Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2013 Toyota Highlander. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Second Row Seat Assembly/FMVSS 207
- Summary
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2013 Highlander vehicles manufactured March 13, 2013, through August 6, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the second row left hand seat may not lock in place when positioned in the forward front or second adjusting position. As such, the vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."
- Consequence
- If the seat does not lock into the seat track, there may be an increased risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will modify the second row left hand seat so that it will lock into the seat track, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Inaccurate Load Carrying Capacity Labels
- Summary
- Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
- Consequence
- An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
- Remedy
- Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Occupant Sensing System Calibration
- Summary
- Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
- Consequence
- If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
- Remedy
- Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (207)
207 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The steering is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 207 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 46 | 22.2% |
| Engine | 32 | 15.5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 31 | 15% |
| Electrical system | 26 | 12.6% |
| Unknown or other | 23 | 11.1% |
| Structure | 18 | 8.7% |
| Air bags | 17 | 8.2% |
| Service brakes | 17 | 8.2% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 12 | 5.8% |
| Power train | 11 | 5.3% |
How 2013 compares with other Highlander years
Best and worst Highlander years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 134 | 9 |
| 2010 | 216 | 10 |
| 2011 | 181 | 5 |
| 2012 | 182 | 2 |
| 2013 | 207 | 3 |
| 2014 | 136 | 4 |
| 2015 | 192 | 1 |
| 2016 | 111 | 2 |
| 2017 | 268 | 3 |
| 2018 | 268 | 4 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 4 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2013 Toyota Highlander suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 22 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,050
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 400 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 22 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 25 / 22 | $3,050 | 400 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 437 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 22 / 19 | $3,550 | 465 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2013 Highlander for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2013 Toyota Highlander FAQ
How many recalls does the 2013 Toyota Highlander have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 14V148000 (seat), 13V123000 (equipment), 13V014000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2013 Toyota Highlander problems?
Owners filed 207 complaints with NHTSA. Steering (46), Engine (32), Vehicle speed control (31) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2013 Toyota Highlander get?
EPA rates the 2.7 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 20 city, 25 highway and 22 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2013 Toyota Highlander get?
NHTSA rated the 2013 Toyota Highlander suv fwd 4 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (17.4% rollover risk).
How does the 2013 Highlander compare with other years?
Among the 2009–2018 Toyota Highlander model years at least five years old, the 2016 drew the fewest complaints (111) and the 2018 the most (268). The 2013 drew 207. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.