Engine complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2009 Toyota Highlander has 22 NHTSA engine complaints and 0 engine-related recalls.
22
Complaints
0
Recalls
1
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 10, 2026
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 30, 2021 | ENGINE | Engine oil filler cap had interior motor part , melt through while driving , almost hurling all the ... |
| Sep 1, 2020 | ENGINE | BRIEF ENGINE KNOCK/RATTLE NOISE AT COLD STARTUP (1AR2AR) VDS(S):DA41A,ZA3EH WM(S)5TD |
| May 15, 2020 | ENGINE | OIL COOLER CONNECTED TO ENGINE BLOCK WITH A RUBBER HOSE. HOSE FAILED WITH OIL LEAK WHICH CAUSED LOS... |
| Jul 11, 2019 | ENGINE | OIL COOLANT LINE BURSTS WHICH CAUSES IMMEDIATE LOSS OF ALL OIL. PROBLEM HAPPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN ... |
| Jul 10, 2019 | ENGINE | I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE IN WISCONSIN DURING RUSH HOUR WHEN I TOOK OFF MY CRUISE CONTROL TO... |
| Jul 1, 2019 | ENGINE | VVTI CAM GEAR ISSUE, MAKING GRINDING NOISE.VEHICLE JUST HIT 60,000 AND OUT OF WARRANTY. EARLIER TSB... |
| Jun 15, 2019 | ENGINE | I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AND I STARTED GETTING "LOW OIL PRESSURE" ALERTS ON MY DASHBOARD. I ... |
| Apr 10, 2019 | ENGINE | WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, ENGINE ALWAYS MAKES STRANGE NOISE UPON INITIAL START. |
| Mar 21, 2017 | ENGINE | THE COOLANT PUMP PULLEY BROKE AND ENGINE GOT OVERHEATED AND STOPPED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND HAD TO BE... |
| Feb 2, 2017 | ENGINE | OIL COOLER HOSE BURST IN CAR. YO HAVE ABOUT 20 SECONDS TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF BEFORE IT SEIZES UP BE... |
| Sep 19, 2016 | ENGINE | 2009 HIGHLANDER, PURCHASED NEW, HAD 105000 MILES ON 3.5L V6 ENGINE. OIL CHANGED EVERY 7000 MILES, F... |
| Mar 10, 2016 | ENGINE | MARCH 10, 2016 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR OIL CHANGE. PARKED VEHICLE AFTER RETURN HOME (10 MIL... |
| Aug 7, 2015 | ENGINE | NOTICED LARGE OIL PUDDLE IN DRIVEWAY. HAD CAR TOWED AS OIL LOSS COULD HAVE CAUSED FATAL DAMAGE TO T... |
| Jul 12, 2015 | ENGINE | WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN A STATE ROUTE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY WE LOST POWER TO THE CAR, WE WE... |
| Jan 30, 2015 | ENGINE | MASSIVE OIL LEAK FROM OIL COOLER LINE OF 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH TOW PACKAGE AT ~78,000 MILES. ... |
| Oct 10, 2014 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | THE RUBBER HOSE BETWEEN THE OIL PUMP AND THE VVT KEEPS BREAKING. I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH AND FOU... |
| Jun 23, 2013 | ENGINE | I'M CONTACTING YOU ABOUT AN ISSUE RECENTLY ENCOUNTERED ON MY 2009 HIGHLANDER. THE OIL HOSE ATTACHME... |
| Oct 23, 2012 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | I WAS TRAVELING 50 -60 MILES PER HOUR ON THE NEW JERSEY GARDEN STATE PARKWAY. WHILE DRIVING ALL OF ... |
| Mar 24, 2011 | ENGINE | THE WATER PUMP WENT ON MY TOYOTA HIGHLAND. I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THE WATER PUMPS ARE F... |
| Jan 1, 2011 | ENGINE | When starting it would make grinding noise,sounds like metallic noise until the engine oil starts ci... |