The Lemon IndexAll cars · Toyota Highlander · 2012
2012 Toyota Highlander. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 4
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7L 4-cyl | Auto (S6) | FWD | 20 / 25 / 22 | Regular | $2,850 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | Auto (S5) | FWD | 18 / 24 / 20 | Regular | $3,100 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | Auto (S5) | AWD | 17 / 22 / 19 | Regular | $3,300 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl hybrid | Auto (variable gear ratios) | AWD | 28 / 28 / 28 | Regular | $2,200 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 20,600 and 80,000 miles. Median 51,000, from 136 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 68,000 | 48,500–88,100 | 40 |
| Electrical | 48,500 | 17,400–87,000 | 18 |
| Body structure | 35,000 | 15,900–78,500 | 13 |
| Engine | 31,900 | 5,700–112,800 | 12 |
| Wipers & visibility | 44,100 | 24,000–63,600 | 13 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Speed control | 17% |
| Electrical | 17% |
| Wipers & visibility | 16% |
| Body structure | 12% |
| Engine | 11% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 191 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 2
13V123000 Apr 2013 Equipment / Other / Labels
Defect. Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight ad
Risk. An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
Remedy. Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
13V014000 Jan 2013 Air Bags / Frontal / Sensor/Control Module-Inactive
Defect. Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger se
Risk. 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 of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Remedy. Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | Steering column separation | 2018 | 2024 |
| Closed | Upper steering column separation | 2018 | 2018 |
Manufacturer communications 320
Toyota filed 320 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- Charging system inoperative
- HV Batteries have liquid filled cell modules, to prevent leakage from cells, it is very important
- The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the…
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Highlander SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Highlander SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Highlander HV SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | No | No |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
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