2008 Toyota Highlander

This page is a draft. It has not been approved yet, so read it with care.

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

Rattle from the V6 at cold start 2008

What to check: Start it from cold and listen for a knock or rattle in the first seconds.

Seven owners of 2008s on one CarComplaints.com page report a knock or rattle at start-up. Two put it down to the variable valve timing parts, and the page lists new cam actuators as a fix.

Sources ^1,2
Power rear hatch faults All years One source so far

What to check: Open and close the power hatch several times from the key and the switch.

Edmunds' 2011 page says some owners report problems with the power rear hatch.

Sources ³

08V181000 2008
Third-row seat belts can leave their locking mode too soon, so a rear-facing child seat may not stay secure.^4,5
09V223000 2006–2009
The load capacity label may be missing or wrong.^6,4,7,8,5,9
10V023000 2008–2010
A loose or wrong floor mat can trap the accelerator pedal wide open. Pedals are modified or replaced. An expansion of an earlier campaign.^4,7,10
11V245000 2008
Faulty roll-angle sensors can fire the curtain airbags and seat belt pretensioners when they should not.^4,5
12V491000 2008
The power window master switch may be unevenly greased and can overheat, melt or catch fire.^4,5
13V396000 2006–2010
Transistors in the inverter's power module can be damaged by heat, causing limp-home mode or the hybrid system to shut down while driving. The module is replaced.^8,5,9,11
14V168000 2008–2010
A flat cable in the steering column can be damaged as the wheel turns, disabling the driver's airbag.^4,7,10
15V689000 2008–2011
The power window master switch may be unevenly greased, letting dirt and moisture short it, overheat it and possibly start a fire.^{4,7,10,12,5,9,11,13}

Checked against NHTSA records on 21 October 2026.