Owners have filed 11 complaints
about the 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid with NHTSA between 2023 and 2026.
The largest single group is the body & structure.
Across this model's run it ranks 9 of 9 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 5
Against the median year of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
How 2023 compares with every other Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Body & Structure
327.3%
Other & Unspecified
19.1%
Seats
19.1%
Seat Belts
19.1%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
19.1%
Median failure at 20,000 miles
Brakes
19.1%
Median failure at 6,000 miles
Steering
19.1%
Airbags
19.1%
Median failure at 6,000 miles
Electrical System
19.1%
Median failure at 6,000 miles
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jun 2023peak 4Jul 2026
Recalls on the 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 202610139,897 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
Issue: On certain vehicles, the seatback recliners for the second-row seats may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the seatback(s) may not lock in position and could move in a crash. Safety Risk: A seatback that moves could increase the risk of injury in a crash. Corrective Action: To reduce the safety risk, Toyota recommends not using the second-row seats to transport passengers until the recall repairs have been completed. Toyota will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the spring in the second-row seatback recliner assemblies.
Recall 20252427,441 units in Canada
Airbag
Issue: On certain vehicles, the steering wheel spiral cable assembly could disconnect. If this happens, the airbag (SRS) warning lamp would turn on, and the driver-front airbag wouldn't work in a crash. This may also cause the horn or other steering wheel-mounted controls not to work properly. Note: This recall replaces Transport Canada recall no. 2023-386. Vehicles that were repaired under that recall don't require this repair. Safety Risk: An airbag that doesn't work properly could increase the risk of injury in a crash. Corrective Actions: Toyota will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect the production date of the spiral cable assembly, and replace it if necessary.
Recall 202357450,501 units in Canada
Structure
Issue: On certain vehicles, the front lower bumper cover may not be attached properly. As a result, if there is a minor impact to the front bumper, the lower bumper cover, engine under cover, and the fender liners could separate from the vehicle while driving. Safety Risk: Parts that detach from the vehicle could create a road hazard for others and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Action: Toyota will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect the front bumper cover and secure it. If damage is found, the dealer will also replace the upper and/or lower front bumper cover(s).
Recall 20233867,018 units in Canada
Airbag
This recall was replaced by Transport Canada recall no. 2025-242. Issue: On certain vehicles, the steering wheel spiral cable assembly could disconnect. If this happens, the airbag (SRS) warning lamp would turn on, and the driver-front airbag wouldn't work in a crash. This may also cause the horn or other steering wheel-mounted controls not to work properly. Safety Risk: An airbag that doesn't work properly could increase the risk of injury in a crash. Corrective Actions: Toyota will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect the production date of the spiral cable assembly, and replace it if necessary.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Tacoma, WA
SEATS
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V128000 (Seats); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
NHTSA complaint #11749311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20,000 milesSahuarita, AZ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle surged forward and accelerated before coming to a stop. The failure occurred intermittently; however, the failure seemed most pronounced while decelerating from highway speeds. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer was informed of the failure; however, the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000.
NHTSA complaint #11611594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,000 milesVerona, WI
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, there was a hesitation, and the vehicle surged forward before coming to a stop. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact became aware of TSB 0059/23, NHTSA ID Number: 10244133 (Electrical System, Air Bags, Service Brakes) for the 2021 - 2022 Toyota Highlander. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with brake failure. The contact was informed that the brake actuator needed to be replaced; however, the dealer confirmed that the year, make, and model were not included in the TSB. The dealer attempted to update the brake actuator module according to the TSB; however, the update failed due to the year the vehicle was manufactured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 6,000.
NHTSA complaint #11611346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,000 milesVerona, WI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, there was a hesitation, and the vehicle surged forward before coming to a stop. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact became aware of TSB 0059/23, NHTSA ID Number: 10244133 (Electrical System, Air Bags, Service Brakes) for the 2021 - 2022 Toyota Highlander. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with brake failure. The contact was informed that the brake actuator needed to be replaced; however, the dealer confirmed that the year, make, and model were not included in the TSB. The dealer attempted to update the brake actuator module according to the TSB; however, the update failed due to the year the vehicle was manufactured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 6,000.
NHTSA complaint #11611346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,000 milesVerona, WI
SERVICE BRAKES
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, there was a hesitation, and the vehicle surged forward before coming to a stop. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact became aware of TSB 0059/23, NHTSA ID Number: 10244133 (Electrical System, Air Bags, Service Brakes) for the 2021 - 2022 Toyota Highlander. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with brake failure. The contact was informed that the brake actuator needed to be replaced; however, the dealer confirmed that the year, make, and model were not included in the TSB. The dealer attempted to update the brake actuator module according to the TSB; however, the update failed due to the year the vehicle was manufactured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 6,000.
NHTSA complaint #11611346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Irwin, PA
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle struck a bird and the lower front bumper assembly detached. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the lower bumper assembly. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V720000 (Structure). The VIN was included, and the parts were available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11602438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aiea, HI
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V720000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11588773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakley, CA
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V720000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11585221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pasadena, CA
SEAT BELTS
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the seat belt securely buckled, the seat belt strap failed to retract to secure the driver safely. The contact stated that the seat belt strap fell in between the seat and underneath driver. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11563625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Pedro, CA
STEERING
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V480000 (Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11550266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Seymour, TN
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2023 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID- Emailed forwarded from U.S. Senator Blackburn's Office. Consumer states: "I am writing to let you know that as a dedicated Toyota customer for over 35 years and purchased over 8 vehicles, I am very disappointed with the lack of any customer service associated with the purchase of a 2023 Highlander Hybrid in November 2022. It is now June 2023 and I still have only one key FOB for my vehicle. I hear that there is a computer chip shortage yet every 2023 Highlander Hybrid that has been delivered in USA since January 2023 has received both FOBs. They get keys immediately yet we have waited over 6 moths and still waiting. The Customer Advocates at Toyota keep saying a different date for availability. Originally it was Feb/March and then May/June. The latest is now end of summer. Why? I am very disappointed with Toyota and their handling of this issue. Why can’t we get our extra FOB. I am so disappointed with the lack of customer care for a loyal customer. Please help me. "
NHTSA complaint #11529125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.