Problems · by component

2010 Toyota Highlander electrical system problems

55 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2010 Toyota Highlander cite electrical system, 23% of all 238 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
55
23% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“When applying the brake slowly all of a sudden the car went full acceleration and crashed 500ft away at high speed. The car is crashed but available for inspection for a short period of time until the insurance company takes full posession. There are not open recalls. The only lights on the dash were for TPMS sensor.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 5, 2026Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11722240
“The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the gear shifter had been stuck on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the fuses were replaced on several occasions; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rearview mirror wiring had failed. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 23, 2025Electrical systemODI 11706861
“The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power and started to drift to the right side of the road. The brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle was able to come to a complete stop. The contact mentioned she waited for AAA for roadside assistance. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 185,420.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 11, 2025Electrical systemODI 11654081
“The brake actuator assembly and brake booster pump assembly had a recall on it but my truck was not having problems then. I noticed that when I start braking, the truck speeds up. Then all the light on the dash board came on. When my vehicle started having problems I call and they told me that the recall had expired 3 months earlier for my vehicle and it was up to the owner to have it fixed. I didn't get a notice and I wasn't aware of such recall so why am I liable for the repairs. I need help with this please.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 30, 2021Electrical system, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11422936
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HYDRAULIC LIFTGATE WOULD NOT OPEN AS NEEDED ELECTRICALLY AND MANUALLY. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO OPENED THE LIFTGATE WITH A MECHANICAL TOOL. THE MECHANIC THEN UNSCREWED AN ARM PIECE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE LIFTGATE WHICH ALLOWED HIM TO OPEN THE LIFTGATE MANUALLY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 21, 2021Electrical system, StructureODI 11413213
“2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE OF RESIDENCE, DESTROYING THE HIGHLANDER AND THE CAR PARKED ADJACENT TO IT, ALONG WITH MOST OF THE HOUSE. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE HIGHLANDER WAS STATIONARY, WITH THE IGNITION OFF AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE. A SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION INCLUDING INSPECTING BURN PATTERNS AND THERMAL DAMAGE INDICATED THE FIRE ORIGINATED AT THE FRONT OF THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHERE THE FUSE PANEL, BATTERY AND STARTER/SOLENOID WERE LOCATED. ALL THREE SOURCES OF IGNITION REMAIN ENERGIZED WITH THE IGNITION OFF. THE UPPER PORTION OF THE PLASTIC HOUSING ON THE FUSE PANEL AND BATTERY HAD MELTED EXPOSING THE RECEIVERS FOR THE FUSES AND PLATES INSIDE THE BATTERY. THE ENDS OF THE RECEIVERS HAD ALLOYING ON THE RECEIVERS, BUT NO FAILURES WERE NOTED ON FUSE PANEL OR BATTERY. EXTREME THERMAL DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED ON THE CONNECTOR END OF THE SOLENOID WHERE MOST OF THE FACING HAD MELTED OR WAS CONSUMED. LINES OF DEMARCATION FROM EXTREME HEAT WAS OBSERVED ON THE REMAINING SECTION OF THE SOLENOID FACING. THE CABLE CONNECTING THE BATTERY TO THE SOLENOID WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE SOLENOID…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 5, 2021Electrical system, Structure, EngineFire reportedODI 11399337

Showing 6 of 55 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 2010 Highlander problem areas