Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
NHTSA data on file today
The 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 370 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #13V396000 Inverter Failure may cause Hybrid Vehicle to Stall NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V539000 CRANKSHAFT PULLEY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V342000 INVERTER ASSEMBLY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V112000 FLOOR CARPET COVER AND RETENTION CLIPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V223000 INCORRECT GVWR LABELS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06V253000 CARPET INTERFERENCE WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Service Brakes 76 complaints
- Electrical System 74 complaints
- Hybrid Propulsion System 45 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 42 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 33 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 28 complaints
Of the 370 complaints on file, 34 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 370 complaints, owners report 10 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,500–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid faces significant issues with its hybrid propulsion system, electrical components, and engine cooling, reflected in recalls and complaints. The high cost and frequency of these failures lead to a below-average rating for reliability and ownership costs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| hybrid inverter | 70,000–100,000 miles | $2,500–$4,000 | common |
| brake system | 50,000–90,000 miles | $800–$1,500 | common |
| electrical system | 60,000–100,000 miles | $300–$1,200 | occasional |
| engine cooling | 80,000–110,000 miles | $400–$1,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- oil changes every 5,000 miles
- replace air filter every 15,000 miles
- inspect brakes annually
- replace spark plugs every 60,000 miles
- coolant flush every 30,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- unresponsive hybrid system
- brake warning lights
- overheating engine
- irregular electrical issues
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.