Which years should I avoid for the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot?

For the Highlander, NHTSA data flags 2008 and 2019-2023 as Avoid years. For the Pilot, the flagged years are 2006, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2025.

Which model has more complaints overall?

The Honda Pilot has 7,999 total complaints across 21 model years versus 4,713 for the Toyota Highlander. These totals are not adjusted for how many of each were sold.

Which model has more recall campaigns?

The Honda Pilot has 56 total recall campaigns compared to 47 for the Toyota Highlander.

Which model gets better fuel economy?

The Toyota Highlander averages 21.4 mpg combined across its model years, slightly ahead of the Honda Pilot's 20.1 mpg combined average.

What are the top problem areas for each model?

Highlander owners report Transmission & Powertrain (918 complaints, 19%), Engine (833, 18%), Brakes (706, 15%) and Electrical System (656, 14%). Pilot owners report Engine (2,702, 34%), Electrical System (1,937, 24%), Transmission & Powertrain (953, 12%) and Fuel System (833, 10%).

Toyota Highlander vs Honda Pilot: Which Years to Avoid

Toyota Highlander owners filed 4,713 complaints across 21 model years (47 recalls); Honda Pilot owners filed 7,999 complaints (56 recalls). Highlander years to avoid are 2008 and 2019-2023; Pilot years to avoid are 2006, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2025. Totals aren't sales-normalized, so they don't prove one model is less reliable overall.

Head to head

Toyota Highlander

Model years: 2005–2025 (21)
NHTSA complaints: 4,713
Per model year: 224
Recall campaigns: 47
Years to avoid: 2008, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Best years: 2014, 2016, 2024, 2025
Top problem area: Transmission & Powertrain
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 21.4
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.8 ★

Honda Pilot

Model years: 2005–2025 (21)
NHTSA complaints: 7,999
Per model year: 381
Recall campaigns: 56
Years to avoid: 2006, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2025
Best years: 2014, 2015
Top problem area: Engine
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 20.1
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.7 ★

Year by year

Complaint Index is relative within each model (0 = that model’s best year, 100 = its worst). Complaints and recalls are raw counts.

Year	Highlander				Pilot
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2005	Good	224	6	20	Caution	679	13	17
2006	Caution	277	7	19.5	Avoid	268	8	17.5
2007	Good	123	4	19.5	Good	211	7	17.5
2008	Avoid	404	11	19.5	Good	133	7	17.5
2009	Caution	134	9	20	Caution	134	9	18.5
2010	Caution	216	10	20	Caution	111	10	18.5
2011	Good	181	5	20	Caution	293	11	18.5
2012	Good	182	2	20	Caution	171	9	20
2013	Good	207	3	20	Good	271	6	20
2014	Best	135	4	21	Best	116	3	20
2015	Caution	192	1	21	Best	109	4	20
2016	Best	110	2	21	Avoid	1,703	8	22
2017	Caution	267	3	22.5	Avoid	924	4	22
2018	Caution	265	4	22.5	Caution	440	7	22
2019	Avoid	482	3	22.5	Avoid	904	13	22
2020	Avoid	315	4	23	Avoid	487	11	22
2021	Avoid	517	4	23	Caution	433	10	22.5
2022	Avoid	249	5	23	Good	156	5	22
2023	Avoid	181	9	24	Caution	142	5	21
2024	Best	42	7	24	Good	113	6	21
2025	Best	10	4	24	Avoid	201	4	21

Complaint Index by year

Frequently asked questions

Which years should I avoid for the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot?: For the Highlander, NHTSA data flags 2008 and 2019-2023 as Avoid years. For the Pilot, the flagged years are 2006, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2025.
Which model has more complaints overall?: The Honda Pilot has 7,999 total complaints across 21 model years versus 4,713 for the Toyota Highlander. These totals are not adjusted for how many of each were sold.
Which model has more recall campaigns?: The Honda Pilot has 56 total recall campaigns compared to 47 for the Toyota Highlander.
Which model gets better fuel economy?: The Toyota Highlander averages 21.4 mpg combined across its model years, slightly ahead of the Honda Pilot's 20.1 mpg combined average.
What are the top problem areas for each model?: Highlander owners report Transmission & Powertrain (918 complaints, 19%), Engine (833, 18%), Brakes (706, 15%) and Electrical System (656, 14%). Pilot owners report Engine (2,702, 34%), Electrical System (1,937, 24%), Transmission & Powertrain (953, 12%) and Fuel System (833, 10%).