Complaints
158
Crashes
28
Fires
2
Injuries
14
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2001 Toyota Highlander Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#114 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Avg mileage:78,864 mi
Crash-related:8
#212 complaints
Visibility
Avg mileage:104,370 mi
#310 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:50,401 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2001 Toyota Highlander.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unintended Acceleration | 14 | 8 | — | 78,864 mi | |
| Visibility | 12 | — | — | 104,370 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 10 | 2 | — | 50,401 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 9 | — | — | 41,214 mi | |
| Body Structure | 9 | 1 | — | 101,037 mi | |
| Airbags | 6 | 2 | — | 88,750 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 | — | 1 | 54,798 mi | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 6 | 1 | — | 2,000 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 6 | — | — | 37,247 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 5 | 1 | — | 155,500 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 | 4 | — | — | |
| Side/Rear Glass | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brakes | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Sidewall | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 1 | — | — | — |
Unintended Acceleration
14
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
—
Avg Miles
78,864
Visibility
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
104,370
Automatic Transmission
10
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
50,401
Engine & Cooling
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
41,214
Body Structure
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
101,037
Airbags
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
88,750
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
54,798
Brake Master Cylinder
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
2,000
Tire Defects
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
37,247
Transmission / Drivetrain
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
155,500
Air Bags:Frontal
4
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Side/Rear Glass
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wipers & Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Sidewall
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Child Seat
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2001 Toyota Highlander. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Toyota Highlander Years
2001 Toyota Highlander — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2001 Toyota Highlander reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2001 Toyota Highlander has 158 NHTSA complaints, 28 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 14 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2001 Toyota Highlander?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (14 complaints, avg 78,864 mi); Visibility (12 complaints, avg 104,370 mi); Automatic Transmission (10 complaints, avg 50,401 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2001 Toyota Highlander?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 72,471 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2001 Toyota Highlander?
NHTSA complaints for the 2001 Toyota Highlander include 28 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 14 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2001 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2001 Toyota Highlander as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2001 Toyota Highlander?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Toyota Highlander reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2001 Toyota Highlander
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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