Is the 2023 Toyota Highlander a bad year?
190 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Highlander years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2023 Toyota Highlander are in line with other Highlander years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2023 Highlander owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 80,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 32 (17%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 28 (15%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 21 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 21 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 20 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 17 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 12 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 12 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 80,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 190 complaints: 12 mention a crash · 11 report an injury · 10 say the car was towed.
73 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2023 Toyota Highlander: 9
The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment. A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Due to an error in the instrument panel software at vehicle startup, the instrument panel may fail to display vehicle speed, brake system, and tire pressure warning lights. An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. A deactivated driver's air bag will not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values. A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
The 20-inch accessory tires with an insufficient load rating for the vehicle's Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) were installed. Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
The installed tires have an insufficient load rating. Tires with an insufficient load rating may be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching. A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. A deactivated driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 57
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2023 Toyota Highlander. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Technical instructions for special service campaign 24TC05 malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) is on with DTC P05CE00 software update certain 2023 & 2024…
Non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 - 2025 model year Toyota vehicles
Some vehicles may exhibit a MIL ON condition with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P05CE00 (Cold Start - B
Some vehicles may exhibit a leak from the engine water pump, and/or MIL On condition accompanied by DTC(s): P26CA14 Engine Coolant Pump Circuit Short to Ground…
Neighbouring years
2022 Highlander: 264 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2024 Highlander: 43 complaints, keep it.
Every Toyota Highlander year
2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Highlander years side by side
Other Toyota models: Toyota 4Runner · Toyota Avalon · Toyota C-HR · Toyota Camry · Toyota Camry Hybrid · Toyota Camry Solara · Toyota Celica · Toyota Corolla · Toyota Corolla Cross · Toyota Corolla Matrix · Toyota Echo · Toyota FJ Cruiser · Toyota Grand Highlander · Toyota Highlander Hybrid · Toyota Matrix · Toyota Prius · Toyota Prius c · Toyota Prius v · Toyota RAV4 · Toyota RAV4 Hybrid · Toyota RAV4 Prime · Toyota Sequoia · Toyota Sienna · Toyota Sienna Hybrid · Toyota Tacoma · Toyota Tundra · Toyota Venza · Toyota Venza Hybrid · Toyota Yaris. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2023 Toyota Highlander a bad year?
190 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Highlander years. At 80,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Toyota Highlander?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: body structure (32), engine (28), brakes (21), seats (21), transmission and drivetrain (20).
How many recalls does the 2023 Toyota Highlander have?
9 recall campaigns list this model year: Seats (NHTSA 26V-128), Backup camera (NHTSA 25V-744), Electrical system (NHTSA 25V-595), Steering (NHTSA 25V-040) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.