YearToAvoid

2011 Toyota Highlander Steering Problems

NHTSA lists 34 steering complaints for the 2011 Toyota Highlander, 19% of its 181 total complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 85,000. No related recall exists for this issue.

Steering complaints
34
19% of 181
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
85,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical steering symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe a clunking or knocking noise from the intermediate steering shaft when turning left or right, often worse at slow speeds or over bumps.
  • Several drivers report sudden loss of power steering assist while turning at highway or city speeds, making the wheel abruptly hard or unexpectedly easy to turn.
  • Some complaints describe the steering wheel turning without the front wheels responding, causing the vehicle to drift out of its lane.
  • A few owners report the noise or stiffness getting progressively louder or worse over time, with dealers identifying the intermediate steering shaft as the cause.
  • One complaint links a power steering loss episode to simultaneous speedometer and dash light malfunctions.

When 2011 Toyota Highlander steering complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 10, 2011, latest Dec 17, 2022.

2011 Toyota Highlander steering complaints: complaints filed per month4Nov 2011Sep 2012Jan 2018Dec 2018Mar 2019Sep 2019Feb 2020Dec 2021
34 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2011 to Dec 2022; peak Dec 2018 (4).

Steering recalls for the 2011 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

How common are steering problems on the 2011 Toyota Highlander?
NHTSA lists 34 steering complaints for the 2011 Highlander, which is 19% of the 181 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Toyota Highlander steering issue?
No. NHTSA shows no related recalls tied to this steering complaint pattern for the 2011 Highlander.
At what mileage do steering problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this steering issue is 85,000 miles.
What is the main steering complaint owners describe?
The most repeated pattern is a clunking or knocking noise from the intermediate steering shaft when turning, along with some reports of temporary loss of power steering assist.
Did the steering issue cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records show 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries linked to these steering complaints for the 2011 Highlander.

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.