CarRecallWatchThe 2005 Toyota Highlander has 6 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 224 complaints with NHTSA, including 35 crashes, 4 fires, 20 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Power Train (54 reports).
2005 Toyota Highlander recalls
Aftermarket Seat Heaters May Short Circuit and Cause Fire
Certain vehicles were equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters that have a copper strand heating element.
Most common 2005 Toyota Highlander problems
Problem areas named in the 224 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 54 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 40 |
| Steering | 26 |
| Electrical System | 25 |
| Visibility | 21 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 13 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 |
| Structure | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
What owners report
My 2025 Acura MDX (under 10,000 miles) has failed to restart after the automatic idle stop engaged at stoplights and drive-thru lines at least 7 separate times. When I release the brake, the engine often remains off and the vehicle will not move, leaving me stopped in traffic. I have not yet required a jump start, but on several occasions the vehicle came very close to not restarting at all. This most recently occurred at a sandwich shop drive-thru. These incidents occurred in normal drive mode and in normal weather conditions. No abnormal driving conditions were present when the failures happened. Other owners online report the same problem, with some needing to carry jumper cables. I beli
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2005 Toyota Highlander. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase of the vehicle. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 123,000. It was later discovered upon checking Carfax that the mileage was 254,000.
All at once the windows, moon roof, blinkers, reverse lights, running lights and brake lights stopped working - also the automatic headlight function stopped working and we must turn on and off the headlights or risk draining the battery. It's interesting to note that the flashers work, but the blinkers do not. The wipers, radio, cruise control, etc. are all fine. It appears all fuses associated with these items are intact - I don't know how to check the viability of the relays, but have been told it could be a relay and or a ground wire. I've purchased a new multifunction blinker headlight replacement switch AND a master window replacement switch to see if this will resolve the issue - but
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while the vehicle was on a lift at the independent mechanic, it was discovered that the rear subframe was rusted. The contact was informed that the subframe needed to be replaced. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Passager seat burnt up from the heated seats
2005 Toyota Highlander questions
Does the 2005 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for the 2005 Toyota Highlander: Aftermarket Seat Heaters May Short Circuit and Cause Fire; Engine And Engine Cooling; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder; Equipment:Other:Labels. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Toyota Highlander?
Based on 224 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Power Train (54), Vehicle Speed Control (40), Steering (26).
How do I check if a recall on my 2005 Toyota Highlander has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.