The 2010 Toyota Highlander lasts over 300,000 miles with only some minor door sensor and liftgate issues. At $10,215 to $13,713, it’s pricey, but worth the money for one of the most reliable midsize SUVs on the market.
Is the 2010 Toyota Highlander a Good Used SUV?
- Yes, 2010 is a good year for the Highlander. Owner reviews praise the comfortable interior, dependable engines, and the safety.
- Interior quality is good for an SUV in its price range. There are durable cloth and leathers offered, and a stereo system with good features for its age.
- Reliability ratings are excellent. Models from 2009–2014 are good choices, with a few more minor complaints in 2015.
- Performance is poor from the 4-cylinder engine, but the V6 offers good power for an SUV its size.
- The 2010 Highlander is a safe SUV getting a perfect 5-star overall rating in government crash tests. The lowest scores are 4-stars in the front passenger and rollover risk tests.
- Fuel economy is average for a midsize SUV from 2010 at around 22 MPG, which should get owners about 422 miles of range out of the 19.2 gallon gas tank.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the Toyota Highlander?
- Consumer Reports says the Highlander offers a quiet ride and refined interior, with above-average owner satisfaction scores.
- Edmunds gives the Highlander a 4.7/5 praising the powerful V6 engine, but doesn’t like the lack of cargo space behind the third row.
- Kelley Blue Book users rate the Highlander 4.6/5 and enjoy the proven reliability over time, but owners don’t like the lower towing capacity.
What Common Problems Does the 2010 Toyota Highlander Have?
The most common problems found on the 2010 Toyota Highlander include issues with the door ajar sensor, broken sun visors, and the liftgate motor not working. Overall, these problems are better than other SUVs from 2010, and repair costs are more affordable than average.
Broken door ajar sensors are the most widespread complaint from owners at around 95,000 miles. The lights and chime continue to make a noise, even after the doors have been closed. Replacing the sensor is fairly easy and costs about $150, and fixes the problem.
A broken sun visor is another issue reported by owners in the first 60,000 miles. The bracket that the sun visor mounts to is thin plastic which becomes brittle and snaps over time. Replacing both sun visors costs around $200, and is a fairly simple process.
Power liftgate motor failures also show up on some Highlander models at around 70,000 miles. The motor gets stripped out with repeated use, and has to be replaced to fix it. A new liftgate motor is around $1,000 installed, making it one of the most expensive issues.
There are 11 recalls, worse than average for an SUV from 2010. The most serious recall is for pedal entrapment, which can cause unintended acceleration. Modifying the accelerator pedal and replacing the floor mat solves the issue. Many of the other recalls are for airbags and labels, which are a common recall across many SUVs from 2010.
How Long Will the 2010 Toyota Highlander Last?
A well-maintained 2010 Toyota Highlander can last over 300,000 miles, which is around 50,000 miles more than highly-rated midsize SUVs like the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Regular annual maintenance costs are much lower than other midsize SUVs from 2010, at $424 per year, according to Repair Pal.
Since most 2010 Highlander models will have over 100,000 miles buyers should be prepared to replace items including the timing belt pulley for $300, wheel speed sensor costing $400, and the oil pan gasket, which costs around $200.
Mine makes a horrible noise, like an airplane. However, it is been making this noise for two years and has not quit on me yet.
I have never had any problems with my highlander. I maintain it oil changes etc and keep it up as best as I can, still runs great.
Yes no major problems out of this vehicle at all would recommend to my family and friends. This is third Toyota that my family has owned and I am a second generation Toyota owner.
No not any real serious problems they are pretty minor she does need tires and new window wipers some new carpet and a new seal on my sunroof
How Much Is the 2010 Toyota Highlander Worth?
Blue book values range from $10,215 to $13,713, making the Highlander more expensive than similarly equipped SUVs from 2010 like the Nissan Murano and Ford Edge. When new, the price range was $25,855 to $34,670. Depreciation is better than average, only losing about 8% of its current value per year.
What are the Different Models of the Toyota Highlander?
There are four models of the Toyota Highlander offered in 2010. The second generation of the Highlander was introduced in 2008, and replaced by the third generation in 2014.
Base is the entry-level model with:
- 17-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Cloth Seating
- Power Windows & Locks
- 6-Speaker AM/FM/CD Stereo With 3.5mm AUX
Sport is a step up, adding:
- 19-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Sport Suspension
- Power Driver’s Seat
- Leather Steering Wheel
- 3.5-Inch Screen With Rearview Camera
SE is next in the lineup and adds:
- 17-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Leather Seating
- Dual-Zone Climate Control
- Heated Front Seats
- Keyless Entry
- 6-CD Changer
Limited is the luxury model and features:
- Unique 19-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Premium Leather Seating
- Navigation System
- 9-Speaker JBL Premium Stereo System
What Engines Come In the Toyota Highlander?
- The base engine is a weaker 2.7L 4-cylinder which makes 187 horsepower and gets up to 22 MPG.
- An available upgrade is the stronger 3.5L V6 which produces 270 horsepower while getting up to 20 MPG. Performance is good, taking 7.8 seconds to go from 0-60 MPH, but the towing capacity is relatively low at 5,000 pounds.
What Colors Does the Toyota Highlander Come In?
How Big Is the Toyota Highlander?
The 2010 Toyota Highlander is similar in size to other midsize SUVs including the Ford Edge and Mazda CX-9. Passenger room is great in the first and second row, but the third row is best suited to younger children since there’s not much legroom.
Cargo space is good compared to many other midsize SUVs from 2010, with enough space for 2-3 suitcases behind the third row, 6-8 behind the second row, and over 12 with all the seats folded flat.
How Does the Toyota Highlander Compare to the Competition?
The Toyota Highlander is one of the best midsize SUVs from 2010, offering very dependable engine choices and a nice interior for the money, easily earning our recommendation for shoppers.
The Toyota 4Runner is a popular midsize SUV which costs about $7,000 more. Off-road performance is much better in the Toyota 4Runner, but the Toyota Highlander has more passenger room and upscale interior materials. We recommend the Toyota Highlander for most people, but if you love going off-road then the 4Runner is an excellent choice.
The Honda Pilot is another competitor which is in the same price range. Passenger room is better in the Honda Pilot, but the Toyota Highlander has a higher-quality interior for the money. We recommend the Toyota Highlander for the 2010 model year since the Honda Pilot has engine issues.
Do Owners Recommend the Toyota Highlander?
Yes! I love this vehicle. It is super comfortable and dependable. Has a few upgrades and just looks sophisticated.
Yes I would definitely buy another highlander. I have never had any problems with it, rides very good and has plenty of room 3 row seating...
Yes great for accommodating the entire family. Reliability is one of the number one priorities. Resale value is probably the next big thing & Toyotas have good depreciation rates.
Yes very dependable pretty good on gas and a lot of room I really like my sunroof it is cool and it looks cool