YearToAvoid

2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Engine Problems

NHTSA has 31 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 16% of all 197 complaints for this model year. That is #2 highest engine complaint count among 21 Highlander Hybrid model years. These complaints report 1 crash and 4 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 107,632 miles.

Engine complaints
31
16% of 197
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
107,632 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 19, 2008, latest Jul 8, 2018.

2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Jul 2008Mar 2010Dec 2011Oct 2012Aug 2013Mar 2015Feb 2017
31 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2008 to Jul 2018; peak Feb 2010 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Highlander Hybrid model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20050 (0%)
  2. 200681 (22%)
  3. 200725 (23%)
  4. 200831 (16%)
  5. 20096 (15%)
  6. 20105 (23%)
  7. 20113 (60%)
  8. 20120 (0%)
  9. 20130 (0%)
  10. 20140 (0%)
  11. 20151 (25%)
  12. 20161 (17%)
  13. 20172 (67%)
  14. 20181 (20%)
  15. 20192 (33%)
  16. 20200 (0%)
  17. 20211 (7%)
  18. 20223 (50%)
  19. 20231 (11%)
  20. 20240 (0%)
  21. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid have engine problems?
NHTSA has 31 owner complaints about the engine in the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 16% of all complaints for this model year, including 1 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 107,632 miles.
Which Toyota Highlander Hybrid year has the most engine complaints?
The 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has the most engine complaints (81), compared with 31 for the 2008.
Is there a engine recall for the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is classified under engine. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

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.