2008 Toyota Highlander Engine Problems
- 41
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 41 stored complaint records:
- 0 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- cooler hose · 8 records
- engine cooler · 5 records
- cooler pipe · 5 records
- loss engine · 4 records
- known issue · 4 records
- under hood · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 19 |
| 60–100k mi | 14 |
| 30–60k mi | 3 |
| 150–400k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine
On my way home on saturday night, about 2 to 3 streets from my house, my dash started to say low fuel. I continued to drive home because i was so close. I get home and jumped out of the vehicle to listen to my car and everything sounded good. I shut the car off. On monday morning, i walked out and noticed all the oil in the car had leaked out of the car onto my driveway. I immediately called toyota and they said…
ODI 11287671
Engine
On the highway at 75 miles/hour (with my 3 small children in the backseat), loss of engine oil pressure. Diagnosed as the engine oil cooler pipe, oil was everywhere without any in the engine. This is a known issue on many engines which was covered by toyota for a limited time/mileage with a limited extended warranty under a "customer support program (ze2)." we were never notified of this potential issue, as we would…
ODI 11258179
Engine
The engine is emitting smoke, creates rattling sound. At start timing chain sounds scared kids. While driving you can hear knocking sound and if something can break while driving.
ODI 11234326
Engine
Vvt-i oil line failure causing complete loss of engine oil while driving at speed on a highway. Car had to be towed and repaired due to lack of quality parts used in the manufacturing process. Toyota identified this problem internally yet failed to take appropriate measure to identify all models equipped with substandard oil lines and, likewise, did not attempt in earnest to notify owners of affected models. The…
ODI 11209101
Engine
The car was traveling approx. 65 mph on the freeway when suddenly i noticed smoke coming up from under the hood. I immediately pulled off the freeway and in the process noticed the engine sounding different and performance level quickly dropping. I then noticed the oil light come on, so i continued to find the first safe spot available to pull over. I then called aaa and they had to tow the vehicle because the car…
ODI 11217171
Engine
Oil cooler pipe malfunction. While driving, the oil cooler pipe started to leak from a hole in the rubber section between the metal clamps. All the engine oil came out within a few minutes while driving on the highway. Toyota had a recall in 2011 for this equipment, but no longer allows repair or replacement under recall.
ODI 11104470
Engine
I recently learned it is a "known" issue by toyota that the oil cooler line could rupture. This happened to me as i was driving on a very busy 3-lane highway. My only indication was when the oil pressure light came on, indicating an urgent need for me to pull over. Luckily i was already in the right lane getting ready to get off at the next exit, however only 5 minutes earlier i was traveling at a high rate of…
ODI 11023908
Engine
Sudden loss of oil while driving causing me to pull over immediately secondary to loud engine noise, decreased power, and fear of causing more engine damage. Local mechanic discovered that the engine oil cooling tube burst and dumped all the oil. Serious safety issue when you are forced to pull over to the shoulder on a busy road and left stranded as well as the fire risk when all the oil now covers the…
ODI 11006730
Engine
The car blew the engine oil cooler pipe leaking profusely i drove it at night came home and there was a 12 x 12 oil leak in my garage. I pulled it out of the garage with the motor running and there was another 12 x 12 oil spill on my drive way. I have a line all the way down my street of the oil spewing out of the engine . I had to get the car towed the following day to toyota who knew about the part and offered an…
ODI 11001630
Engine
Driving on a rural [redacted] the car started knocking and the light for the vsc came on. It said to bring to the dealer. Got home and checked the oil and there was not one drop on the dip stick. (my oil was changed at the dealer two weeks prior). The oil was however sprayed under the entire undercarriage. The part that is the problem is the oil cooler line.
ODI 10993075
Engine
Purchased this 2008 toyota highlander hybrid new from greentree toyota in danbury ct. We selected the hybrid version to save on gas. Little did we know our savings in gas would be sucked up in oil consumption. I need to carry a case of oil in the car at all times. Asked toyota service in danbury ct to investigate and they conducted the same oil test others speak about. Although they say our highlander passed the…
ODI 10966643
Engine
The primary issue of concern is regarding the vehicles valve springs. As a result of the valve spring which was in place, the vehicle in which i drove, stalled multiple times while in motion on a highway, before i was able to get it checked. In order to rectify this it cost over $2,000.00 in repairs. This issue is of grave concern, as a faulty valve spring, if it were to happen on a highway, could result in the…
ODI 10817136
Engine
Driving down roadway when a loud noise was heard in the engine, followed by check oil light to illuminate shortly after. Drove to nearest automotive repair site for service fearing more damage to engine by driving farther. Mechanic discovered oil line (previously repaired under recall) had burst and emptied all oil onto roadway. Previous repair, done under specs of recall, didn't hold up and required another repair.…
ODI 11015413
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota highlander. The contact stated that the air condition tube failed while driving. The contact inspected the vehicle and discovered that the air condition tube was exposed to the motor ventilator causing the tube to overheat and explode, spilling the coolant. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vin was not available. The approximate…
ODI 10781914
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota highlander. While driving 50 mph, the contact smelled burning oil. The contact pulled over and found a leak in the motor oil cooling hose. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be repaired. In addition, the mechanic found an issue with the cam shaft of the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 126,000.
ODI 10781801
Engine
Engine oil cooling (rubber) hose burst while driving and dumped all of my oil ... Toyota has since repaired this part with a series of metal pipes, which suggests to me that they realize that this is a defect but it is not acknowledged as a recall
ODI 10816474
Engine
I recently noticed a rattling sound out of the engine area that occurs intermittently. It typically occurs after the vehicle sits for a couple hours after it has been driven up to operating temperature. The sound happens for less than 2 seconds. The toyota dealer in our area diagnosed the issue as a failure of the intake cam gear per toyota technical service bulletin 0094-09. The service advisor stated that if the…
ODI 10786744
Engine
According to the following website, there is a known issue with a cheap part on the toyota v6 engines. There was even a recall for the part, however, i"m told my car wasn't on the recal list. Https://sites.google.com/site/toyotav6oillinescandal/ the issue at hand is the car has been to the dealer for all maintenance, so its not a neglect issue. The rear bank vvt-i oil line used in prior to 2008 (mine has this issue…
ODI 10726484
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota highlander. While attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated and the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The technician stated that the fuel pump failing was a known issue. The vehicle was then put through a stress test and the service department kept and…
ODI 10716697
Engine
I purchased a qualified pre-owned 2008 toyota highlander sport from rice toyota in greensboro, nc in february of 2013. Since that time, i have properly serviced the vehicle and retained all service records. On or about march 31, 2015, while i was driving home from work on i-40 (65 mph interstate highway), the engine in my highlander suddenly stalled and the check engine light came on. I coasted into a rest area…
ODI 10704454
Engine
Engine oil leaked almost empty. When i picked up kid from school parking on the driveway on that rainy day, saw a leak line on the wet ground. Next saturday i filled a qt oil to the level and drove to repair shop. The technician said almost all 5.5 qt oil was leaked out. Turned out it was timing chain covers silicon sealer broken. I am the person always check around my car before going out, if not checking, things…
ODI 10655236
Engine
The oil cooler hose on my 2008 highlander suddenly malfunctioned, causing most of my car's oil to spill out on to the driveway. Apparently, this particular rubber hose has been the subject of recalls and equipment upgrades to a metal pipe in other toyota models, but not the highlander. This is a safety issue that toyota is neglecting to acknowledge in its highlanders. I called my local toyota dealership to report…
ODI 10637334
Electrical System · Engine · Steering
We were starting off to go on vacation when warning lights came on the dashboard and information panel with hybrid system warnings and brake warnings then the car completely stopped in the middle of the road and steering was lost. We were able to get off to the side enough to prevent causing an accident however we were on a busy street. Had it towed to the local toyota dealer and the diagnosis was a failed coil.…
ODI 10598817
Engine · Unknown Or Other
When you start up car there is a engine grinding noise for a few seconds. This has been reported by many people on the internet, just google 2008 toyota highlander start up engine noise and you will get a better look at what it sounds like. This could lead to severe engine damage . It is a defect in the engine.
ODI 10723756
Engine
I normally ride a vanpool, but due to flash flood warnings today i decided to drive my car into the office. My husband called me at work to tell me he noticed a big oil spot on the garage after i left for work. He told me to pull over and not drive my highlander if it started clacking or smoking on my way home. My husband just changed the oil in my car a few days prior. Before i could make it home the car was…
ODI 10594692