The Lemon Index2001 Toyota Highlander.
The 2001 Toyota Highlander is better than average by owner complaints: 65 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 71, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 3 recalls, and it gets 18 to 22 mpg combined. The best Toyota Highlander year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 136 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Toyota Highlander year. 2001 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 25K to 102K miles on the car (80 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 26K–61K miles
Recalls 3
- latches/locks/linkages 2004
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE A CHILD PROTECTION LOCK (CPL) SYSTEM ON BOTH OF THE REAR SIDE DOORS.
- fuel system, gasoline 2002
ON SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THERE IS A BREATHER HOSE THAT ATTACHES TO THE NOZZLE OF THE ON-BOARD REFUELING VAPOR RECOVERY (ORVR) VALVE, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE TOPSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK.
- brakes 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTIITY VEHICLES.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 135 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Right rear axle squeak noise
- The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of…
- The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–3550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Hard gear change, drag when coasting (like gear down), poor acceleration. Toyota ignores the problem; they say it is acceptable.
2001 Toyota Highlander owner · NHTSA complaint 753581
More owner reports
Consumer states while traveling 2-3 mph and applying the brakes vehicle went into extended stopping distance, running into garage door. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy.
NHTSA complaint 10026251
Prior to recall notice 01v-228 the consumer noticed when braking hard the car would shudders along with a loud noise and the vehicle did not stop as well as it should. Nlm
NHTSA complaint 563510
Quick answers
Is the 2001 Toyota Highlander reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.4× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 71; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Highlander year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2001 Toyota Highlander problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (23%), transmission & drivetrain (14%) and visibility (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2001 Toyota Highlander have?
3 safety recalls (latest: latches/locks/linkages). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2001 Toyota Highlander get?
18 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2001 Toyota Highlander problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 25,800 and 102,400 miles. The middle report was at 58,300 miles, from 80 complaints.
Does the 2001 Toyota Highlander have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 14% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2001 Toyota Highlander cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $3550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2001 Toyota Highlander have?
2.4L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl.
What Toyota Highlander year is better than the 2001?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works