2009 Toyota Highlander Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

23Engine complaints

17.2%Of all 134 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE23 · 17.2%

SERVICE BRAKES21 · 15.7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19 · 14.2%

STEERING11 · 8.2%

STRUCTURE:BODY11 · 8.2%

Share of the 134 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2009 Toyota Highlander overview page.

What owners report

“3 TIMES OVER THE LAST MONTH, WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. ALL…”NHTSA complaint 11376111 — filed 11/24/2020

“BRIEF ENGINE KNOCK/RATTLE NOISE AT COLD STARTUP (1AR2AR) VDS(S):DA41A,ZA3EH WM(S)5TD”NHTSA complaint 11353224 — filed 09/04/2020

“OIL COOLER CONNECTED TO ENGINE BLOCK WITH A RUBBER HOSE. HOSE FAILED WITH OIL LEAK WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF ENGINE OIL. CAR TOWED AND REPAIRED…”NHTSA complaint 11339363 — filed 07/14/2020

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Toyota Highlander have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2009 Toyota Highlander: 23 of 134 complaints on file (17.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2009 Toyota Highlander have in total?

134 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 6 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 9 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.