2013 Toyota Highlander: recalls, complaints & known problems

Every safety recall and owner complaint on record for the 2013 Toyota Highlander, straight from the U.S. government's NHTSA database — so you know what you're buying before you message the seller.

High caution

Serious warning signs on record for this year — proceed carefully.

3Safety recalls
210Owner complaints
5Problem patterns
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Safety recalls

3 recalls on record. Recall repairs are free at the dealer — ask if they were done.

Seats
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2013 Highlander vehicles manufactured March 13, 2013, through August 6, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the second row left hand seat may not lock in place when positioned in the forward front or seco
Equipment:Other:Labels
Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 20
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-inactive
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ

Most-reported problems

Recurring failures owners filed with NHTSA for this model year:

Stalling / loss of power while driving — 8 owner complaints
Brake problems — 3 owner complaints
Overheating / coolant problems — 3 owner complaints
Excessive oil consumption — 3 owner complaints
Airbag warnings / non-deployment — 3 owner complaints

Complaints by area

Which parts of the car owners complain about most:

Steering
46
Engine
31
Vehicle Speed Control
31
Electrical System
25
Unknown Or Other
24
Structure
19

Is 2013 the bad year? Complaints by model year

Sometimes the same car one year newer or older has a far cleaner record. Complaint volume across the Toyota Highlander years we track (click a year for its full report):

2013 ◀ this
210
2014
133
2015
186
2016
109
2017
259
2018
254
2019
0

Newer years have had less time on the road to accumulate complaints.

Frequently asked

How many recalls does the 2013 Toyota Highlander have?

The 2013 Toyota Highlander has 3 NHTSA safety recalls on record. Recall repairs are performed free of charge at franchised dealers — always ask the seller whether the recall work was completed.

How reliable is the 2013 Toyota Highlander?

NHTSA has 210 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Toyota Highlander. The most-reported issues are stalling / loss of power while driving, brake problems, overheating / coolant problems. Compare it against nearby model years above.

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Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA.gov). Informational only — not mechanical or purchase advice. Always inspect the vehicle and test drive before buying.