Worst 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Brakes
Electrical Faults
Electronic Stability Control
Check the actual VIN — every car is different.
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 94 | 3 | 1 | 126,017 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 34 | 1 | 3 | 114,715 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 25 | — | — | 132,928 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 18 | 1 | — | 84,510 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 13 | — | — | 46,649 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 11 | — | — | 61,638 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 10 | — | — | 124,697 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 9 | — | — | 17,881 mi | |
| Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter | 7 | — | — | 103,852 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 6 | 1 | — | 17,033 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 6 | — | 1 | 68,202 mi | |
| Fuel System | 5 | — | — | 118,028 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Abs Warning Light | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 1 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~4,774,637 vehicles.
Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured February 16, 2005, through July 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008 Lexus RX400h vehicles manufactured February 23, 2005, through December 2, 2008. The Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module may contain transistors that have higher operating temperatures than the solder can support and the transistors may be heat damaged by the solder. If this occurs, various warning lamps, including the malfunction indicator lamp, slip indicator light, brake system warning light, and master warning light, will be illuminated on the instrument panel.
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process may cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat.
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 RAV4 VEHICLES. IN THE CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAG (CSA) SYSTEM, THERE ARE TWO SENSORS IN THE AIRBAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO DETECT VEHICLE ROLL ANGLE. IF ONE OF THESE SENSORS MALFUNCTIONS, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT (MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT: MIL) WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE ROLL DETECTION SYSTEM WILL BE SUSPENDED; HOWEVER, THE AIRBAG CSA REMAINS AVAILABLE IN THE EVENT OF A SIDE CRASH. IF BOTH SENSORS FAIL NEARLY SIMULTANEOUSLY AFTER INITIAL AIRBAG SYSTEM CHECK, THE CSA AND THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER COULD BE INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATED.
Other Toyota Highlander Hybrid Years
2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid reliable?
What are common problems with the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
How safe is the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
Does the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Toyota Highlander Hybrid reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
Check Any VIN — $4.99