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    Toyota Highlander

    EPA MPG: 19 mpg

    RECALL ALERT:
    There are 3 recalls on this vehicle. Learn More.

    Reliability

    Overall Reliability

    We expect the 2025 Highlander will be more reliable than the average new car. This prediction is based on data from 2022, 2023 and 2024 models.

    The 2013 Toyota Highlander has been recalled 3 times by NHTSA. View Recalls
    Most Common Trouble Spots
    Common Trouble Spot
    Common Trouble Spot

    Owner Reported Trouble Spots

    The Reliability score is based on our latest subscriber survey of 2013 Toyota Highlander owners. The owner comments describe problems respondents experienced with this vehicle.

    Climate System

    AC compressor, blower (fan) motor, condenser, evaporator, heater system, automatic climate system, electrical failure, refrigerant leakage.

    What Owners Say

    A/C compressor

    "It started about 4/1/24. I immediately scheduled a service appointment."

    Anonymous, WA (2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.5-L V6)

    "It started about 4/1/24. I immediately scheduled a service appointment"

    Anonymous, WA (2013 Toyota Highlander SE 3.5-L V6)

    "A/C quit and it took about 4 trips to the shop to get fixed"

    Anonymous, MN (2013 Toyota Highlander Base 3.5-L V6)
    Refrigerant leaks

    "Corrosion on rear aluminum tubing going to rear condenser."

    Anonymous A., AB (2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.5-L V6)

    Paint And Trim

    Paint (fading, chalking, peeling, or cracking), loose interior or exterior trim or moldings, rust.

    What Owners Say

    Loose exterior trim or moldings

    "rear bumper cover not alligned/loose"

    Anonymous A., NJ (2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.5-L V6)

    "Bottom front passenger door trim panel fell off while driving. Found out it was made of plastic and only held on with plastic clips. Was easy but rather expensive to get it replaced."

    Anonymous, MD (2013 Toyota Highlander SE 3.5-L V6)
    Loose interior trim or moldings

    "Air leak in front drivers side door/window"

    Anonymous A., NJ (2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.5-L V6)

    Exhaust

    Muffler, pipes, catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, heat shields, leaks.

    What Owners Say

    Other/unsure

    "All of the wheels have started to corrode"

    Anonymous, WI (2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.5-L V6)

    "Had to replace water pump"

    Anonymous, WV (2013 Toyota Highlander SE 3.5-L V6)

    "Alternator died while driving and had to be replaced"

    Anonymous, AZ (2013 Toyota Highlander Base 3.5-L V6)

    Noises And Leaks

    Squeaks, rattles, wind noises, seals and/or weather stripping, air and water leaks.

    What Owners Say

    Air or water leaks

    "It appears that the drain in the sunroof travels down towards the driver side door and occasionally gets clogged. Unfortunately you don't realize it until a puddle appears in your vehicle underneath the rubber floor mats. So it could sit there for quite a while before you notice it potentially rusting out the floor to your vehicle."

    Anonymous A., PA (2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.5-L V6)

    "Water pools in drivers side floor after heavy rain.This seams to be a common problem with moonroof equipped Highlanders"

    Anonymous, (2013 Toyota Highlander SE 3.5-L V6)

    "Call we get frequent leaks from the sunroof in heavy rain. No problem seems to be from a drainage system from the sunroof that gets blocked. The dealer has flushed the drains several times but we still are having problems. The carpets get wet every time it rains. This seems to be a serious design flaw that is a common problem."

    Anonymous, PA (2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.5-L V6)

    Body Hardware

    Windows, locks and latches, doors or sliding doors, tailgate, trunk or hatch, mirrors, seat controls (power or manual), seat belts, sunroof, convertible top, glass defect.

    What Owners Say

    Seat belts

    "The seat belt in the back seat does not clip in. You have to hold the button to clip the seat belt. Toyota hasn't been able to fix it."

    Anonymous, YT (2013 Toyota Highlander Base 3.5-L V6)
    Windows

    "Door was hit by golf cart. Mechanics had problem with window tract. Still have a problem with opening & closing window."

    Anonymous A., PA (2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.5-L V6)

    Electrical Accessories

    Cruise control, clock, warning lights, body control module, keyless entry, wiper motor or washer, tire pressure monitor, interior or exterior lights, horn, gauges, 12V power plug, USB ports, alarm or security system, remote engine start, heated or cooled seats, heated steering wheel, headlights, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, wireless charging pad.

    What Owners Say

    12V battery

    "Battery goes dead for no known reason."

    Anonymous, MN (2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.5-L V6)
    Keyless entry

    "Keyless entry would not unlock front doors. Had to use the key or crawl in from the back seat."

    Anonymous A., SC (2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.5-L V6)

    In-car Electronics

    Infotainment system (audio, GPS, phone), rear entertainment system, backup or other camera/sensors, head-up display.

    What Owners Say

    External music device interface (e.g., smart phone, MP3 player)

    "All ways in which to play music and/or pair a phone (including physically connecting a USB wire or with bluetooth) have stopped functioning correctly. This has been a problem for the last 2 years / 30,000 miles. We have given up trying to figure it out."

    Anonymous, CO (2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.5-L V6)
    Phone pairing (e.g., Bluetooth)

    "There were bluetooth connection issues over the years that I was able to rrsearch and fix. However this year the issue is that bluetooth is shiwing connecting for phone and audio but only the phone connection is actually working. The audio for internet and music is not coming through. I surmise it is because toyota ceased supporting the older vrrsion of ENTUNE. When I upgraded the App, the problem began. Cant find a solution"

    Anonymous A., PA (2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.5-L V6)

    Steering And Suspension

    Shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage (includes rack and pinion), power steering (pumps and hoses, leaks), wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension.

    What Owners Say

    Shocks or struts

    "Had to replace front suspension due to rust. Previous owner did not maintain it properly."

    Anonymous A., AR (2013 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.5-L V6)

    Transmission Minor

    Gear selector and linkage, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, rough shifting, slipping transmission, leaks.

    What Owners Say

    Transmission leaks

    "was diagnosed on a 90 mile evaluation by Toyota. Mild leak and no problems with driving. Have frequent oil checkups and nothing needs to be fixed at this time"

    Anonymous, (2013 Toyota Highlander SE 2.7-L 4 Cyl)

    Engine Major

    Engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head, head gasket, turbocharger or supercharger, timing chain or belt.

    What Owners Say

    Other major engine problem

    "The oil leak was known to be a common one for this model. Repair cost was very high. Had to pull engine."

    Anonymous, MN (2013 Toyota Highlander Base 3.5-L V6)

    Transmission Major

    Transmission rebuild or replacement, torque converter, premature clutch replacement.

    Engine Electrical

    Alternator, starter, hybrid battery replacement, hybrid battery related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, spark plugs and wires failure, auto stop/start.

    Brakes

    Premature pad/rotor wear, pulsation or vibration, antilock system, parking brake, master cylinder, calipers, squeaking, brake failure, regenerative braking.

    Drive System

    Driveshaft or axle, CV joint, differential, transfer case, four-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive components, driveline vibration, electrical failure, traction control, electronic stability control.

    Engine Minor

    Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, fuel leaks, oil leaks.

    Engine Cooling

    Radiator, cooling fan, water pump, thermostat, antifreeze leaks, overheating.

    Fuel System/Emissions

    Sensors (O₂, or oxygen, sensor), emission-control devices (includes EGR), fuel-injection system, fuel gauge/sender, fuel pump, problems filling up the tank.

    2013 SUVs Reliability

    This Car
    vs. Similar Cars

    Toyota vs. Other New Car Brands Reliability

    Reliability History
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    Overall Reliability Verdict

    POTENTIAL TROUBLE SPOTS
    Powertrain
    Engine Major
    Engine Minor
    Engine Cooling
    Engine Electrical
    Transmission Major
    Transmission Minor
    Drive System
    Fuel System/Emissions
    Exhaust
    Steering and Suspension
    Brakes
    Climate System
    Build Quality
    Electrical Accessories
    Body Hardware
    Paint/Trim
    Noises/Leaks
    In-car Electronics
    Reliability indicates how models have performed in the past, providing the basis for predicting how the vehicles will hold up in the year ahead. These charts provide the most comprehensive reliability information available to consumers. Based on information received from our latest subscriber survey for over 300,000 vehicles, our reliability history charts give you a rundown on how 2000 through 2024 vehicles are holding up in 20 potential trouble spots, ranging from the engine, transmission, electric motor, EV charging, and brakes to power equipment and the electrical accessories. NA indicates that we did not receive a large enough sample size to provide data for a specific year. An X indicates that the vehicle was not manufactured for a specific year.
    Recalls
    PROVIDED BY
    SEATS
    Mar 27, 2014
    If the seat does not lock into the seat track, there may be an increased risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.
    Summary:
    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2013 Highlander vehicles manufactured March 13, 2013, through August 6, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the second row left hand seat may not lock in place when positioned in the forward front or second adjusting position. As such, the vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."
    What should you do:
    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will modify the second row left hand seat so that it will lock into the seat track, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
    For more information:
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
    NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 14V148000
    Potential Number of Units Affected: 46757
    EQUIPMENT
    Apr 09, 2013
    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.
    Summary:
    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."
    What should you do:
    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.
    For more information:
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
    NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 13V123000
    Potential Number of Units Affected: 7525
    AIR BAGS, SEATS
    Jan 16, 2013
    If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
    Summary:
    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
    What should you do:
    Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
    For more information:
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
    NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 13V014000
    Potential Number of Units Affected: 3235
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