2005 Toyota Highlander Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2005 Toyota Highlander has a Complaint Index of 30 and ranks 15th-worst out of 21 model years, earning a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 224 complaints, 6 recalls, and 35 crashes, with transmission and engine issues topping the complaint list.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 30/100
- #15 of 21 Highlander years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 224
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 35
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 4
- Injuries
- 20
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 18 city / 23 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 20 / 0
Top 2005 Toyota Highlander problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain51 (23%)
- Engine50 (22%)
- Electrical System33 (15%)
- Steering26 (12%)
- Brakes25 (11%)
- Visibility & Wipers24 (11%)
- Other16 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires15 (7%)
- Structure & Body14 (6%)
- Airbags9 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners describe sudden unintended acceleration while trying to park or shift into park, with the engine racing before the vehicle lurched forward.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in several crashes, including rear-end and T-bone collisions at various speeds.
- One owner reported a headlight that flashed and burned the housing, raising an electrical concern not covered under warranty.
- A seat belt reportedly failed to restrain an occupant during a rear-end collision, leading to a head injury.
- Owners reported these incidents across a range of mileages, with crash-related complaints sometimes occurring at low mileage.
2005 Toyota Highlander recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V396000Jun 2, 2016Structure & Body7,749 vehicles
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
- NHTSA 11V539000Nov 9, 2011Engine420,326 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004 avalon vehicles; 2004 and 2005 camry, camry solara, highlander, and sienna vehicles, 2006 highlander hybrid; 2004 and 2005 lexus es330 and rx330; and 2006 lexus rx400h vehicles manufactured from june 1, 2004 through march 31, 2005, equipped with the 1mz-fe or 3mz-fe engine. The amount of adhesive agent applied between the outer ring and the torsional rubber damper (inner ring) in the crankshaft pulley may be inadequate. If the adhesive is insufficient, there is a possibility that the outer ring may become misaligned and it may not properly rotate with the inner ring, causing noise and/or illumination of the battery discharge indicator light.
Risk: In some cases, the belt for the power steering pump may become detached from the pulley which could result in a loss of power steering and a sudden increase in steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will check the crankshaft pulley to identify whether it was produced by the u.s. Supplier. If so, the dealer will replace the pulley with a new one at no charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during early january 2012. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
- NHTSA 11V112000Feb 24, 2011Engine769,379 vehicles
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 highlander, highlander hybrid, and model year 2004-2007 lexus rx330, rx350, and rx400h vehicles. If the forward retention clip used to secure the floor carpet cover, which is located in front of the center console, is not installed properly the cover may lean toward the accelerator pedal and interfere with the accelerator pedal arm.
Risk: If this occurs, the accelerator pedal may temporarily become stuck in a partially depressed position rather than return to the idle position. A stuck accelerator pedal may result in unintended and sustained vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the floor carpet cover with a newly designed one free or charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during march 2011. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
2005 Toyota Highlander fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 23 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,250
- 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.
2005 compared with other Highlander years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Toyota Highlander reliable?
- Compared to other Highlander model years, 2005 ranks well. It has a Complaint Index of 30, ranking 15th-worst of 21 years tracked, and carries a Good verdict.
- What problems does the 2005 Toyota Highlander have?
- NHTSA complaints point mainly to Transmission & Powertrain (51 complaints, 23% share) and Engine (50 complaints, 22% share) issues, followed by Electrical System and Steering complaints.
- Does the 2005 Toyota Highlander have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2005 Highlander, covering engine, brakes, structure/body, and other components. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2005 Highlander compare to other years?
- The 2005 model has a lower Complaint Index (30) than years like 2008 (80, Avoid), 2019 (95, Avoid), and 2021 (100, Avoid), making it one of the better years for reported problems.
- What is the median mileage for reported failures in the 2005 Highlander?
- Across all problem areas, median mileage at failure ranges from 47,500 miles for transmission issues to 84,000 miles for structure and body issues, with an overall median of 56,000 miles.