YearToAvoid

2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

95/100

#2 most-complained of 21 Highlander Hybrid years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid ranks 2nd worst out of 21 model years, with a complaint index of 95, 197 complaints, and 6 recalls. Brakes account for 60% of complaints, making it an Avoid year relative to other Highlander Hybrid model years.

Complaints
197
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
6 / 4
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
26
27 city / 25 hwy

Top 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes118 (60%)
  2. Electrical System35 (18%)
  3. Engine31 (16%)
  4. Fuel System14 (7%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires12 (6%)
  6. Other11 (6%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain11 (6%)
  8. Steering6 (3%)
  9. Structure & Body5 (3%)
  10. Airbags2 (1%)

What owners report

  • Brakes reportedly release for a fraction of a second after being applied, then re-engage, leading to rear-end collisions in slow traffic.
  • ABS/VSC warning lights appear on the dashboard, with owners later told the ABS actuator needs replacement.
  • Owners report brake fluid leaking near the brake pump along with sudden loss of braking power assist.
  • Electrical fires reported near the fuse box and driver-side door window switch, with smoke and melting wires observed.
  • The vehicle reportedly stalled while stopped at a railroad crossing, resulting in a train collision.
  • A clicking or loose feeling in the steering column was noticed shortly after delivery, described by the dealer as normal.
2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per quarter242008 Q22010 Q12012 Q12013 Q42015 Q32017 Q12018 Q32025 Q2
248 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q2 to 2025 Q3; peak 2010 Q1 (24).

2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 15V689000Oct 22, 2015Visibility & Wipers1,814,284 vehicles

    Visibility:power window devices and controls

    Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.

    Risk: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is C0M.

  2. NHTSA 13V396000Sep 4, 2013Fuel System133,081 vehicles

    Hybrid propulsion system: inverter

    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured February 16, 2005, through July 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008 Lexus RX400h vehicles manufactured February 23, 2005, through December 2, 2008. 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. If this occurs, various warning lamps, including the malfunction indicator lamp, slip indicator light, brake system warning light, and master warning light, will be illuminated on the instrument panel.

    Risk: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. It is possible that the hybrid system will shut down while the vehicle is being driven, causing the vehicle to stall unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the IPM free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicles that had their IPM replaced under recall 11V-342 are not affected by this campaign.

  3. NHTSA 12V491000Oct 10, 2012Visibility & Wipers2,519,424 vehicles

    Visibility:power window devices and controls

    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process may cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat.

    Risk: If the switch overheats, it may melt, possibly resulting in a fire.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge. Toyota owners that experience a problem with a switch should not attempt to make repairs, but should contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331. General Motors will contact the Pontiac Vibe owners affected by this recall and GM dealers will inspect and repair switches as necessary. Those owners may contact Pontiac Customer Care at 1-800-762-2737.

See all 6 recalls for the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid →

2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27 MPG
Highway
25 MPG
Combined
26 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,500
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other Highlander Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Avoid100370626.5
2007Avoid90110226
2008Avoid95197626
2009Avoid8540426
2010Avoid8022426

All Toyota Highlander Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid a bad year?
Relative to other Highlander Hybrid model years, 2008 is rated Avoid. It ranks 2nd worst of 21 model years with a complaint index of 95 and 197 complaints, most involving brakes.
What is the main problem with the 2008 Highlander Hybrid?
Brakes are the top problem area, making up 60% of complaints (118 of 197), with a median failure mileage of 119,450 miles.
Does the 2008 Highlander Hybrid have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2008 model year, covering seat belts, airbags, power window switches, wiper switches, fuel system components, and labeling.
How does 2008 compare to other Highlander Hybrid years?
The 2006 model year has a higher complaint index of 100 and is also rated Avoid, while 2011-2013 and 2019 are rated Good with much lower complaint indexes between 30 and 45.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Highlander Hybrid?
EPA rates it at 26 mpg combined (27 city / 25 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.