YearToAvoid

2005 Toyota Highlander Steering Problems

NHTSA has 26 owner complaints about steering problems in the 2005 Toyota Highlander, 12% of all 224 complaints for this model year. That is #5 highest steering complaint count among 21 Highlander model years. These complaints report 2 crashes, 1 fire, and 2 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 55,000 miles.

Steering complaints
26
12% of 224
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
55,000 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2005 Toyota Highlander steering complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 14, 2006, latest Aug 11, 2016.

2005 Toyota Highlander steering complaints: complaints filed per month2Mar 2006Sep 2008Dec 2009Nov 2010Jun 2011Jun 2015Aug 2016
26 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2006 to Aug 2016; peak Feb 2010 (2).

Steering recalls for the 2005 Toyota Highlander

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Steering complaints by Highlander model year

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

  1. 200526 (12%)
  2. 200616 (6%)
  3. 20076 (5%)
  4. 200840 (10%)
  5. 200911 (8%)
  6. 201021 (10%)
  7. 201134 (19%)
  8. 201246 (25%)
  9. 201346 (22%)
  10. 20144 (3%)
  11. 201525 (13%)
  12. 20166 (5%)
  13. 20174 (1%)
  14. 201810 (4%)
  15. 20198 (2%)
  16. 20205 (2%)
  17. 20219 (2%)
  18. 20221 (0%)
  19. 20232 (1%)
  20. 20240 (0%)
  21. 20251 (10%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Toyota Highlander have steering problems?
NHTSA has 26 owner complaints about the steering in the 2005 Toyota Highlander, 12% of all complaints for this model year, including 2 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 55,000 miles.
Which Toyota Highlander year has the most steering complaints?
The 2012 Toyota Highlander has the most steering complaints (46), compared with 26 for the 2005.
Is there a steering recall for the 2005 Toyota Highlander?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2005 Toyota Highlander is classified under steering. 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.