CarRecallWatchThe 2010 Toyota Highlander has 10 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 216 complaints with NHTSA, including 18 crashes, 2 fires, 14 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Electrical System (54 reports).
2010 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.
Power window switch may overheat and cause a fire
Some Toyota vehicles may have a power window master switch where grease was inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts during manufacturing.
Most common 2010 Toyota Highlander problems
Problem areas named in the 216 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 54 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 31 |
| Service Brakes | 25 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 22 |
| Steering | 21 |
| Unknown Or Other | 15 |
| Structure | 14 |
| Air Bags | 14 |
| Visibility | 12 |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 |
What owners report
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. It had master warning â ï¸ light and check engine light and a circle warning light that is the braking system also it said on the screen check hybrid system stop the vehicle in a safe place immediately and contact a dealer. It smelled like smoke as I was trying to get out of traffic and drive it to the shoulder.I towed the car to the Toyota dealer in Orange and was told it's the inverter and its fried and needs to be replaced.
When applying the brake slowly all of a sudden the car went full acceleration and crashed 500ft away at high speed. The car is crashed but available for inspection for a short period of time until the insurance company takes full posession. There are not open recalls. The only lights on the dash were for TPMS sensor.
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the gear shifter had been stuck on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the fuses were replaced on several occasions; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rearview mirror wiring had failed. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power and started to drift to the right side of the road. The brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle was able to come to a complete stop. The contact mentioned she waited for AAA for roadside assistance. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 185,420.
Headlamps become cloudy and burn out new, expensive bulbs in months. Internet search says Toyota is aware of problem, but prior to my search my dealership wanted to charge me hundreds of dollars to 'evaluate electrical system'
2010 Toyota Highlander questions
Does the 2010 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls for the 2010 Toyota Highlander: Aftermarket Seat Heaters May Short Circuit and Cause Fire; Power window switch may overheat and cause a fire; Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler; Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module; Equipment:Other:Labels. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Toyota Highlander?
Based on 216 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (54), Visibility/Wiper (31), Service Brakes (25).
How do I check if a recall on my 2010 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.