Representative model. Photo: IFCAR, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2010 Toyota Highlander recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2010 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 11
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 238
Latest campaign: Jun 2, 2016

Recall summary by component11

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Equipment	3	Apr 9, 2013	13V123000 10V035000 10V036000
Seats	2	Jun 2, 2016	16V396000 14V743000
Air bags	2	Apr 9, 2014	14V168000 13V014000
Vehicle speed control	2	Jan 27, 2010	10V023000 10V017000
Visibility	1	Oct 22, 2015	15V689000
Hybrid propulsion system	1	Sep 4, 2013	13V396000

Safety recalls11

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Jun 2, 2016Latest campaign


Jun 2, 201616V396000	Seats: front assembly seat heater/cooler If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 16V396000 What's wrong Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed. Risk If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. Remedy SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B. Filed under Highlander Campaign NHTSA 16V396000 · Jun 2, 2016
Oct 22, 201515V689000	Visibility: power window devices and controls If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may… DetailsHide details for campaign 15V689000 What's wrong Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts. Risk If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire. Remedy Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is C0M. Filed under Highlander, Highlander Hybrid Campaign NHTSA 15V689000 · Oct 22, 2015
Nov 19, 201414V743000	Seats: front assembly seat heater/cooler Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant. DetailsHide details for campaign 14V743000 What's wrong Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring. Risk Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant. Remedy SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. Filed under Highlander Campaign NHTSA 14V743000 · Nov 19, 2014
Apr 9, 201414V168000	Air bags: frontal driver side If the FFC is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated. DetailsHide details for campaign 14V168000 What's wrong Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, 2008-2010 Highlander, and 2009-2010 Tacoma, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and General Motors Pontiac Vibe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the steering column assembly contains electrical connections to the driver's airbag module housed in a spiral cable assembly, which includes a Flexible Flat Cable (FFC). Due to the shape and location of the FFC's retainer, the FFC could become damaged when the steering wheel is turned. Risk If the FFC is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated. The failure of the driver's air bag to deploy in the event of a crash that typically necessitates deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver. Remedy Toyota will notify the Toyota vehicle owners, and General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Toyota sent owners an interim notification letter in May 2014 to advise owners of the recall. Toyota will mail owners a second letter when remedy parts are available. General Motors sent Pontiac Vibe owners an Interim letter on June 20, 2014 notifying them that parts are currently unavailable. General Motors sent notices to the Pontiac Vibe owners on September 15, 2014, that a remedy is available. The recall began on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-762-2737. Filed under Highlander Campaign NHTSA 14V168000 · Apr 9, 2014
Sep 4, 201313V396000	Hybrid propulsion system: inverter The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. DetailsHide details for campaign 13V396000 What's wrong Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured February 16, 2005, through July 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008 Lexus RX400h vehicles manufactured February 23, 2005, through December 2, 2008. The Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module may contain transistors that have higher operating temperatures than the solder can support and the transistors may be heat damaged by the solder. If this occurs, various warning lamps, including the malfunction indicator lamp, slip indicator light, brake system warning light, and master warning light, will be illuminated on the instrument panel. Risk The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. It is possible that the hybrid system will shut down while the vehicle is being driven, causing the vehicle to stall unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the IPM free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicles that had their IPM replaced under recall 11V-342 are not affected by this campaign. Filed under Highlander Hybrid Campaign NHTSA 13V396000 · Sep 4, 2013
Apr 9, 201313V123000	Equipment: other labels An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. DetailsHide details for campaign 13V123000 What's wrong Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." Risk An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage. Remedy Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859. Filed under Highlander, Highlander Hybrid Campaign NHTSA 13V123000 · Apr 9, 2013

Merged from NHTSA model names: Highlander, Highlander Hybrid. Not every vehicle of a model year is affected by every campaign.

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Toyota recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2010 Toyota Highlander? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component238

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

238Complaints filed

19Involving a crash

2Involving a fire

15Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Electrical system	55	23	1	2	2
Service brakes	36	15	5	0	0
Visibility/wiper	31	13	0	0	0
Vehicle speed control	23	10	7	0	3
Steering	23	10	1	0	0
Unknown or other	18	8	2	0	0
Engine	15	6	1	1	0
Structure	15	6	2	1	0
Air bags	14	6	8	0	11
Exterior lighting	12	5	0	0	0
Visibility	12	5	0	0	0
Power train	6	3	0	0	0
Electronic stability control (ESC)	6	3	0	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	4	2	1	0	0
Wheels	4	2	0	0	0

14 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number, merged from NHTSA model names Highlander, Highlander Hybrid.

Latest reports

Fuel/propulsion system
“My car all of a sudden went into limp mode while driving on the 91 freeway with my kids in the car on may 21 2026.”
Filed 05/28/2026 · ODI 11740752
Electrical system
“When applying the brake slowly all of a sudden the car went full acceleration and crashed 500ft away at high speed.”
Filed 03/05/2026 · ODI 11722240
Electrical system
“The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the gear shifter had been stuck on several occasions.”
Filed 12/23/2025 · ODI 11706861

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2010 Toyota Highlander recall questions

How many recalls does the 2010 Toyota Highlander have?

NHTSA lists 11 safety recall campaigns for the 2010 Toyota Highlander. The most recent, 16V396000 (reported June 2, 2016), concerns seats. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2010 Toyota Highlander recalls for?

The largest group is equipment, with 3 campaigns. Others: seats (2), air bags (2), vehicle speed control (2). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2010 Toyota Highlander?

Electrical system is the most-reported component, named in 55 complaints out of 238 filed with NHTSA (23%). Across all complaints, owners reported 19 crashs and 2 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2010 Toyota Highlander?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Toyota recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Toyota dealer.

Check a specific Toyota by VIN

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