IllustrationUNEXPECTED TIRE FAILURE OF A BRIDGESTONE H/T P225/70R16.*JB
2001 Toyota Highlander
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Toyota Highlander do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 186.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Highlander years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
160–25K
1625–50K
1150–75K
1675–100K
15100–150K
6150K+
80 reports with mileage · 57 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Visibility. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
19 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
137 reportsTHE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. REGAINING CONTROL, THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN HE/SHE PULLED OVER, THEY SAW TWO HOLES, ONE WITH A 3" AND THE OTHER 1" IN SIZE (THE SIDEWALL). THE TWO RIGHT SIDE LIGHT METAL WHEELS WERE DAMAGED AS WELL. SCC
THE CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN DRIVING AT 35 MPH OR HIGHER, AND THE REAR WINDOWS ARE ROLLED DOWN ABOUT 3-4 INCHES, ITS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE IT MAKES A LOUD AIR NOISE. IT FEELS LIKE YOUR EARS ARE GOING TO BLOW UP. THE CONSUMER HAS THREE KIDS AND IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *NLM *SCC
WHILE DRIVING ON COBBLESTONE ROAD ALL YOU HEAR IS METAL CLATTERING BENEATH THE BODY BUT ONCE YOU TAP THE BRAKES IT BECOMES SILENT. AND I HAVE WENT TO THE DEALER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT HAVEN'T THREE TIMES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING SOME ROAD DEBRIS PUNCTURED THE DRIVERS GAS TANK RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE, THE PLASTIC SHIELD AROUND THE TANK WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TANK, THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT PLASTIC IS NOT A SUFFICIENT MATERIAL TO USE FOR A TANK SHIELD AND IS REQUESTING THAT TOYOTA REPLACE THE SHIELD WITH A METAL ONE. N…
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WHILE DRIVING SOME ROAD DEBRIS PUNCTURED THE DRIVERS GAS TANK RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE, THE PLASTIC SHIELD AROUND THE TANK WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TANK, THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT PLASTIC IS NOT A SUFFICIENT MATERIAL TO USE FOR A TANK SHIELD AND IS REQUESTING THAT TOYOTA REPLACE THE SHIELD WITH A METAL ONE. NLM
FRONT TIRES CAUSE CAR TO VIBRATE ABOVE 60 MPH; SOMETIMES ENOUGH TO CAUSE ME TO DECCELERATE; VIBRATION PROBLEM STARTED LAST YEAR; TIRES CONTINUALLY GO OUT OF BALANCE; FIRESTONE DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEM; GOODYEAR DEALER SAID THE TIRES WOBBLE ON THEIR BALANCING MACHINE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED; FIRESTONE SA…
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FRONT TIRES CAUSE CAR TO VIBRATE ABOVE 60 MPH; SOMETIMES ENOUGH TO CAUSE ME TO DECCELERATE; VIBRATION PROBLEM STARTED LAST YEAR; TIRES CONTINUALLY GO OUT OF BALANCE; FIRESTONE DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEM; GOODYEAR DEALER SAID THE TIRES WOBBLE ON THEIR BALANCING MACHINE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED; FIRESTONE SAYS THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME AND SAY THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK
BRAKES FEEL SPONGY WHENEVER THEY ARE APPLIED, NO EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE HAS BEEN NOTICED.*AK *YH
THE CENTER CUPHOLDERS ARE POORLY DESIGNED AND ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. WHEN YOU ARE REMOVING A DRINK FROM THE CUPHOLDER, IT HITS THE GEARSHIFT LEVER KNOCKING THE DRINK OUT OF YOUR HAND AND CAUSING IT AND ITS CONTENTS TO GO ALL OVER THE PLACE. ON OCCASION, IT KNOCKS THE GEARSHIFT LEVER OUT OF GEAR CAUSING A RAPID DEACCELERATION OF TH…
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THE CENTER CUPHOLDERS ARE POORLY DESIGNED AND ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. WHEN YOU ARE REMOVING A DRINK FROM THE CUPHOLDER, IT HITS THE GEARSHIFT LEVER KNOCKING THE DRINK OUT OF YOUR HAND AND CAUSING IT AND ITS CONTENTS TO GO ALL OVER THE PLACE. ON OCCASION, IT KNOCKS THE GEARSHIFT LEVER OUT OF GEAR CAUSING A RAPID DEACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE.E
SEAT BELTS IN REAR OF VEHICLE LOCK WHEN INSTALLING A CAR SEAT. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 20 MPH DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, CONSUMER PRESSED AGAIN AND VEHICLE STOPPED. DRIVER TURNED TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VHEICLE. THIS CAUSED AN AIR RELEASE NOISE AND FEEL BEFORE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED. *JG *AK
Official recalls
304V181000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Apr 15, 2004
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE A CHILD PROTECTION LOCK (CPL) SYSTEM ON BOTH OF THE REAR SIDE DOORS. WHEN AN OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE CLOSES THE DOOR VERY HARD WITH THE CPL LEVER SET TO THE LOCK POSITION, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE LEVER MAY CONTACT THE BODY PANEL, CAUSING THE CPL LEVER TO MOVE INTO THE UNLOCK POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE DOOR TO BE OPENED WITH THE INSIDE WHILE THE OPERATOR BELIEVES THAT THE CPL WAS ACTIVATED. IF THE DOOR WERE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AN OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT AND BE INJURED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE CPL LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
02V208000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting
Jul 30, 2002
ON SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THERE IS A BREATHER HOSE THAT ATTACHES TO THE NOZZLE OF THE ON-BOARD REFUELING VAPOR RECOVERY (ORVR) VALVE, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE TOPSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE BREATHER HOSE IS ATTACHED WITH A CLAMP, WHOSE "TABS" FACE IN THE UPWARD DIRECTION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED UNDER THE NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TEST (I.E., 35 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER CRASH), THE CLAMP "TABS" CONTACTED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY DUE TO MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING THE NOZZLE TO BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE WORST CASE, NOZZLE BREAKAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE VEHICLE ROLLS-OVER AFTER A HIGH SPEED FRONTAL CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ROTATE THE SPECIFIED CLAMP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
01V228000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Jul 5, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTIITY VEHICLES. THE RESERVOIR FILLER CAP OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY INDUCE A VACUUM, INTRODUCING SOME AIR INTO THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. THIS COULD CAUSE ABNORMAL BRAKE NOISE AND INCREASED PEDAL STROKE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE INCREASED PEDAL STROKE WILL LENGTHEN THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL BLEED THE AIR FROM THE BRAKE LINES AND REPLACE THE RESERVOIR FILLER CAP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 30, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.