NHTSA vehicle safety data

2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 22 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Toyota dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid owner complaints

Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, describing incidents dated December 17, 2009 to June 23, 2019.

Most-cited components

  • Service Brakes 6 complaints
  • Engine 4 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 3 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 3 complaints
  • Electrical System 2 complaints
  • Steering 2 complaints

Of the 22 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 22 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11228964 · Filed

    THE HYBRID INVERTER FAILED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT. A LOUD CLUNK WAS HEARD AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF THE ROAD. "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" WARNING FLASHED. CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO CONFIRMED…

  • ODI #11191154 · Filed

    ALL DOORS AND HATCH DO NOT LOCK WITH THE KEY FOB OR WITH THE POWER LOCKS ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DOORS.

  • ODI #11145191 · Filed

    ABS - CODE -1391,THIS IS SECOND TIME,FIRST TIME(2016) WAS CHANGED THIS PART -44510-48080

Read all 22 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid in 3 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Power Window Master Switch may Melt

NHTSA #15V689000 · Visibility — Power Window Devices and Controls · NHTSA notice

Reported October 22, 2015 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 1,814,284 vehicles

Repair completion: 45.68% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Toyota campaign C0M · Owners notified November 25, 2015 · Vehicles built August 1, 2008 – December 31, 2010 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Inverter Failure may cause Hybrid Vehicle to Stall

NHTSA #13V396000 · Hybrid Propulsion System — Inverter · NHTSA notice

Reported September 4, 2013 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 133,081 vehicles

Toyota campaign DLF, D0M · Owners notified November 4, 2013 · Vehicles built February 16, 2005 – July 29, 2010 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured February 16, 2005, through July 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008 Lexus RX400h vehicles manufactured February 23, 2005, through December 2, 2008. The Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module may contain transistors that have higher operating temperatures than the solder can support and the transistors may be heat damaged by the solder. If this occurs, various warning lamps, including the malfunction indicator lamp, slip indicator light, brake system warning light, and master warning light, will be illuminated on the instrument panel.

Safety consequence

The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. It is possible that the hybrid system will shut down while the vehicle is being driven, causing the vehicle to stall unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the IPM free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicles that had their IPM replaced under recall 11V-342 are not affected by this campaign.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Inaccurate Load Carrying Capacity Labels

NHTSA #13V123000 · Equipment — Other — Labels · NHTSA notice

Reported April 9, 2013 · Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

Potentially affected: 7,525 vehicles

Owners notified May 28, 2013

Defect description

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, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Safety consequence

An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.

Manufacturer remedy

Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Occupant Sensing System Calibration

NHTSA #13V014000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Sensor/Control Module-Inactive · NHTSA notice

Reported January 16, 2013 · Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

Potentially affected: 3,235 vehicles

Owners notified March 21, 2013

Defect description

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 Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Safety consequence

If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Manufacturer remedy

Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Toyota Highlander Hybrid model years

Check your 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Toyota Highlander Hybrid at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Toyota VIN