Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns and 197 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #15V689000 Power Window Master Switch may Melt NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V396000 Inverter Failure may cause Hybrid Vehicle to Stall NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V491000 Power Window Master Switch may Melt NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V245000 INADVERTENT SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V223000 INCORRECT GVWR LABELS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E028000 AFTERMARKET STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST TIPS/CLAMP NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E022000 AFTERMARKET STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST TIPS/CLAMP NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V181000 FMVSS 208/THIRD ROW REAR SEAT BELTS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Service Brakes 94 complaints
- Electrical System 35 complaints
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 25 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 18 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 14 complaints
- Power Train 11 complaints
Of the 197 complaints on file, 6 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 197 complaints, owners report 5 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has an average reliability rating due to frequent complaints about the brakes and electrical systems. While some issues, like the inverter module, are the focus of recalls, these highlight potential costly repairs. Despite these, its maintenance costs remain fairly manageable.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| service brakes | 60,000–100,000 miles | $400–$800 | very common |
| electrical system | 50,000–90,000 miles | $300–$600 | common |
| hybrid inverter | 80,000–120,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | occasional |
| vehicle speed control | 70,000–110,000 miles | $350–$700 | 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 and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Replace brake fluid every 30,000 miles
- Inspect hybrid battery annually
- Replace air filter every 15,000 miles
- Coolant replacement every 50,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Brake pedal becomes spongy
- Dashboard warning lights on
- Reduced hybrid power output
- Unusual noises from powertrain
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.