2013 Toyota Highlander Steering Problems

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

46Steering complaints

22.4%Of all 205 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 steering ranks on this vehicle

STEERING46 · 22.4%

ENGINE31 · 15.1%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL31 · 15.1%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM25 · 12.2%

Unspecified / other23 · 11.2%

Share of the 205 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2013 Toyota Highlander overview page.

What owners report

“THIS VEHICLE HAS A KNOCKING OR CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ON TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS BUT TOYOTA IS NOT…”NHTSA complaint 11076279 — filed 03/05/2018

“THE VEHICLE HAS AROUND 37K MILES AND STARTED TO GET A BUMP OR THUD SOUND WHEN TURNING TO RIGHT AND TURNING OVER ALL BEGIN TO…”NHTSA complaint 11075061 — filed 02/26/2018

“THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. MY MECHANIC SAYS THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE STEERING SHAFT. HE…”NHTSA complaint 11072265 — filed 02/12/2018

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

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Toyota Highlander have steering problems?

Steering is the most-reported problem area on the 2013 Toyota Highlander: 46 of 205 complaints on file (22.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2013 Toyota Highlander have in total?

205 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 26 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, 12 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING 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.