2005 Toyota Highlander Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/12/2026

21Steering complaints

9.4%Of all 224 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL33 · 14.7%

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION27 · 12.1%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM22 · 9.8%

STEERING21 · 9.4%

POWER TRAIN17 · 7.6%

Share of the 224 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2005 Toyota Highlander overview page.

What owners report

“I NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE AND ODD VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING CORNERS OR ON A…”NHTSA complaint 10370188 — filed 12/09/2010

“VEHICLE: 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. DEFECT: THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH (THE DEVICE THAT TURNS OFF THE SIGNAL AFTER A TURN IS COMPLETED) HAS FAILED IN OUR…”NHTSA complaint 10366709 — filed 11/18/2010

“TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005 - 4 CYL DRIVING IN THE RAIN, OVER PUDDLES OF WATER THAT CREATE A SPLASH UP TO ABOUT 3/4 THE HEIGHT OF…”NHTSA complaint 10343774 — filed 07/17/2010

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Toyota Highlander have steering problems?

Steering is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2005 Toyota Highlander: 21 of 224 complaints on file (9.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2005 Toyota Highlander have in total?

224 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 35 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 20 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.