2005 Toyota Highlander
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 225 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 13th highest complaint count among 25 Highlander model years with reports.
Of the 2005 reports, 35 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 20 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Seats, front assembly, seat heater/coolerJun 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.
If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
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.
Campaign 16V396000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine coolingNov 9, 2011
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.
IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 11V539000 on NHTSA.gov
Vehicle speed control, accelerator pedalFeb 24, 2011
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 LEXUS RX330, RX350, AND RX400H VEHICLES. IF THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, WHICH IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE CENTER CONSOLE, IS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM.
IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. A STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN UNINTENDED AND SUSTAINED VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE FREE OR CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 11V112000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, master cylinderOct 21, 2010
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 LEXUS RX, AND MODEL YEAR 2006 LEXUS GS AND IS VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS LUBRICANTS FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON. IF THIS OCCURS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID COULD SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE SEAL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAL WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 AND LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
Campaign 10V499000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsFeb 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.
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
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.
Campaign 10V035000 on NHTSA.gov
Vehicle speed control, accelerator pedalJul 13, 2006
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND HYBRID VEHICLES, THE TWO RETAINING CLIPS FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FORWARD CENTER CONSOLE CAN BECOME LOOSE. IF BOTH CLIPS SEPARATE FROM THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING INTERFERENCE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ROD.
THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO FLOOR CARPET COVER RETAINING CLIPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 24, 2006, AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY EARLY SEPTEMBER 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
Campaign 06V253000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: hydraulic
13 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 3, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN SNOWY WEATHER AND APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE WHEELS SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 20, 2011
BRAKES MADE METAL/METAL GRINDING NOISE. FOUND REAR BRAKE ROTORS BADLY CORRODED. APPROX. 30% OF BOTH ROTORS FUNCTIONAL. SEVENTY PERCENT CAKED WITH THICK RUST. DRIVER'S SIDE REAR CALIPER SLIDER PIN STUCK. FRONT BRAKES DID MOST OF WORK, THEREFORE PADS ARE PREMATURELY WORN. IN DECADES OF DRIVING, I'VE NEVER HAD BRAKE WORK BEFORE 80,000 MILES. CAR IS USED ALMOST DAILY AND ALWAYS GARAGED. ROTOR CASTINGS ARE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. BRAKES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED BY TOYOTA DEALER EVERY 6 MONTHS. NO PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED, BUT CORROSION IS SEVERE, THICK WITH FLAKING. I HAVE DEALER SERVICE RECORDS AND PHOTOS TO SUPPORT MY SAFETY CONCERNS. TOYOTA RECALLED 130,000 VEHICLES IN CHINA BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN THE REAR WHEEL DISK BRAKES WHICH COULD POSSIBLY RUST. PERHAPS SOME OF THESE ROTORS FOUND THEIR WAY ON TO OUR HIGHLANDER. MY FAMILY AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THANKFULLY, NO EMERGENCY STOPS HAVE BEEN REQUIRED. HOW MANY OTHER HIGHLANDERS HAVE CORRODED, UNSAFE, BRAKE ROTORS? UPDATED IVOQ 01/26/12 *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Sep 15, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. IN APRIL 2011, THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE LOCKED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CALIPERS. IN AUGUST 2011, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR CALIPERS HAD RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT PREMATURE WEAR OF THE BRAKES AND STATED THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,800.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 8, 2011
2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL REQUEST *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY WERE VERY SLOW TO RESPOND. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Mar 8, 2011, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 2-3 MPH IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT TO NO AVAIL AS THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER GARAGE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND THERE WAS MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER YET THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE THREE ADDITIONAL OCCURRENCES OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE FLOOR MAT AND THE BRAKE COVERS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS STILL AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. SHE LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL) AND THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 4, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V499000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS: MASTER CYLINDER). THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS EXHIBITED NINETY PERCENT ABNORMAL WEAR AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE NEVER REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 28, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 1, 2010, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. THE VEHICLE MOVED TO THE DRIVERS LEFT LANE AND A CRASHED OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND AND MOVED INTO THE THIRD LANE OF THE HIGHWAY CRASHING INTO THE MEDIAN WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ( NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V499000, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC FOUNDATION MASTER CYLINDER) AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 29, 2010, crash
IN A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE FRONT BUMPER CORNER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE BRAKES IN THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE FEEL VERY SPONGY MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE SPEED AND TRAJECTORY OF THIS VEHICLE AT SLOW SPEEDS. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 19, 2010
WHILE COMING TO A RED LIGHT I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DID NOT STOP. TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AGAIN AND THE SECOND TIME THE BRAKES WOKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE TO MY WIFE AND ONCE TO ME. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Feb 23, 2010
I'VE OWNED A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SINCE NEW, ONCE IN A WHILE THIS CONDITION WOULD OCCUR, NOW IT IS ALL THE TIME. IT JUST TURNED OVER 80K MILES. I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS, NOT EVEN TOYOTA NO. 60F. WHEN YOU ARE COMING TO A STOP,AT NORMAL SPEEDS,NORMAL BRAKING PEDAL PRESSURE, JUST BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPS, IT LAUNCHES FORWARD WITH YOUR FOOT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN YOU APPLY MORE PRESSURE AS IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY, IT IS WORSE. MY WIFE AND I HAVE LEARNED TO COMPENSATE BY COASTING THEN STOPPING. I EMAILED TOYOTA.COM ABOUT THIS TWICE, NO ANSWERS. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Feb 4, 2010
MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, V6 MODEL, ALWAYS ON APPLYING THE BRAKES THE FIRST TIME AFTER STARTING IN THE MORNING IS LIKE THE ABS SYSTEM IS ENGAGED, IT TAKES LONGER TO STOP THAN IT WILL ON THE SUCCEEDING BRAKING APPLICATIONS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY TO SOMEONE WHO MAY NOT BE PREPARED FOR THIS OR IS NOT THE USUAL DRIVER. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST HYDRAULICS BUT NOW I THINK IT IS TIED TO THE ABS SYSTEM, AFTER READING OF THE PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 22, 2007
BRAKE PROBLEM I BOUGHT A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN APRIL 2005. EARLY NOVEMBER 2006 THIS HAPPENED: AFTER I STARTED THE CAR, I HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE STEPPED ON. IT SOUNDED LIKE NOISY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT. THE NOISE REPEATED EVERY TIME THE BRAKES WERE STEPPED ON. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SERVICE AT CRYSTAL TOYOTA IN GREEN BROOK, NEW JERSEY, AND THEY DID SOME WORK ON IT. ABOUT TEN DAYS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED. THE CRYSTAL TOYOTA SERVICE FOREMAN STATED THAT ROTOR PADS NOW HAVE A METALLIC CONTENT. WHENEVER MOISTURE FORMS ON THE PADS DUE TO THE WEATHER, NOISE CAN RESULT. THE SERVICE APPLIED AN ADDITIVE. THE LOUD NOISE REAPPEARED EARLY JANUARY 2007. CRYSTAL TOYOTA SERVICE SUGGESTED DRIVING THE CAR A SHORT DISTANCE AND THE NOISE WOULD GO AWAY. THIS WAS CORRECT. THE NOISE WENT AWAY AFTER DRIVING ABOUT HALF A MILE AND STEPPING REPEATEDLY ON THE BRAKES. I COULD NOT SEE THIS AS A LONG- TERM SOLUTION, HOWEVER, AS THE NOISE LEVEL WAS EXTREME, AND IT WAS LIKELY THAT AN EXCESSIVE IMPACT AND STRESS WERE OCCURRING. IT APPEARED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL. I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA CORPORATION CUSTOMER SERVICE AND JOE LACEFIELD, A NEW JERSEY REPRESENTATIVE, CALLED ME. LACEFIELD DOWNPLAYED MY CONCERN AND SAID HE WOULD LOOK AT THE CAR ON JANUARY 26. I TOLD HIM THAT HE WOULD PROBABLY NOT HEAR THE NOISE SINCE IT DID NOT OCCUR ON MOST DAYS. LACEFIELD CALLED ME AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR AND SAID THAT HE HAD HEARD NO NOISE. I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD EXPECTED THAT AND HAD POINTED IT OUT TO HIM. HE THEN SAID THAT WHAT I HEARD MUST HAVE BEEN SOME PLAIN EVERYDAY BRAKE NOISE AND THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM! TOYOTA CORPORATION CUSTOMER SERVICE THEN TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. THE NOISE HAS NOW OCCURRED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES. THE ATTITUDE OF LACEFIELD AND OF TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THAT MY COMPLAINT HAS NO MERIT, AND THAT THE EXTREME LOUD NOISE DOES NOT EVEN EXIST! MARCH 14 WAS THE LATEST NOISE OCCURRENCE. UPDATED 05/04/07