The Lemon Index2011 Toyota Highlander.
The 2011 Toyota Highlander is better than average by owner complaints: 75 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 64, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about wipers & visibility, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 19 to 28 mpg combined. The best Toyota Highlander year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 186 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Toyota Highlander year. 2011 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 82K miles on the car (149 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- steering complaints mostly came at 38K–103K miles
- body structure complaints mostly came at 27K–63K miles
- wipers & visibility complaints mostly came at 39K–63K miles
Recalls 5
- 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 5 recalls
- equipment 2013
These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight ad.
- 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…
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 315 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Charging system inoperative
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- 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 test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Highlander SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Highlander SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Highlander HV SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2300–3400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.7L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Driver side sun visor will no longer go up all the way. It is stuck partially up and has resistance. It is now only down and blocking my view of driving. This is a safety issue and need to be recalled.
2011 Toyota Highlander owner · NHTSA complaint 10560778
More owner reports
Sun visor will no longer go up all the way. It is stuck partially up and has resistance. It is now only down and blocking my view of driving.
NHTSA complaint 10556942
Front windshield sealer bead not adhered to the glass. Toyota Tacoma.
NHTSA complaint 10384573
Quick answers
Is the 2011 Toyota Highlander reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.6× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 64; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Highlander year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2011 Toyota Highlander problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are wipers & visibility (21%), body structure (17%) and electrical (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2011 Toyota Highlander have?
5 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 2011 Toyota Highlander get?
19 to 28 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2011 Toyota Highlander safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2011 Toyota Highlander problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 25,500 and 82,500 miles. The middle report was at 50,000 miles, from 149 complaints.
Does the 2011 Toyota Highlander have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 9% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2011 Toyota Highlander cost in fuel a year?
About $2300 to $3400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2011 Toyota Highlander have?
2.7L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Toyota Highlander year is better than the 2011?
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