CarComplaints.com Notes: 2008 is the first year of the 2nd generation Highlander, & it may be a model year to avoid as Toyota most likely worked out some production quality issues with the new model.

The 2009 Highlander is the has far fewer complaints.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
81,902 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Toyota Highlander steering problems

steering problem

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2008 Toyota Highlander Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #39

Dec 092020

Highlander

  • 162,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Steering went out all of asudden without notice, almost causing me to crash, ,my speed was legal speed in Texas 80mph, ,,also a the ABS light came on and felt like brakes were going to be applied, ,turned engine off, restarted car and ABS brake light went off

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #38

Jul 052020

Highlander

  • 130,000 miles
Clunking noise from steering column started in July of 2020 and is getting worse current mileage is 130000. I mostly here the noise while turning the steering wheel and also feel the click in the sterring wheel.

- Angier, NC, USA

problem #37

Aug 232020

Highlander

  • 159,226 miles
Mileage on 2008 Highlander sport is 159226. Wife adjusted steering telescope/tilt when slowing to stop sign. Steering wheel column came off in her lap.

- North Canton, OH, USA

problem #36

Dec 282019

Highlander

  • 189,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Brake actuator assembly and brake booster pump assembly (problem known to Toyota for this and other models, ) failed, leading to dash messages: Master warning, ABS warning, brake system warning (brake malfunction: Stop the vehicle in a safe place immediately and contact a dealer), slip indicator. Brake pedal function seems limited, and dangerous. All warnings come back upon shutting off and restarting vehicle.

- Galesburg, IL, USA

problem #35

May 042018

Highlander

  • 130,000 miles
Upper steering column detached from steering shaft while vehicle was in motion, immediately after driver adjusted the tilt feature. Vehicle was on interstate highway traveling 70 mph when incident occurred. Driver was able to slow vehicle down and reattach steering wheel. No crash or injuries resulted. After incident, driver visited two different Toyota dealerships to inquire about any bulletins or notices regarding the issue. Both dealers could not find any bulletins or notices. Vehicle appears to have previous front-end damage from previous crash, as evidenced by misaligned front bumper cover.

- Zeeland, MI, USA

problem #34

Aug 212019

Highlander

  • 95,000 miles
The steering shaft makes a clunking noise during low speed turns. There have been a number of complaints about this over the years, but no recall. Meanwhile, Toyota is charging around $800 to make the repair.

- Morristown, NY, USA

problem #33

Aug 102019

Highlander

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Found steering shaft noisy/ worn/loose

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #32

Apr 122012

Highlander

  • 25,000 miles
Poping clunking noise while driving turning left or right. Had mechanic checked it and notified Toyota via email to no avail. Then this year had the car sticker inspection done was informed about the clicking sounds. Now I start to get worry is this particular issue has an impact on my life while driving the car. Checked the internet and found similar issue with owner's complaint about intermediate steering shaft. Hopefully Toyota will do a recall to rectify the problem and safeguard the public safety.

- Lowell, MA, USA

problem #31

Mar 172019

Highlander

  • 100,000 miles
The steering makes a loud knock when turned to left or right.

- Howard, OH, USA

problem #30

Jan 012017

Highlander

  • 90,000 miles
The steer wheel makes a klunk noise when turning in either directions at low speed. This problem developed at about 90,000 miles and the noise has progressively gotten more frequent and louder. My car has about 110,000 miles now.

- Renton, WA, USA

problem #29

Jan 112019

Highlander

  • 155,860 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Every time you turn the steering wheel either left or right but it gets worst in the right it will make a thud sound and you can feel it in the steering wheel, I noticed that 4 years ago and it's goes noticed on and off but nowadays it is more frequent and a friend of mine had similar complaint coz we had both the same car car but mine is 2 years older and assembled in Japan... probably the steering column that they used.

- Roseville, CA, USA

problem #28

Dec 232018

Highlander

  • 160,000 miles
Toyota Highlander sport AWD 2008 makes clunking noise when turning. Researched issue online after taking to multiple shops thinking it was transmission issues and learned about faulty intermediate steering shaft. I have to pay $536 through local mechanic for fix because Toyota wont issue recall of know defective part design.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #27

Dec 072018

Highlander

  • 50,000 miles
This vehicle has a knocking/clunking/clanking/thumping sound when turning the steering wheel. It sounds dangerous and I wonder if the steering column will break apart while driving. This has been happening for a while, but the dealers are always unable to replicate it, some say that it is a common problem. It has become worse recently.

- Morgantown, WV, USA

problem #26

Oct 212018

Highlander

  • 75,280 miles
Drove to store, when vehicle in park, went to drive home. When I went to adjust telescoping steering wheel via little lever, the whole steering wheel came off the column into my hands, tried putting it back in place, got it on column, the anti skid light light came on while driving initiating the braking system, anti-skid, cannot drive above 5 mph because it activates anti skid, makes a lot of noise, slows the vehicle back down approx.75200 miles on vehicle,

- Hartland, MI, USA

problem #25

Jul 052018

Highlander

  • miles
Steering wheel is making clunky noises when turning the wheel right or left

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #24

May 222018

Highlander

  • 80,000 miles
I have a 2008 Toyota Highlander. While driving a side city street, on a slight curve, the steering wheel locked and could not be turned. As a result, my daughter hit a tree. My daughter was going approximately 25mph and the impact was in the center of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy.

- Palatine, IL, USA

problem #23

May 042009

Highlander

  • 10,000 miles
My stering wheel it making noise all the time when you turn left or right its clicking when I went to Toyota dealer they asked for $3000 for repair and I have that clicking the year after I buy this car

- Des Plaines, IL, USA

problem #22

Mar 122014

Highlander

  • miles
Eng lights and service lights stays on even after service hard to start battery always down dealership could't fix problem!!

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #21

May 062017

Highlander

  • 138,000 miles
Turning my car right or left there is a clicking noise and I can't get a good turn. It seems there is an issue with the electrical powering steering. I have researched to find out if there is a recall on this and the only thing I have found is other complaining about the same thing. I bought my car based on research and the durability of Toyota, also I have taken very good care of the car. I have gone in for all the recalls. But the issue with eps has me very concerned.

- El Dorado Hills, CA, USA

problem #20

Jul 252016

Highlander

  • 106,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Highlander. Every time a turn was made, the steering shaft made a noise. The failure has occurred ever since the vehicle was purchased in July of 2016. The dealer diagnosed that the shaft assembly failed and needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but the vehicle exceeded the mileage to be repaired under technical service bulletin: 0034-13. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.

- San Diego, CA, USA

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