YearToAvoid

2008 Toyota Highlander Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA has 18 owner complaints about transmission problems in the 2008 Toyota Highlander, 4% of all 404 complaints for this model year. That is #10 highest transmission complaint count among 21 Highlander model years. These complaints report 2 crashes and 2 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 12,000 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
18
4% of 404
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
12,000 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2008 Toyota Highlander transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 15, 2008, latest Feb 2, 2018.

2008 Toyota Highlander transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month4Apr 2008Jul 2009Mar 2010May 2010Jul 2013Jun 2014
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2008 to Feb 2018; peak Feb 2010 (4).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2008 Toyota Highlander

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Highlander model year

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

  1. 200551 (23%)
  2. 200622 (8%)
  3. 20078 (7%)
  4. 200818 (4%)
  5. 20097 (5%)
  6. 20106 (3%)
  7. 201116 (9%)
  8. 20127 (4%)
  9. 201311 (5%)
  10. 20148 (6%)
  11. 20157 (4%)
  12. 20161 (1%)
  13. 201773 (27%)
  14. 201865 (25%)
  15. 2019195 (40%)
  16. 2020125 (40%)
  17. 2021222 (43%)
  18. 202253 (21%)
  19. 202320 (11%)
  20. 20243 (7%)
  21. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Toyota Highlander have transmission problems?
NHTSA has 18 owner complaints about the transmission in the 2008 Toyota Highlander, 4% of all complaints for this model year, including 2 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 12,000 miles.
Which Toyota Highlander year has the most transmission complaints?
The 2021 Toyota Highlander has the most transmission complaints (222), compared with 18 for the 2008.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2008 Toyota Highlander?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 Toyota Highlander is classified under transmission & powertrain. 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.