The Lemon Index2009 Toyota Highlander.
The 2009 Toyota Highlander is better than average by owner complaints: 52 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 77, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about speed control, it has 10 recalls, and it gets 19 to 26 mpg combined. The best Toyota Highlander year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 174 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Toyota Highlander year. 2009 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 15K to 110K miles on the car (139 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- brakes complaints mostly came at 84K–165K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 60K–114K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 43K–90K miles
Recalls 10
- seats 2016
The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
- visibility 2015
During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
- seats 2014
Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Show all 10 recalls
- airbags 2014
In the affected vehicles, the steering column assembly contains electrical connections to the driver's airbag module housed in a spiral cable assembly, which includes a Flexible Flat Cable (FFC).
- hybrid propulsion system 2013
The Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module may contain transistors that have higher operating temperatures than the solder can support and the transistors may be heat damaged by the solder.
- airbags 2013
If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk…
- equipment 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 BETW…
- equipment 2010
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE S…
- speed control 2010
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, VENZA AND MATRIX PASSENGER VEHICLES.
- equipment 2009
TOYOTA IS RECALLING 27,080 MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2010 PASSENGER CARS BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 TO MAY 4, 2009.
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 312 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Multiple warning lights illuminated, vehicle not shifting from park to drive, and other…
- Ticking/clicking type noise from the cylinder head
- Brief engine knock/rattle noise cold startup
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
- ClosedSteering column separation2018–2024
- ClosedUpper steering column separation2018
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2450–3400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.7L 4-cyl, 3.3L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
2009 Toyota Highlander was involved in the floor mat recall. When vehicle was taken to dealer and consumer was told there was nothing they could do because the floor mats were not Toyota floor mats.
2009 Toyota Highlander owner · NHTSA complaint 10318696
Quick answers
Is the 2009 Toyota Highlander reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.3× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 77; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Highlander year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2009 Toyota Highlander problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are speed control (25%), brakes (17%) and tires (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2009 Toyota Highlander have?
10 safety recalls (latest: seats). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Toyota Highlander get?
19 to 26 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2009 Toyota Highlander problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 15,000 and 110,000 miles. The middle report was at 60,200 miles, from 139 complaints.
Does the 2009 Toyota Highlander have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 12% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2009 Toyota Highlander cost in fuel a year?
About $2450 to $3400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2009 Toyota Highlander have?
2.7L 4-cyl, 3.3L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Toyota Highlander year is better than the 2009?
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