2006 Toyota Highlander Problems, Recalls & Reliability
346 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2006 Toyota Highlander, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 65/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 118,616 miles.
Below average
Where 2006 sits among all Highlander years
What owners report
“3 accidents all rear end due to brakes ( brake pump/brake actuator failure) not safe.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Highlander
“On bumpy roads or ditches, my 2006 toyota highlander hybrid vehicle does not brake or the brake slips. It feels like it suddenly accelerates with braking becoming ineffective.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Highlander
“I was on the highway driving and all the dash light came on and the car stalled while i was going 60mph.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Highlander
“I have a 2006 toyota highlander limited v6. The car is 66.000miles, i noticed that the day lights has been overheated as a result 1 white spot melted in each headlight lense. It might be a hazard fire issue and do not feel safe driving this car. Toyota should resolve this issue and replace the…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Highlander
“I was driving straight on the main road coming to a stop light.the vehicle would not stop after pressing on the brakes several times. There are several lights on the dash:brakes,traction control, 2 yellow exclamation marks one inside a triangle and the ,abs. The mechanic is saying the brake…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Highlander
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 233 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 75,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 42,000 and 136,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011…
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact…
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4,…
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected…
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 LEXUS RX330, RX350, AND RX400H VEHICLES. IF THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, WHICH IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE CENTER…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE FREE OR CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 LEXUS RX, AND MODEL YEAR 2006 LEXUS GS AND IS VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS LUBRICANTS FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAL WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331…
GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008…
Fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY…
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD…
Fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT…
TOYOTA IS RECALLING 27,080 MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2010 PASSENGER CARS BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 TO MAY 4, 2009. THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR…
Fix: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH A NEW, ACCURATE LABEL TO BE INSTALLED OVER THE INACCURATE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 11V112000.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2006 Toyota Highlander reliable?
The 2006 Toyota Highlander drew 346 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 65/100, scored against the model's worst year (2008).
What are the most common 2006 Toyota Highlander problems?
The top reported problems for the 2006 Toyota Highlander are brakes & stability (92 complaints), speed control (44), and engine (40).
At what mileage do 2006 Toyota Highlander problems show up?
Owners most often report 2006 Toyota Highlander problems around 75,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 42,000 and 136,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Toyota Highlander have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 2006 Toyota Highlander. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.