1st gen Toyota Highlander 2001–2007

Watch out for

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

• Stripped head bolt threads in the 2.4L four All years Walk away if found

  What to check: Look for coolant loss, coolant at the back of the engine where the head meets the block, and any history of overheating. Ask whether the head bolt threads were repaired.

  The top problem for the 2003 on CarComplaints.com. Nineteen owners of 2003 four-cylinders on one page of its reports describe coolant leaking at the rear of the head after the bolt threads in the block let go, mostly past 100,000 miles, with a thread repair or a new engine to follow. Two owners of 2002 four-cylinders describe the same. Engine Builder, citing AERA, reports stripped rear head bolt threads on some 2002–2006 Toyota 2.4L 2AZFE engines; Wikipedia names the 2AZ-FE as the Highlander's 2.4L.

  Sources ^1,2,3,4,5,6

• Hybrid inverter failure All years

  What to check: Ask a Toyota dealer whether recalls 11V342000 and 13V396000 were done, and watch for hybrid warning lights on a long drive.

  Two recalls covered heat damage in the inverter, which can put the car in limp-home mode or shut the hybrid system down. Edmunds' 2006 page carries owners' reports of inverter failures, and SlashGear reports owners of Hybrids dying at speed.

  Sources ^7,8,9

• Engine oil gelling, or sludge 2001 One source so far

  What to check: Ask for the oil change records.

  In 2002 Toyota offered a one-time goodwill policy on oil gelling for 1997–2001 models, the Highlander among them, for owners who could show regular maintenance. Toyota put it down mainly to oil changes missed, short trips and cold weather.

  Sources ¹⁰

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

• Sought after: A well-kept truck with records All years One source so far

  In one BITOG thread on a 2005, one member calls the 2001 to 2007 Highlanders pretty bulletproof, though not the four-cylinder with head gasket trouble, and an owner reports 75,000 miles on a 2005 with no issues. A third member says to buy only with good compression and service records.¹¹

• Avoid: The 1st gen as a whole All years Less sought after One source so far

  SlashGear lists 2001 to 2007 among the Highlander years to avoid, for complaints and recalls about electrics, speed control and brakes.⁹

• Avoid: 2003 2003 Less sought after

  CarComplaints.com rates the 2003 the worst Highlander year, with engine problems its worst category.^1,2

• Avoid: The 2006 Hybrid 2006 Less sought after One source so far

  SlashGear lists the 2006 Hybrid among the years to avoid, for complaints about the hybrid system, including reports of Hybrids dying at speed.⁹

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.