Model year

2001 Toyota Highlander

NHTSA lists 3 recalls and 137 complaints for the 2001 Toyota Highlander (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). The components listed on the most complaints are VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (14), VISIBILITY (12), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (9). NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 18–22 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $3,050–$3,700, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.

ABOUT THIS DATA

Recalls

04V181000 · Apr 15, 2004

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE A CHILD PROTECTION LOCK (CPL) SYSTEM ON BOTH OF THE REAR SIDE DOORS. WHEN AN OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE CLOSES THE DOOR VERY HARD WITH THE CPL LEVER SET TO THE LOCK POSITION, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE LEVER MAY CONTACT THE BODY PANEL,…

02V208000 · Jul 30, 2002

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING

ON SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THERE IS A BREATHER HOSE THAT ATTACHES TO THE NOZZLE OF THE ON-BOARD REFUELING VAPOR RECOVERY (ORVR) VALVE, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE TOPSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE BREATHER HOSE IS ATTACHED WITH A CLAMP, WHOSE "TABS" FACE IN THE UPWARD DIRECTION. WHEN…

01V228000 · Jul 5, 2001

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTIITY VEHICLES. THE RESERVOIR FILLER CAP OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY INDUCE A VACUUM, INTRODUCING SOME AIR INTO THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. THIS COULD CAUSE ABNORMAL BRAKE NOISE AND INCREASED PEDAL STROKE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

Complaints

137 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 19, fire flag on 2, injury field 11, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.

  1. VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL14
  2. VISIBILITY12
  3. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING9
  4. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION9
  5. STRUCTURE:BODY9
  6. AIR BAGS6
  7. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE6
  8. SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER6
  9. TIRES6
  10. AIR BAGS:FRONTAL4

Investigations

No investigations are matched to this name.

Safety ratings

NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.

Fuel economy

EPA configurations. Electric rows show MPGe in the combined column and kWh/100 mi separately. Annual fuel cost is EPA's published fuelCost08 figure.
ConfigurationFuelCityHwyCombkWh/100 miRangeAnnual fuel cost
Highlander 2WD · 2.4L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel DriveRegular Gasoline192522——$3,050
Highlander 2WD · 3L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel DriveRegular Gasoline172118——$3,700
Highlander 4WD · 2.4L · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegular Gasoline172219——$3,550
Highlander 4WD · 3L · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegular Gasoline162118——$3,700

Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.

Check a vehicle

This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2001 Toyota Highlander at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.

All Toyota Highlander model years