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2012 Toyota Highlander HybridProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 9 owner complaints about the 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, most often about the structure. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls0None on recordOwner complaints90 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage68kStructure, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 12, 2019. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has problems

9 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Structure20
Fuel system, other10
Hybrid propulsion system10
Power train10
Seats10
Service brakes10
Steering10
Electrical system10
Visibility/wiper10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

0 recalls

2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid recalls and how many were fixed

No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.

Best & worst years

2012 vs. every other Highlander Hybrid year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Highlander Hybrid median. How we score

'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Pedestrian alert soundsDP22005 · closed Aug 7, 2023
    Led to recall 22V-063
  2. Steering Column SeparationEA18006 · closed Apr 2, 2024
    No recall
  3. Upper Steering Column SeparationPE18005 · closed Nov 20, 2018
    No recall
In owners' words

What Highlander Hybrid owners report

Recent structure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

VEHICLE POWER UNLOCKING MECHANISM IS UNRELIABLE, AND SHOWS SIGNIFICANT DEFECT IN THE UNLOCKING CAPABILITIES OF ALL BUT THE DRIVERS DOOR. AFTER SEVERAL LOCK ACTUATOR REPLACEMENTS, THE VEHICLE STILL EXHIBITS IMPROPER OPERATION. DEALERSHIP AGREES THAT THERE IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND…
Complaint 11156484 · Dec 6, 2018 · 110,000 miles
SEVERAL SMALL PAINT BUBBLES ON REAR HATCH. ONE HAD BURST AT SEAM OF TRIM AND IS RUSTING. SCREWS HOLDING THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT AND ASSEMBLY ARE RUSTED. UNDERSIDE OF "HIGHLANDER" EMBLEM TRIM WHERE REAR CAMERA IS LOCATED IS CORRODED AND RUSTED. *TR
Complaint 10608193 · Jul 4, 2014 · 25,510 miles

Own a 2012 Highlander Hybrid?

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