YearToAvoid

2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

20/100

#17 most-complained of 21 Highlander Hybrid years

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

The 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has 3 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 20 out of 100 — #17 highest of 21 Highlander Hybrid model years. The most reported problem area is brakes (2 complaints, 67% of the total).

Complaints
3
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28.5
29.5 city / 27.5 hwy

Top 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems

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

  1. Brakes2 (67%)
  2. Engine2 (67%)
  3. Electrical System1 (33%)
  4. Fuel System1 (33%)
  5. Visibility & Wipers1 (33%)
2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2017Aug 2017Jun 2021
7 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2017 to Jun 2021; peak Apr 2017 (3).

2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 17V520000Aug 23, 2017Other1,121 vehicles

    Equipment

    Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2017 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles equipped with accessory roof rail cross bars. The fasteners for the roof rails may not be torqued properly.

    Risk: The roof rails may loosen and possibly detach from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GST will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and properly torque the fasteners, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2017. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 17R3.

  2. NHTSA 17V295000May 2, 2017Suspension, Wheels & Tires409 vehicles

    Tires:temporary/emergency spare tire

    Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.

    Risk: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.

2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
29.5 MPG
Highway
27.5 MPG
Combined
28.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,275
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.

2017 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
2015No verdict254028
2016Caution506028
2017No verdict203228.5
2018Caution605028.5
2019Good406028.5

All Toyota Highlander Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid ranks #17 of 21 among Highlander Hybrid model years (Complaint Index 20/100). It has 3 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
The most reported problem areas are brakes (2 complaints), engine (2 complaints), and electrical system (1 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 2,900 miles.
Does the 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, most recently reported 2017, covering other and suspension, wheels & tires.
What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
EPA rates the 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid at 28.5 MPG combined (29.5 city / 27.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,275. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.