Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2005 Toyota Highlander
NHTSA data on file today
The 2005 Toyota Highlander has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 224 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16V396000 Seat Heater Electrical Wiring NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V539000 CRANKSHAFT PULLEY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V112000 FLOOR CARPET COVER AND RETENTION CLIPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V499000 BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V035000 LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06V253000 CARPET INTERFERENCE WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 51 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 39 complaints
- Steering 26 complaints
- Electrical System 25 complaints
- Visibility 20 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 13 complaints
Of the 224 complaints on file, 35 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 224 complaints, owners report 20 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2005 Toyota Highlander has exhibited a mixed reliability record. While some recalls address crucial components like engine cooling and brakes, common complaints focus on powertrain and speed control issues. Overall, it maintains an average rating due to the wide range of concerns reported, mostly related to aging components typical in older vehicles, balanced against its robust Toyota heritage.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| powertrain | 90,000–120,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | common |
| vehicle speed control | 80,000–110,000 miles | $200–$600 | common |
| steering | 70,000–100,000 miles | $250–$750 | occasional |
| electrical system | 90,000–120,000 miles | $100–$500 | 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
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission fluid service
- Coolant flush
- Spark plugs replacement
- Timing belt inspection
- Tire rotations
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unresponsive accelerator pedal
- Braking delays
- Unusual steering noise
- Electrical malfunctions
- Powertrain vibrations
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2005 Toyota Highlander at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.