Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2013 Toyota Highlander
NHTSA data on file today
The 2013 Toyota Highlander has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 207 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #14V148000 Second Row Seat Assembly/FMVSS 207 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V123000 Inaccurate Load Carrying Capacity Labels NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V014000 Occupant Sensing System Calibration NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 46 complaints
- Engine 32 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 31 complaints
- Electrical System 26 complaints
- Unknown or Other 23 complaints
- Structure 18 complaints
Of the 207 complaints on file, 26 report a crash; across all 207 complaints, owners report 12 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2013 Toyota Highlander has an average reliability rating, supported by moderate complaint counts and three recall campaigns. Frequent issues are seen in steering, engine, and vehicle speed control systems. Although the data is not extensive, the pattern of complaints suggests attention to these areas is advisable.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering system | 60,000–90,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | common |
| engine | 70,000–100,000 miles | $1,000–$4,000 | common |
| vehicle speed control | 50,000–90,000 miles | $300–$800 | 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 changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Tire rotations and balance
- Air filter replacement
- Coolant replacement
- Spark plug replacement
- Transmission fluid change
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering wheel vibration
- Engine knocking sounds
- Delayed acceleration
- Airbag warning light
- Unusual brake noise
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2013 Toyota Highlander at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.