This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Toyota Highlander engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Toyota Highlander have filed 16 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 3,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Highlander | 22 |
| 2010 Highlander | 14 |
| 2011 Highlander | 14 |
| 2012 Highlander | 9 |
| 2013 Highlander (this page) | 16 |
| 2015 Highlander | 3 |
| 2016 Highlander | 6 |
| 2017 Highlander | 22 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life Coolant, effective March 1, 2024. These products are ordered through the Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) website.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: HVAC drain tube is found to be blocked/clogged.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE August 11, 2020: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2013 Highlander shows persistent engine control and durability issues across this cluster. Owners report fuel line rupture with misting spray into the engine bay—the dealer found no rodent damage but offered no explanation for the failure. Multiple owners describe throttle hesitation or complete lack of acceleration response when depressing the pedal, followed by sudden violent acceleration; dealers cannot replicate or diagnose the problem despite factory reps and computer diagnostics. One owner reports unintended acceleration surges while braking with no warning lights—Toyota customer service blamed floor mats instead of investigating the vehicle.
Excessive oil consumption is widespread: owners report burning one quart every 1,200–2,200 miles with no external leaks. The oil pressure light comes on, but the check engine light does not, leaving owners guessing about severity. One owner's engine seized without warning despite meticulous maintenance. A head gasket cracked at 73,000 miles with poor engine block finish noted during repair, raising questions about internal machining quality. One radiator was punctured by road debris with zero warning lights—the vehicle's temperature gauge exceeded red zone while the engine kept running. Dealers either cannot find these problems or deny warranty coverage, and Toyota corporate claims some failure rates fall within acceptable limits.
Same Toyota Highlander engine reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Fuel line rupture with misting spray
Main fuel line develops rupture or split in the middle of the hose (not at connections), causing gasoline to mist onto engine and hot engine parts. No evidence of rodent damage or external chewing found upon dealer inspection. Creates serious fire hazard when fuel contacts exhaust manifold and other hot surfaces.
When: Mileage not specified; incident discovered after vehicle parked
Symptoms owners cite: strong gasoline smell when entering vehicle; visible puddle of gasoline under parked vehicle; fuel misting visible when key powered on; fuel spraying onto engine compartment
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced fuel line; owner charged for repair despite no clear cause identified
Unintended acceleration with unresponsive brakes
Engine unexpectedly surges to high RPM when vehicle is slowing for stops (stop signs, red lights, crosswalks) with owner's foot on brake pedal. No amount of brake pressure stops the surge; owner must shift to park and turn key off. No warning lights illuminate. Occurs sporadically but with increasing frequency in 2024. Dealer and Toyota customer service blame driver mats or shoes rather than vehicle defect.
When: Sporadic incidents; increased frequency in 2024. Vehicle purchased with 73K miles in 2020
Symptoms owners cite: engine surges to high RPM while braking; unresponsive to brake pressure during surge; no warning lights or indicators; occurs when slowing for stop signs, red lights, or crosswalks
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and Toyota customer service claim issue is driver fault (floor mats or shoes), not vehicle defect
Throttle hesitation and delayed/sudden acceleration
Engine hesitates or shows lack of acceleration response when driver depresses throttle, either from stopped position or while moving. After hesitation, vehicle suddenly lurches forward or accelerates rapidly with full force. Dealers have visited multiple times and duplicated the problem in some cases but cannot identify root cause. No diagnostic error codes present. Creates safety hazard in traffic, particularly on interstates and during passing maneuvers.
When: Started shortly after purchase (within first month); occurred at least 10 times; over 20 reported occurrences by another owner
Symptoms owners cite: lack of throttle response when pedal depressed; hesitation lasting several seconds; sudden rapid acceleration following hesitation; lurching forward sensation; no warning lights or error codes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to identify cause despite multiple visits and diagnostic testing; one dealership offered loaner and possible vehicle return
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota corporate told dealers no problems exist
Excessive engine oil consumption
Engine burns or consumes oil at abnormal rate requiring frequent top-ups. Consumption rates reported range from 1 quart per 1,200–2,200 miles. No external leaks visible. Oil pressure warning light illuminates telling driver to turn off car immediately. Check engine light does not illuminate despite severe consumption. Issue appears sudden with no correlation to vehicle age or wear. Dealer testing at 1,500 miles showed no issue initially, then problem manifested. Toyota claims consumption rate of 1 quart per 1,200 miles is within acceptable limits. Some owners report oil exiting tail pipe when engine revved.
When: Started suddenly around 84,000–97,000 miles; one owner reported issue from day 1 of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: rapid oil level depletion requiring frequent additions; oil pressure warning light illumination; no check engine light despite severe consumption; oil visible in tail pipe exhaust; no external oil leaks present; engine knocking at high miles
Codes mentioned: P0305 (misfire code—one case with cracked head gasket)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers recommend PCV valve inspection or complete engine replacement (cost approximately $4,000); one owner performing oil changes every 2 months as temporary measure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota claims 1 qt per 1,200 miles is acceptable; no recall issued; oil consumption test conducted but inconclusive; no warranty coverage offered
Engine seizure without warning
Engine suddenly seizes and vehicle stops running during operation. Vehicle is well-maintained with no prior warning signs or check engine lights. Owner towed to mechanic who determined engine seized and requires replacement. No diagnostic codes or symptoms present before failure.
When: Mileage and timing not specified; vehicle was well-maintained at time of failure
Symptoms owners cite: sudden engine shutdown during driving; vehicle will not start; no prior warning lights or symptoms
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required; cost approximately $4,000
Cracked head gasket with poor engine block finish
Head gasket cracks and leaks coolant into cylinder (5th cylinder reported in one case), triggering misfire diagnostic code. Auto shop inspection revealed poor machining finish on engine block surface. Shop contacted Toyota directly requesting block replacement to prevent head gasket from cracking again after repair, as poor finish will cause premature failure of replacement gasket.
When: 73,000 miles; vehicle purchased brand new
Symptoms owners cite: coolant leak into cylinder; rough/poor finish visible on engine block interior
Codes mentioned: P0305 (cylinder 5 misfire)
Repairs/costs cited: Head gasket removal/inspection performed; shop states new engine block needed to prevent repeat failure; Toyota contacted but resolution not documented
Burnt odor from AC vents under acceleration
Burnt or burning smell emanates from AC vents when vehicle accelerates to 70–80 mph on highways. Smell occurs consistently during freeway driving, particularly on I-75 in Florida. Owner fears component is overheating or burning in engine compartment. Dealer cannot duplicate issue during test drive (dealership located on lower-speed freeway, did not consistently maintain required speed). Air filter replacement offered as solution but did not resolve odor.
When: First incident noted prior to August 2014; recurrent on same route
Symptoms owners cite: burnt odor from AC vents; occurs during freeway acceleration above 70 mph; odor forces driver to slow down and open windows
Repairs/costs cited: Air filter replacement attempted but did not resolve issue
Radiator puncture from road debris with no warning indicators
Road debris (small rock) travels through front grille and punctures radiator, causing engine coolant loss and temperature gauge to exceed red zone. Vehicle continues running with no caution light, engine light, or any warning indicator to alert driver of overheating or coolant loss. Driver happened to notice temperature gauge manually. Radiator not covered under warranty as damage classified as road debris. Owner researched and found over 30 similar cases across Toyota Highlander, Tundra, and Corolla models, suggesting inadequate radiator protection or design flaw.
When: Mileage not specified; vehicle relatively new (warranty still active)
Symptoms owners cite: temperature gauge reading exceeds red zone; no caution light or engine warning light illuminates; vehicle continues to run despite overheating
Repairs/costs cited: Radiator replacement required; not covered under warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership classified damage as road debris and denied warranty coverage
AC unit drainage failure with mold/mildew odor
AC system does not drain condensation properly, allowing water to accumulate and create foul mold and mildew smell inside vehicle. Problem persists despite air filter replacement recommended by Toyota. Vehicle has only 10,000 miles and is still under warranty; dealership claims nothing further can be done.
When: Early in vehicle ownership; 10,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: persistent foul mold or mildew odor from AC system; no proper drainage of AC condensation
Repairs/costs cited: Air filter replacement attempted as solution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota dealership stated nothing further can be done despite active warranty
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2013 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 engine problem on the 2013 Toyota Highlander?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 16 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 1,500 and 10,000 miles, with the median around 3,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 1,500; a quarter make it past 10,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2013/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.