size. Some owners switched to different tire size requiring new wheels, affecting speedometer/odometer readings and vehicle dynamics.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota offered no compensation or replacement. Toyo offered 30–50% discount on replacement tires or stated no mileage warranty on OEM equipment. Neither manufacturer assumed liability for premature wear.
Poor wet and snow traction
Owners with Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400 and Toyo Open Country A20 tires report unsafe handling in rain and snow. Multiple complaints describe hydroplaning in wet conditions and uncontrollable sliding on snow/ice, even at low speeds and despite full-time 4WD. Stability control system could not fully compensate. One owner slid under eight lanes of interstate viaduct on ice at under 15 mph.
When: Traction issues present from new; worsened as tread wore
Symptoms owners cite: Hydroplaning in rain; Rear-end sliding and fishtailing in snow/ice; Loss of traction on low-speed starts in snow; Stability control activating repeatedly to prevent loss of control; Uncontrollable vehicle behavior in winter conditions despite 4WD
Repairs/costs cited: Owners replaced tires with Hankook and other brands rated higher on TireRack and consumer reviews, resulting in immediate improvement in winter traction. One owner noted fuel economy suffered due to tire slipping.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota refused assistance, stating tires are tire-manufacturer warranted. Owners noted replacing with different brands and sizes resolved traction issues completely.
Tire pressure loss requiring frequent air top-offs
Owner reported Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400 tires required frequent air pressure top-offs more frequently than any other tire owned previously.
When: Ongoing during ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Repeated air pressure loss requiring frequent refill
Lug nut corrosion
One owner reported a lug nut had rusted at 23,000 miles.
When: 23,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Lug nut rust/corrosion
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement needed; not completed at time of complaint filing.
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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 p245/55r19 with a DOT number cxhh-dk80508. I have not yet contacted toyo, however from other complaints noted, it does not seem…
Had tires trouble with your 2008 Toyota Highlander?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the tires problem on the 2008 Toyota Highlander?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 23 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $150 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Across the 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most tires failures cluster between 12,500 and 25,000 miles, with the median around 20,195. A quarter of owners report trouble before 12,500; a quarter make it past 25,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $150 for tires repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to tires?
No active recalls currently cover tires issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Toyota/Highlander.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.