WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, LEFT REAR AXLE SNAPPED OFF AND FELL OFF VEHICLE. THE TRANSFER ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THERE IS NO EXPLANATION AS TO HOW THIS HAPPENED AND IF THERE ARE OTHER DEFECTIVE PARTS IN THE DRIVE TRAIN.
2007 Toyota Highlander
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2007 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
95 reports with mileage · 28 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.
- Service Brakes. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
123 reportsI WAS DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE CAR SHUTDOWN DOWN, THE CAR CONTROLS WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CAR CONTINUED TILL IT LOST MOMENTUM STOPPED, THERE WAS NO/OR VERY LITTLE BRAKING AND STEERING ASSISTANCE/CONTROL. ***I CALLED TOYOTA AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED*** THE DASHBOARD FLASHED LIGHTS, THE …
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE CAR SHUTDOWN DOWN, THE CAR CONTROLS WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CAR CONTINUED TILL IT LOST MOMENTUM STOPPED, THERE WAS NO/OR VERY LITTLE BRAKING AND STEERING ASSISTANCE/CONTROL. ***I CALLED TOYOTA AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED*** THE DASHBOARD FLASHED LIGHTS, THE VSC, AWD AND OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON. FYI - THE CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS CONTROLS ON THESE SIMILAR ISSUES, VSC AWD ECU ETC, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM TOYOTA. *TR
DURING DRIVING, ABRUPTLY WITHOUT WARNING - THE HIGHLANDER HYBRID DURING DRIVING, WITHOUT WARNING, JUST WENT DEAD - CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO DRIVER CONTROL. THE DASHBOARD STARTED FLASHING LIGHTS AND THE VSC CHECK, AWD CHECK, SKID LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR, AND POWER STEERING STOPPED RESPONDING TO CONTROL. UPON CONTAC…
Read full complaint
DURING DRIVING, ABRUPTLY WITHOUT WARNING - THE HIGHLANDER HYBRID DURING DRIVING, WITHOUT WARNING, JUST WENT DEAD - CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO DRIVER CONTROL. THE DASHBOARD STARTED FLASHING LIGHTS AND THE VSC CHECK, AWD CHECK, SKID LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR, AND POWER STEERING STOPPED RESPONDING TO CONTROL. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALERS, EVERYONE HAS GIVEN US A DIFFERENT REASON, SOME DON'T EVEN MAKE SENSE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A WALL AS A RESULT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A WALL AS A RESULT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,299.
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DROPPED INTO FIELD OF VISION. DEALER SAYS THIS HAPPENS A LOT WITH HIGHLANDER MODELS. VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP OR DOWN BUT RESTS IN BETWEEN, WHICH DEFEATS ITS INTENDED USE AND INTERFERES WITH DRIVER VISION. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR AS DEFECT. *TR
2007 HIGHLANDER WHEELS ARE RUSTING SO BAD THAT 2 OF 4 TIRES ARE LOSING AIR PRESSURE. THIS 2007 WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM TOYOTA. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED A 2002 HIGHLANDER WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. I SEARCH ONLINE AND SEE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE WITH TOYOTA WHEELS. WHEELS SHOULD NOT RUST THIS BAD IN THIS SHORT A PERIOD…
Read full complaint
2007 HIGHLANDER WHEELS ARE RUSTING SO BAD THAT 2 OF 4 TIRES ARE LOSING AIR PRESSURE. THIS 2007 WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM TOYOTA. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED A 2002 HIGHLANDER WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. I SEARCH ONLINE AND SEE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE WITH TOYOTA WHEELS. WHEELS SHOULD NOT RUST THIS BAD IN THIS SHORT A PERIOD OF TIME AND MILEAGE. LUCKILY WE HAD NO SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I MONITOR OUR VEHICLES CLOSELY. LOW TIRE PRESSURE COULD DEFINITELY CAUSE A SAFETY CONCERN FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT MONITOR THEIR CARS AS CLOSELY AS I DO. I FEEL TOYOTA HAS A QUALITY AND A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE WHEELS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON DOUBLE R BOULEVARD IN RENO AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY LOSS BRAKES. I HAD TO PUSH VERY HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL STUMPED AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT IN USE AND THE BRAKE WILL FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN NOT WORK. THIS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. I MANAGE TO PARK THE…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING ON DOUBLE R BOULEVARD IN RENO AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY LOSS BRAKES. I HAD TO PUSH VERY HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL STUMPED AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT IN USE AND THE BRAKE WILL FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN NOT WORK. THIS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. I MANAGE TO PARK THE CAR AT A NEARBY SMITH'S. MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR TO THE RENO TOYOTA (DEALER) , WHERE THEY TOLD US IT WAS THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE NEXT DAY THEY TOLD US THE REPLACEMENT DIDN'T SOLVED THE PROBLEM AND THE BOOSTER HAD TO BE REPLACED, THIS PROBLEM SOUNDS VERY FAMILIAR TO THE RECALL OF TOYOTA ON 2004-2006 MODELS BUT TOYOTA WON'T ASSIST US WITH THE REPAIRS. WE ARE JUST THANKFUL THAT WERE NOT ON THE FREEWAY WITH OUR KIDS. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION WHEN YOU REALIZE THERE ARE NO BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS ($1,750). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE THE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THREE WEEKS AFTER THE R…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE THE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THREE WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE TRANSMISSION INITIALLY DID NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH SHE ENGAGED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE OR STOP. THE CONTACT THEN ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH SHE ENGAGED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE OR STOP. THE CONTACT THEN ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND AGREED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 73,933.
MY 2007 TOYOTA HIGLANDER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ENGINE SLUDGE EVEN THOUGH THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AT THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE INTERVALS. *TR
Official recalls
416V396000 · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
Jun 2, 2016
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
14V743000 · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
Nov 19, 2014
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
10V035000 · Equipment:other:labels
Feb 3, 2010
GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.
10V036000 · Equipment:other:labels
Feb 3, 2010
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
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.
Illustration