2011 Toyota Highlander

Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2011 models.

Toyota Highlander
Pictured: Toyota Highlander Hybrid (XU70) 1X7A6356. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Body styles
4dr SUV 4WD, 4dr SUV 4WD Limited, 4dr SUV 4WD V6, Hybrid 4dr SUV 4WD Base/Limited
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl, 2.7L 4-cyl
Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
MPG (best)
28 combined · 28 city / 28 hwy
Length
188.6 in
Curb weight
3,847–4,641 lb
NHTSA rating
Not rated
Recalls
5 campaigns

Pros & cons

What's good

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 28 MPG combined — 48% better than the average 2011 SUV - (18.9 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available

Watch out for

No weak spots against similar models in the data.

Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 28 similar 2011 models — not a review. How we calculate this →

Overview

The 2011 Toyota Highlander is a SUV - offered with 2 engines (3.5L 6-cyl and 2.7L 4-cyl), including a hybrid version and all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive.

It measures about 189 inches long and 75 inches wide on a 110-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,847 lb (4dr SUV 4WD).

EPA rates its most efficient version at 28 MPG combined (28 city / 28 highway), 48% better than the 2011 SUV - average of 18.9 MPG, for an estimated $2,400 a year in fuel.

NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.

It has 5 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the steering.

What changed for 2011

  • Engine dropped: 3.3L 6-cyl
  • Best combined MPG up from 26 to 28
  • Lightest version 333 lb lighter

Compared with 2010; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2010 Highlander →

Dimensions & weight

BodyLengthWidthHeightWheelbaseTrack F / RCurb weightWeight F/R
4dr SUV 4WD188.6 in75.2 in69.3 in109.8 in64.2 / 64.2 in3,847 lb55/45
4dr SUV 4WD Limited188.6 in75.2 in69.3 in109.8 in64.2 / 64.2 in4,321 lb55/45
4dr SUV 4WD V6188.6 in75.2 in69.3 in109.8 in64.2 / 64.2 in4,180 lb55/45
Hybrid 4dr SUV 4WD Base/Limited188.6 in75.2 in69.3 in109.8 in64.2 / 64.2 in4,641 lb55/45

Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.

Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →

Engines, MPG & running costs

VersionEngineTransmissionDriveCity / Hwy / Combvs. classFuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Highlander Hybrid 4WD Hybrid3.5L 6-cylAutomatic (variable gear ratios)All-Wheel Drive28 / 28 / 28+48%$2,400317
Highlander 2WD2.7L 4-cylAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel Drive20 / 25 / 22+5%$3,050404
Highlander 2WD3.5L 6-cylAutomatic (S5)Front-Wheel Drive18 / 24 / 20-4%$3,350444
Highlander 4WD3.5L 6-cylAutomatic (S5)All-Wheel Drive17 / 22 / 19+1%$3,550468
Spend $3,250Fuel over 5 years vs. average new car
18.9 MPG2011 Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD average

EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2011 EPA class average. How we calculate this →

Safety ratings & technology

NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2011 Toyota Highlander.

Similar 2011 SUV -s

ModelBest MPG / rangeNHTSA overallRecalls
2011 Toyota Highlander (this car)28 MPGNot rated5
2011 Toyota Land Cruiser15 MPGNot rated5
2011 Toyota RAV424 MPGNot rated11
2011 Toyota 4Runner19 MPGNot rated10
2011 Ford Explorer20 MPGNot rated6
2011 Subaru Forester23 MPGNot rated16
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee18 MPGNot rated6

Recalls (5)

Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/Cooler · Jun 2, 2016

NHTSA campaign 16V396000 · 7,749 vehicles

Problem
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 heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Risk
If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
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.
Visibility › Power Window Devices And Controls · Oct 22, 2015

NHTSA campaign 15V689000 · 1,814,284 vehicles

Problem
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 inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
Risk
If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
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 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is C0M.
Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/Cooler · Nov 19, 2014

NHTSA campaign 14V743000 · 3,233 vehicles

Problem
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.
Risk
Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
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.
Equipment › Other › Labels · Apr 9, 2013

NHTSA campaign 13V123000 · 7,525 vehicles

Problem
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."
Risk
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.
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 1-800-301-6859.
Seats · Jan 16, 2013

NHTSA campaign 13V014000 · 3,235 vehicles

Problem
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.
Risk
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.
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.
Check your VIN for open recalls at NHTSA ↗

Not every 2011 Toyota Highlander is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.

Owner-reported problems

111Complaints to NHTSA since 2015
8Involved a crash
0Involved a fire
6Injuries reported
73,399 miTypical mileage at failure
Steering29
Engine17
Unknown Or Other14
Structure › Body11
Electrical System11
Service Brakes10
Power Train9
Visibility/Wiper9
Complaints received per month (last 24 months with reports)
20/02: 220/03: 120/04: 120/09: 120/11: 121/01: 121/03: 221/04: 121/05: 121/12: 222/02: 222/03: 122/04: 122/06: 222/09: 122/12: 323/01: 123/03: 123/09: 124/05: 124/06: 124/10: 125/11: 126/06: 120/0220/0921/0321/1222/0422/1223/0924/10max 3

Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.

Used 2011 Toyota Highlander buyer's checklist

  1. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 5 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
  2. Steering — 29 owner reports. Turn lock-to-lock while parked and on the road; listen for noises and feel for heavy or loose steering.
  3. Engine — 17 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
  4. Structure › Body — 11 owner reports. Open and close every door, the hood and tailgate; look for rust or misaligned panels.
  5. Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 73,399 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
  6. Hybrid system. Check for hybrid-system warning lights and ask whether the high-voltage battery has been replaced or is still under warranty.
  7. Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.

Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2011 Toyota Highlander. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.

Other Highlander years

Compare all years →
YearMPG (best)LengthOverallRecallsComplaints
2026 Highlander35194.9 inNot rated04
2025 Highlander35194.9 in★★★★★410
2024 Highlander36194.9 in★★★★★743
2023 Highlander36194.9 in★★★★★9198
2022 Highlander36194.9 in★★★★★6272
2021 Highlander36194.9 in★★★★★5548
2020 Highlander36194.9 in★★★★★5330
2019 Highlander29192.5 in★★★★★3511
2018 Highlander29192.5 in★★★★★4275
2017 Highlander29192.5 inNot rated3274
2016 Highlander28191.3 inNot rated2117
2015 Highlander28191.3 inNot rated1195

Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Toyota. How we calculate this →