Problems · NHTSA complaints

2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems

Owners filed 234 complaints about the 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid with NHTSA between Dec 2006 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is service brakes (57).

Complaints
234
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
25
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes57
  2. Electrical system51
  3. Vehicle speed control31
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic18
  5. Engine15
  6. Electronic stability control (esc)14
  7. Hybrid propulsion system14
  8. Power train12
  9. Tires10
  10. Fuel/propulsion system10
  11. Visibility10
  12. Steering9
  13. Visibility/wiper9
  14. Wheels8

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20062
20078
20087
200912
201040
201114
201217
201330
201414
201514
201615
20176
201811
201912
202012
20214
20227
20232
20242
20254
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Service brakes

57 reports5 crashes
“The brake actuator for the hybrid system has failed. My vehicle brake pedal is difficult do depress and unsafe to drive. This is a known issue with other Toyota hybrids that have been recalled but for some reason the highlander is not recalled even though it uses the same problem part as the recalled vehicles. The replacement part and repair is typically more than value of the car and it being a safety issue with brake system caused by a known faulty component Toyota should repair these.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 5, 2026Service brakesODI 11769016

Electrical system

51 reports2 crashes2 fires1 related recall
“Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Highlander. The vehicle was purchased from a private seller on Facebook Marketplace on 9/3/2025. The mileage at the time of purchase was 129,950. The contact wanted a larger vehicle and called another dealer on Facebook Marketplace to trade the vehicle and was provided the most recent mileage recorded for the vehicle on November 17, 2021, at 262,597 miles. The dealer informed the contact that the VIN was recorded to have over 150,000 miles over 4 years before the purchase. The contact reached out to the owner who sold the vehicle to the private seller who the contact purchased the vehicle from, and it was confirmed that on July 27, 2025, the vehicle was sold at 299,150 miles. The contact had not reported to any other agencies but had planned to.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 22, 2025Electrical systemODI 11688863

Vehicle speed control

31 reports14 crashes
“My vehicle about a year ago started to display the dash lights for the VSC, ABS, and Emergency Brake however there was no indication from the feel of the brakes as they were applied, or any indication that something was wrong with the vehicle. I had my brakes replaced on my rear tires, and for a time the lights went off. In April of 2025, the lights came back on however this time there was a distinct feeling that the brakes weren't working. I had the calipers, pads, rotors, and a tube replaced, however the lights are still on, and the vehicle now violently shakes after reaching speeds of 45 mph (mirroring the complaints from the following site: [XXX] ). Toyota has refused to acknowledge this and put consumers out thousands of dollars. This is clearly something toyota needs to honor.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 29, 2025Steering, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11663740

Service brakes, hydraulic

18 reports4 crashes
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WITH SLIGHT HESITATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR ONE WEEK TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT ON THE MODEL YEARS 2004-2006 UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V499000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS: MASTER CYLINDER). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 06/16/11*LJ UPDATED 06/27/11”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 20, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10402176

Engine

15 reports1 fire
“The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact’s son stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 196,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 26, 2022EngineODI 11449033

Electronic stability control (esc)

14 reports
“WHILE WE WERE DRIVING, GOING AROUND A CORNER THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM DECIDED TO DO IT ITSELF... AND MAKE MY VEHICLE SLIP SIDEWAYS. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT TOOK ME FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE AND I DON'T WANT IT HAPPENING AGAIN. HOW DO WE FIX THIS AS FAST AS POSSIBLE?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 26, 2020Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11341480
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.