Model year record
2013 Toyota Highlander Hybrid recalls & problems
The 2013 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 5 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is air bags (1 complaint).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2013 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
Highlander Hybrid 4WD Hybrid
| City / highway | 28 / 28 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · All-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 1 | — |
| Unknown or other | 1 | — |
| Service brakes | 1 | — |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 1 | — |
| Power train | 1 | — |
| StructureBody | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Structure › Body
WE RECENTLY HAD OUR HIGHLANDER COMPLETELY TOTALED BY OUR INSURANCE AFTER A FAILURE TO HAVE OUR AIR CONDITIONING DRAIN PROPERLY. THE CLOG CAUSED WATER TO BACK UP INTO THE FRAME OF THE CAR AND FLOOD OUR FLOOR CARPETING. THE DRAINAGE ISSUE ALSO CAUSED THE HEADLINERS TO BECOME WET AND DRIP ONTO THE LEATHER UPHOLSTERY. WE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALERSHIP ADVANTAGE TOYOTA VALLEY STREAM AND THEY FIRST SUGGESTED CLEARING THE MOON ROOF BUT THAT WASN'T THE ISSUE. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THEM THEY KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE A/C DRAIN. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IT'S NOT PART OF THEIR STANDARD MAINTENANCE PROCESS. WE…
- Power train
OVER NIGHT MY PARKED SUV MOVED 10 FEET BACKWARDS ON A VERY SLIGHT UP SLOPED PARKING SPACE AT MY HOME. IT WAS LOCKED, IN PARK AND NO ICE UNDERNEATH. I DID NOT MOVE IT AFTER FIRST NOTICING INCIDENT, BUT IT THEN MOVED ANOTHER 2 FEET THIS MORNING. THEN LATER I GOT IN AND MOVED IT BACK TO ORIGINAL PLACE, PUT IT IN PARK AND IT CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THEN SET PARKING BRAKE SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. CALLED SOUTH HILLS TOYOTA AND THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY CAUSE OR PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE, RJM PS: NO ICY CONDITIONS INVOLVED. SMART KEY WAS IN HOUSE ON TABLE. NO ONE IN HOUSEHOLD MOVED IT.
- Service brakes
8/1/2016 2013 HIGHLANDER HYBRID WAS TRAVELING AT 60MPH WHEN LIGHTS ON DASH STARTED BLINKING WITH A LOUD BEEPING NOISE. BRAKE MALFUNCTION, CHECK ABS WAS READING ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN. TRAFFIC AHEAD ON 2 LANE HIGHWAY WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 55MPH HAD SUDDENLY STOPPED AND I WAS FORCED TO SLAM ON BRAKES. AT THIS POINT THE BRAKES FELT VERY HEAVY, HEAVIER THAN USUAL, AS I DETECTED WHEEL LOCK UP AND PROCEEDED TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE AHEAD.
- Unknown or other
WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE, SOAKING CARPET AND THE FLOOR, EVERYTIME IT RAINS. LOTS OF WATER REMAINS IN THE FLOOR EVERYTIME IT HAPPENS, MOSTLY IN THE MIDDLE ROW, SMELLING BAD AFTER A WHILE. DEALER SAID THEY CAN'T FIND IT. !..UPDATED 08/13/15 *BF UPDATED 11/27/2015*JS
- Air bags
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE AIRBAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,500.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Pedestrian alert soundsClosedLed to recall 22V063000
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review…
- Steering Column SeparationClosed
On November 16, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an Engineering Analysis (EA18-006) as an upgrade to a Preliminary Evaluation (PE18-005). The investigation focused on allegations of steering wheel separation from the lower steering column after using the tilt and/or telescoping mechanism. Given the separation occurring when operating the tilt and/or telescoping function and failure of both shear capsules to maintain the lower steering column mounting position, potential for shear capsule damage in the known failures due to collisions, the overall low rate of occurrence, and the updated manufacturer documentation, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists. The agency reserves right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances. A detailed summary of the…
- Upper Steering Column SeparationClosed
On May 4, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE18-005 to investigate three allegations of steering column separation for Model Year (MY) 2008 through 2013 Toyota Highlander vehicles. Two (2) of the 3 complaints were received by ODI in April 2018 and occurred while the vehicle was in motion. Since opening PE18-005, one (1) additional VOQ involving steering column separation has been received. This incident occurred while the vehicle was stationary.As part of PE18-005, ODI examined the field data, warranty data, and relevant technical information submitted by Toyota in response to the PE18-005 information request letter. Ten (10) additional incidents of steering column separation were identified. Four (4) of these instances occurred while driving. During PE18-005, ODI confirmed that the steering columns in the subject vehicles are equipped with…