YearToAvoid

2008 Toyota Highlander Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2008 Toyota Highlander has a Complaint Index of 80, the 5th-worst among 21 model years, and carries an Avoid verdict. Engine complaints (121, 30% of all complaints) and unintended acceleration reports dominate, backed by 11 recall campaigns including one for airbag sensors.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
80/100
#5 of 21 Highlander years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
404
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
11
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
44
reported in complaints
Fires
14
Injuries
42
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2014
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19.5
17.5 city / 23.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
42 / 2

Top 2008 Toyota Highlander problems

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

  1. Engine121 (30%)
  2. Brakes88 (22%)
  3. Airbags57 (14%)
  4. Electrical System47 (12%)
  5. Steering40 (10%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires36 (9%)
  7. Other27 (7%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain18 (4%)
  9. Structure & Body16 (4%)
  10. Fuel System15 (4%)

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 while parking or backing up, sometimes ending in a collision with a wall or garage.
  • Some report the vehicle continued to accelerate even after braking, requiring them to steer into obstacles to stop.
  • Several describe the anti-skid braking system engaging prematurely, reducing braking power when needed.
  • One report describes airbags failing to deploy despite significant frame damage in a rear-end collision.
  • A driver reported the vehicle catching fire after leaving the road and being struck by a semi truck.
2008 Toyota Highlander complaints: complaints filed per quarter402007 Q42010 Q12012 Q22014 Q32016 Q42019 Q22021 Q32024 Q1
404 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2007 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2010 Q1 (40).

2008 Toyota Highlander recalls

11 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 15V689000Oct 22, 2015Visibility & Wipers1,814,284 vehicles

    Visibility:power window devices and controls

    Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.

    Risk: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is C0M.

  3. 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.

See all 11 recalls for the 2008 Toyota Highlander →

2008 Toyota Highlander fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
23.5 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.

2008 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
2006Caution55277719.5
2007Good5123419.5
2008Avoid804041119.5
2009Caution35134920
2010Caution602161020

All Toyota Highlander years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Toyota Highlander reliable?
Compared to other Highlander years, the 2008 ranks poorly. Its Complaint Index of 80 is the 5th-worst of 21 model years, and NHTSA lists 404 complaints with 11 recall campaigns for this year.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Highlander?
Engine issues are the top complaint area, accounting for 121 complaints, or 30% of all reports, with a median failure mileage of 80,578 miles.
Does the 2008 Highlander have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2008 Highlander, covering airbags, structure and body components, and visibility/wiper switches, among others.
How does the 2008 Highlander compare to other years?
The 2008 model year has a Complaint Index of 80 and an Avoid verdict, worse than years like 2007 (index 5, Good) and 2014 (index 10, Best), but slightly better than 2021 (index 100, Avoid).
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Highlander?
EPA rates the 2008 Highlander at 19.5 mpg combined (17.5 city / 23.5 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.