YearToAvoid

2009 Toyota Highlander Engine Problems

NHTSA has 41 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2009 Toyota Highlander, 31% of all 134 complaints for this model year. That is #8 highest engine complaint count among 21 Highlander model years. These complaints report 3 crashes, 4 fires, and 2 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 60,000 miles.

Engine complaints
41
31% of 134
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
60,000 mi
Related recalls
1

When 2009 Toyota Highlander engine complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 16, 2009, latest Nov 4, 2022.

2009 Toyota Highlander engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Nov 2009Apr 2010Oct 2012Aug 2013Sep 2015Nov 2016Jun 2019Sep 2020
41 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2009 to Nov 2022; peak Jan 2010 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2009 Toyota Highlander

  1. NHTSA 10V023000Jan 27, 2010Engine1,126,915 vehicles

    Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal

    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 highlander, model year 2009-2010 corolla, venza and matrix passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat. This recall is an expansion of a campaign of 3.8 million other toyota vehicles announced in 2009 for the same issue (see 09v-388).

    Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Toyota will modify or replace the accelerator pedals on the subject vehicles. Floor surface modifications are also being considered and will be included for any model for which it is deemed appropriate. Initially, dealers will be instructed on how to reshape the accelerator pedal for the repair. As replacement parts with the same shape as the modified pedal become available, they will be made available to the dealers for the repair. Customers who have had the pedal reshape remedy completed will have the opportunity to receive a new pedal if they desire, after replacement pedals become available. In addition, toyota will replace any toyota all-weather floor mat in a subject vehicle with a newly designed mat, free of charge. For those customers who have the previous design all-weather floor mat but do not need or want the newly designed all-weather floor mat, toyota will recover the previous design all-weather floor mat and reimburse its price. The safety recall began march 30, 2010. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Engine complaints by Highlander model year

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

  1. 200550 (22%)
  2. 200683 (30%)
  3. 200724 (20%)
  4. 2008121 (30%)
  5. 200941 (31%)
  6. 201036 (17%)
  7. 201133 (18%)
  8. 201231 (17%)
  9. 201358 (28%)
  10. 20148 (6%)
  11. 201521 (11%)
  12. 201613 (12%)
  13. 201758 (22%)
  14. 201840 (15%)
  15. 201982 (17%)
  16. 202025 (8%)
  17. 202150 (10%)
  18. 202217 (7%)
  19. 202332 (18%)
  20. 20246 (14%)
  21. 20254 (40%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Toyota Highlander have engine problems?
NHTSA has 41 owner complaints about the engine in the 2009 Toyota Highlander, 31% of all complaints for this model year, including 3 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 60,000 miles.
Which Toyota Highlander year has the most engine complaints?
The 2008 Toyota Highlander has the most engine complaints (121), compared with 41 for the 2009.
Is there a engine recall for the 2009 Toyota Highlander?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for the 2009 Toyota Highlander concerns the engine: 10V023000.

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.