YearToAvoid

2006 Toyota Highlander Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2006 Toyota Highlander has 277 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 55, ranking 10th worst out of 21 model years and earning a Caution verdict. Brakes (39% of complaints) and unintended acceleration reports in the Engine category (30%) are the main concerns, plus 7 recall campaigns.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
55/100
#10 of 21 Highlander years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
277
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
7
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
29
reported in complaints
Fires
4
Injuries
30
Top issue
Brakes
Best nearby year
2014
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19.5
17.5 city / 23 hwy
Injuries / deaths
30 / 1

Top 2006 Toyota Highlander problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes107 (39%)
  2. Engine83 (30%)
  3. Electrical System33 (12%)
  4. Visibility & Wipers24 (9%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain22 (8%)
  6. Steering16 (6%)
  7. Fuel System13 (5%)
  8. Airbags12 (4%)
  9. Other11 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration or lurching forward while parking or braking at low speed, sometimes ending in a collision.
  • Several reports describe brakes failing to engage or the vehicle failing to stop despite constant brake pressure, in some cases followed by a crash.
  • Some owners report the steering wheel locking up when brakes were applied during an emergency stop.
  • Multiple complaints describe side/curtain airbags failing to deploy during side-impact crashes at highway or urban speeds.
  • One owner noted hesitation in gear shifting and lunging when releasing the brake pedal shortly after purchase.
2006 Toyota Highlander complaints: complaints filed per quarter252005 Q32008 Q12010 Q32013 Q22016 Q12019 Q22022 Q12025 Q2
277 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2010 Q1 (25).

2006 Toyota Highlander recalls

7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 14V743000Nov 19, 2014Structure & Body3,233 vehicles

    Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

    Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.

    Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

  3. 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.

See all 7 recalls for the 2006 Toyota Highlander →

2006 Toyota Highlander fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
23 MPG
Combined
19.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,325
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.

2006 compared with other Highlander 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
2005Good30224620
2006Caution55277719.5
2007Good5123419.5
2008Avoid804041119.5

All Toyota Highlander years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Toyota Highlander reliable?
NHTSA lists 277 complaints for the 2006 Highlander, giving it a complaint index of 55 and a Caution verdict based on owner complaints and recalls, ranking 10th worst among 21 model years.
What problems does the 2006 Toyota Highlander have?
Brakes account for 39% of complaints with a median failure mileage of 95,135 miles, and Engine issues (including unintended acceleration reports) account for 30%, with a median failure mileage of 63,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2006 Highlander covering brakes, engine floor carpet clips, seat heaters, and tire label compliance, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2006 Highlander compare to other years?
The 2006 model's complaint index of 55 is worse than 2005 (30), 2007 (5), 2011 (25), 2012 (40), 2013 (45), 2014 (10), and 2016 (15), all of which earned Good or Best verdicts, but better than 2008, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, which are rated Avoid.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Toyota Highlander?
The EPA rates the 2006 Highlander at 19.5 mpg combined (17.5 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,325.

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.