Model year guide

2011 Toyota Highlander

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2011 Toyota Highlander is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 169 on record.

2011 Toyota Highlander — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2011 Toyota Highlander at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints186
Combined22 mpg
Typical price$20,276

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2011 Toyota Highlander recalls 5

Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler NHTSA Campaign #16V396000 · 02/06/2016

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 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heat…

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 SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.

Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler NHTSA Campaign #14V743000 · 19/11/2014

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, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

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 to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls NHTSA Campaign #15V689000 · 22/10/2015

Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsis…

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800…

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive NHTSA Campaign #13V014000 · 16/01/2013

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…

Fix: 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.

Equipment:other:labels NHTSA Campaign #13V123000 · 09/04/2013

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 Sc…

Fix: 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…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2011 Toyota Highlander common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 186 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

2011 Toyota Highlander MPG & running costs

Combined22 mpg
City21 mpg
Highway25 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,838

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2011 Toyota Highlander worth?

Low
$15,199
Typical price
$20,276
High
$25,600

From 167 comparable 2011 Toyota Highlander listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2011 Toyota Highlander costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,190
Depreciation (5 yrs)$13,150
Total$27,340
Per mile$0.36

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($20,276) with the same model 5 model-years older ($7,136), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2011 Toyota Highlander trims & engines on record

Trims
Base · Limited · SE · Base/Hybrid Base/SE · Limited/Hybrid Limited/SE
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl 231 hp · 2.7L 4-cyl

2011 Toyota Highlander vehicles on record

2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander Base5TDZA3EH9BS016976 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander Base5TDZA3EH9BS009283 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander Base5TDZK3EH7BS048483 2011 Toyota Highlander Limited5TDDK3EH1BS054189 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander Limited5TDDK3EH7BS092087 2011 Toyota Highlander Base5TDBK3EH2BS083885 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander Base5TDBK3EH6BS066345 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander Base5TDZK3EH9BS027988 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander Limited5TDDK3EH4BS075165 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander Base5TDZA3EH2BS011585 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander Base5TDZK3EH8BS046192 2011 Toyota Highlander Limited5TDDK3EH7BS075144 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander Base5TDZA3EHXBS011074 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander Base5TDZA3EHXBS016422 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander Limited5TDDK3EH5BS065597 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander Base5TDZA3EH4BS012303 2011 Toyota Highlander Limited5TDDK3EH9BS057969 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander Limited5TDYK3EH3BS032258 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander SE5TDBK3EH8BS051135 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander Limited5TDDK3EH8BS082622 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander Base5TDZA3EHXBS015965 2011 Toyota Highlander SE5TDZK3EH3BS026710 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander Limited5TDDK3EH7BS089111 2011 Toyota Highlander 2011 Toyota Highlander SE5TDBK3EH9BS080871

Other Toyota Highlander model years

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001

2011 Toyota Highlander — frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Toyota Highlander have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2011 Toyota Highlander. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Toyota Highlander?

Based on 186 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, power train, steering.

What gas mileage does the 2011 Toyota Highlander get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2011 Toyota Highlander at about 22 mpg combined (21 city / 25 highway).

How much is a 2011 Toyota Highlander worth?

Comparable 2011 Toyota Highlander listings run roughly $15,199–$25,600, typically around $20,276 (from 167 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.