2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical250.0%
- Engine125.0%
- Interior & seats125.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENTUNE SYSTEM CRASHING AND REBOOTING AT VARIOUS TIMES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENTUNE SYSTEM SCREEN FROZE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, AND SITTING IDLE IN TRAFFIC. THE SCREEN WOULD GO DARK AND RESET THE SYSTEM WHEN THE NAVIGATION FEATURE WAS IN USE WHETHER THE RADIO WAS ON OR OFF. IT WOULD LOSE THE NAVIGATION ROUTE. THE SCREEN WOULD LOOP BETWEEN THE TOYOTA SCREEN AND THE WELCOME SCREEN 3-4 TIMES THEN RESETS WITH THE DEFAULT SETTINGS. THE ENTUNE SYSTEM REBOOTED WHEN THE RADIO WAS ON AND NAVIGATION WAS OFF. WHEN THE RADIO WAS ON THE SOUND TURNED OFF THEN AFTER IT REBOOTED, THE RADIO TURNED BACK ON WITH THE SAME STATION. DURING THE FAILURES NO CELLPHONE OR BLUETOOTH IS CONNECTED TO THE SYSTEM. UPDATED 03/23/2017 *JS
THE HATCH CONTINUES TO FAIL EVEN AFTER THEY REPLACED "DEFECTIVE" PART. THE BATTERIES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY HAD FAILED. ON 3/2/17 I WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVER SEAT WITH THE CAR IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND SUDDENLY THE DRIVER SEAT MOVED ALL THE WAY FORWARD, THEN THE BACK STRAIGHTENED COMPLETELY AND THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ADJUSTED ALL THE WAY UP. I PLACED A CALL TO THE DEALERSHIP AT 2:51PM, WAS TOLD I'D GET A CALL BACK. I DROVE THE CAR HOME WITH MY ADULT DAUGHTER. RADIO WAS OFF. WHEN I WAS STOPPED IN EITHER TRAFFIC OR A LIGHT WE COULD HEAR A MOTOR TRYING TO START. I MADE IT HOME SAFELY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT SINCE THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. THEY RETURNED THE CAR TO ME WITHOUT ANY DOCUMENTATION OF A COMPLAINT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I UNKNOWINGLY FAILED TO TURN OFF MY CAR LAST NIGHT. IT HAS A KEYLESS IGNITION (FOB) AND SETS OFF AN ALARM WHEN LEFT ON. UNFORTUNATELY, LAST NIGHT MY HUSBAND ARRIVED HOME AT THE SAME TIME AND BETWEEN 2 GARAGE DOORS CLOSING AND EXCITED, BARKING DOGS I DIDN'T HEAR THE ALARM. WE WENT TO BED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. MY HUSBAND WOKE UP VERY EARLY AND HEARD OUR CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR GOING OFF IN THE GARAGE. WHEN HE OPENED THE DOOR HE DISCOVERED IT WAS VERY HOT AND THE DETECTOR WAS REGISTERING HIGH LEVELS OF CM. HE OPENED THE GARAGE DOORS AND WINDOWS IN THE HOUSE. I HAVE SINCE RESEARCHED THIS. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE DIED UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. I FEEL LUCKY. THE CAR IS A HYBRID SO IT WAS ALTERNATING ALL NIGHT BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE BATTERY. WE ALSO HAD A CM DETECTOR IN THE GARAGE WHICH IS NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURERS NEED TO HAVE AN AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF FOR THE KEYLESS SYSTEMS OR MANY MORE INNOCENT PEOPLE WILL DIE. PLEASE FIX THIS NOW.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AN ISSUE WITH THE AMBIENT LIGHTING GOING OUT. *LD *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .