Short answer
Among Toyota Highlander Hybrid model years through 2024, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2006, 2008 and 2023 have the most (6). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Toyota Highlander Hybrid: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 21 (2004–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 26
- Fewest recalls
- 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2006, 2008 and 2023 (6)
- Most recalled system
- Equipment (8)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2015, 2016, 2017 and 9 more years
Toyota Highlander Hybrid Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 3 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Seat belts, Seats |
| 2024 | 4 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Equipment, Seat belts |
| 2023 | 6 | 5 stars | Air bags, Back over prevention, Equipment |
| 2022 | 4 | 5 stars | Electronic stability control (esc), Equipment, Seats |
| 2021 | 4 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc), Seats |
| 2020 | 4 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc), Seats |
| 2019 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2018 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2017 | 2 | 5 stars | Equipment, Tires |
| 2016 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2015 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2014 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2011 | 1 | Not rated | Visibility |
| 2010 | 4 | Not rated | Equipment, Hybrid propulsion system, Seats |
| 2009 | 4 | Not rated | Equipment, Hybrid propulsion system, Seats |
| 2008 | 6 | Not rated | Visibility, Air bags, Equipment |
| 2007 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Hybrid propulsion system |
| 2006 | 6 | Not rated | Vehicle speed control, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2005 | 1 | Not rated | Vehicle speed control |
| 2004 | 1 | Not rated | Vehicle speed control |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20260 recalls
- 20253 recalls
- 20244 recalls
- 20236 recalls
- 20224 recalls
- 20214 recalls
- 20204 recalls
- 20190 recalls
- 20180 recalls
- 20172 recalls
- 20160 recalls
- 20150 recalls
- 20141 recall
- 20111 recall
- 20104 recalls
- 20094 recalls
- 20086 recalls
- 20072 recalls
- 20066 recalls
- 20051 recall
- 20041 recall
Toyota Highlander Hybrid: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Toyota Highlander Hybrid recalls are equipment (8), seats (8), air bags (5), hybrid propulsion system (5) and visibility (5). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 12 of these 21 model years, and 2015, 2016, 2017 and 9 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Toyota Highlander Hybrid Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Toyota Highlander Hybrid model years have the most recalls?
2006, 2008 and 2023 have the most, with 6 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Highlander Hybrid", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy