Vehicle Data Hub

2008 Toyota Highlander electrical system problems

Owners reported electrical system problems in 44 complaints for the 2008 Toyota Highlander, 9% of the complaints on file.

At a glance

Complaints
44 9% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
85,000 miles 35 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
2 and 5
Injuries and deaths
0 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When electrical system problems show up

Electrical system complaints by mileage, 2008 Toyota Highlander Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 85,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 4 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 4 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 4 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 4 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 3 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 3 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 3 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 3 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 3 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 4 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 85,000 miles
Based on 35 complaints that include mileage. 34% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles4
20k to 40k miles4
40k to 60k miles4
60k to 80k miles4
80k to 100k miles3
100k to 120k miles3
120k to 140k miles3
140k to 160k miles3
160k to 180k miles3
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles4

What the data shows

Of the 35 electrical system complaints that report mileage, the median is about 85,000 miles, and 34% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 2 crashes, 5 fires.

What owners wrote

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota highlander sport. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic stop, she noticed smoke emitting from the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and noticed flames coming from under the vehicle. The contact was able to allow a safe distance between her and the vehicle as it quickly became engulfed in flames. The vehicle was destroyed. The fire department was notified and determined that the cause of the fire was electrical. The failure and current mileages were 100,100.

Reported at 100,100 miles, October 2012 Fire

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. They replaced all 3 coils saying that it would be prudent as the engine was already apart (I agree).

Reported at 141,451 miles, June 2014

Other problems reported for the 2008 Toyota Highlander

Electrical system problems in other years

Electrical system problems across all Toyota models