The Highlander Hybrid has the lowest annual maintenance expenditures in the midsize SUV market, coming in at just $489 on average.
Midsize SUVs have an average yearly repair cost of $573, whereas all other cars in RepairPal’s database have an average annual repair cost of $652.
In This Article...
How Long Do the Brakes Last?
Brake pads for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid should last up to 100,000 miles under typical driving conditions. The brake rotors can endure approximately 150-200 thousand kilometers before needing replacement.
When you let up on the gas, the Highlander Hybrid uses regenerative braking to recharge the battery.
This technique also significantly slows down the car, reducing the amount of braking necessary and extending the life of the brake pads and rotors.
There have been instances of ABS failures in early Highlander Hybrid vehicles after a number of years, notably early 2nd gen cars.
If the Toyota extended warranty hasn’t already covered it, this can cost between $3,000 and $4,000 to fix.
How Long Do the Tires Last?
The factory-installed tires on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid can last 30,00040,000 miles, or roughly 24 years.
Depending on the road, the driver, the environment, and upkeep, they may wear out significantly more quickly.
Here are a few recommendations to prolong the life of your tires:
- To guarantee even wear, rotate your tires every 5,000 miles.
- Your tires will sustain more damage if you frequently fling your vehicle off the road or slam on the brakes.
- Every few weeks, ensure sure your tires are inflated to the proper pressure.
- Every six months, check your wheels’ alignment.
How Long Do the Transmissions Last?
Electronic continuously variable transmissions, or eCVTs, are used in Toyota Highlander Hybrid models of the third and fourth generations.
The eCVTs made by Toyota are far more durable and last a lot longer than conventional CVTs or even conventional automatic transmissions.
A minimum of 500,000 miles should be attainable from the Highlander Hybrid’s transmission.
The first and second generation Highlander Hybrids employ conventional automatic transmissions, which, with careful care, may still run for far over 200,000 miles.
How Long Will the Toyota Highlander Hybrid’s Electric Motors Last?
The Camry Hybrid, which has a reputation for lasting hundreds of thousands of kilometers in taxi fleets and delivery vehicles, shares a hybrid powertrain with the Highlander.
Toyota’s electric hybrid motor failures are quite uncommon and shouldn’t cause too much anxiety.
How Long Do the Spark Plugs Last?
Spark plugs for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid should be changed every 12 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Iridium spark plugs, which have a significantly longer lifespan than conventional spark plugs, are used in the Highlander Hybrid.
How Long Do Toyota Highlander Hybrid Batteries Last?
The high-voltage batteries in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid have an easy lifespan of between 200,000 and 300,000 kilometres.
You shouldn’t be concerned about difficulties or premature breakdowns because several Toyota hybrids have even exceeded the 300,000-mile milestone with their original batteries.
There are several aftermarket replacements available for the hybrid batteries that only cost about $2,000 if you do need to replace them after their warranty expires.
When compared to the price of EV batteries, which are at least 5 to 10 times more expensive, this is a relatively minor fee to pay to increase the life of the car.
How long is the battery life of a Toyota hybrid?
The majority of hybrid car manufacturers claim that a battery pack will typically last 80,000 to 100,000 kilometers. Toyota went one step further prior to 2020 by providing a warranty that covered its hybrid batteries for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever came first.
How much does a Toyota hybrid battery replacement cost?
A hybrid battery replacement typically costs between $2,000 and $8,000. In the end, the cost may differ based on the service center or even the manufacturer’s model.
Does changing the hybrid battery make sense?
As far as we can tell, hybrid batteries start to pose a problem when they are between 10 and 15 years old and between 120,000 and 150,000 kilometers old. Yes, some business entrepreneurs will succeed far more than that. Batteries have reportedly been known to endure well over 200,000 miles.
How long do the batteries last on a Toyota Highlander?
Depending on the type of battery, weather conditions, battery size, and driving habits, your 2018 Toyota Highlander battery will normally last between three and five years. However, this can vary greatly.
How far can a hybrid Toyota Highlander go?
With regular maintenance and cautious driving, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid should last at least 200,000 miles and possibly even over 300,000 miles. Your Highlander should provide 20 years of dependable service if you travel 15,000 miles each year before the expense of repairs becomes prohibitive.
What are the drawbacks of a hybrid vehicle?
Hybrids are less heavily built, more financially advantageous, and have a greater resale value. They also charge themselves through regenerative braking. Although they have drawbacks, their benefits sometimes outweigh them.
Eco-friendly: Because hybrids have both an electric motor and a gasoline engine, they utilize less fossil fuel and emit less greenhouse gases as a result. Additionally, they get better gas mileage than regular cars do.
Financial advantages: Tax credits and incentives for hybrid vehicle owners and buyers have been implemented by numerous governments throughout the world. Additionally, they are not subject to environmental fees.
Higher resale value: People are becoming more inclined to switch to hybrids as they become weary of gas price swings and care about the environment. As a result, these automobiles’ resale value keeps rising.
Lighter cars: Because hybrids are made of lightweight materials, they use less energy to operate. Their lighter weight and smaller engines also aid in energy conservation.
Regenerative braking: Hybrid vehicles use a mechanism known as regenerative braking that allows the battery to somewhat recharge whenever the driver applies the brakes. The method extends the amount of time between manual recharges for the driver.
Less power: Hybrid vehicles combine an electric motor with a gasoline engine, with the gasoline engine acting as the primary source of power. As a result, neither the gasoline engine nor the electric motor operate as effectively as they do in standard gasoline or electric cars. But regular drivers who often navigate the city do just fine with hybrid vehicles.
Hybrids are generally more expensive to purchase than regular vehicles at first.
Higher operating costs: Due to their engine and the constant advancement of technology, it may be difficult to locate a technician with the necessary skills. Additionally, they might charge you a little bit more for upkeep and repairs. Moreover, replacing the battery has the highest running cost.
Poor handling: Compared to normal vehicles, hybrids have additional machinery, which adds weight and lowers fuel economy. In order to save weight, hybrid car makers had to create smaller engines and batteries. However, the vehicle’s power and body and suspension support are reduced as a result.
Risk of electrocution: Because hybrid batteries have a high voltage, there is a higher chance that accident victims and first responders will be electrocuted.
A hybrid vehicle combines an electric motor with a gas or diesel engine. When the car is moving at a slower pace, the electric motor drives the wheels. As the speed of the car increases, the gas engine takes over. The batteries are also charged by the motor, and each time the driver applies the brakes, regenerative braking charges the batteries.
Can a hybrid be used without its battery?
Hybrid cars combine standard automobile technology with that of electric cars. In addition to using fuel and a 12-volt lead-acid battery, a hybrid car also draws power from an electric battery. The transition between power sources can be made by the vehicle without the driver even being aware of it.
Regenerative braking is a technique for recharging an electric battery. When the driver applies the brakes, energy is generated that is used to recharge the electric battery. The remarkable energy efficiency of a hybrid car is achieved by seamless transitions between electric and gas power. Hybrid automobiles are 20 to 35 percent more fuel-efficient than conventional vehicles since they use petrol only occasionally. Additionally, by lowering emissions, a hybrid car is less harmful to the environment.
The short lifespan of a hybrid battery is one of its flaws. According to Bumblebee Batteries, the majority of hybrid batteries come with an eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty, while some do not last that long. Because the hybrid battery is essential to the operation of a hybrid car, owners must regularly make costly investments in new hybrid batteries.
Thankfully, hybrid technology is constantly developing. Compared to older batteries, modern batteries are more durable. As more independent producers enter the market, drivers will have more choices when it comes time to replace their batteries. These third-party hybrid batteries are frequently less expensive than those offered by a dealership.
According to HybridGeek, hybrid batteries have two electrodes submerged in an electrolyte solution. According to Hybrid Cars, a polymer coating separates these electrodes and avoids short-circuiting. When the equipment, in this case a hybrid car, is turned on, the electrodes are bridged. It’s important to remember that the battery in a hybrid automobile is actually a battery pack made up of numerous cells that combine to produce the significant charge required to power the vehicle.
A positive electrode and a negative electrode are located in each battery cell. The positively charged electrode releases ions that travel to the negatively charged electrode. The positive ions there accept the electrons that the negative electrode has surrendered. An electrical charge is produced by this intricate process.
The hybrid vehicle’s electric range is determined by the energy it produces in its battery. The battery’s available power at any given time controls the vehicle’s acceleration.
Is maintenance more expensive for a hybrid vehicle?
Does maintaining a hybrid vehicle cost more than maintaining a standard gasoline-powered vehicle? No, unless when it malfunctions, of course. Regular upkeep and minor repairs for a hybrid vehicle are typically no more expensive than for a conventional vehicle. In reality, they might even be lower. However, you might have to pay a lot of money if something goes wrong with the hybrid system of the automobile after the warranty has run out.
Customers question whether the improved gas mileage of hybrids actually saves them money because they are more expensive upfront than normal automobiles of comparable size. The answer relies on a number of variables, including gas prices, how frequently you drive, and how long you retain the automobile.
Typically, maintenance expenditures shouldn’t be considered heavily in the financial calculations. A hybrid’s gasoline engine needs the same upkeep as any other car’s. Early hybrid owners were forced to go to dealerships, which are occasionally more expensive, because few repair shops were willing to work on them. More mechanics are qualified and ready to work on hybrid vehicles today.
A hybrid car may require less regular maintenance than a conventional vehicle. When the car is stationary or moving at low speeds, the gas engine shuts off and the electric motor takes over. This implies that the engine experiences less deterioration. Oil changes are advised at 5,000 miles (8,046 kilometers) rather than the 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers) that mechanics advise for many comparable automobiles on smaller hybrids in particular.
Because of the hybrids’ regenerative braking mechanism and the reduced heat generated, brakes and brake pads typically last significantly longer.
The majority of hybrid vehicles don’t require any extra routine maintenance on the hybrid system. The Ford Escape hybrid is an exception, as its electric battery system’s air filter needs to be changed every 40,000 to 50,000 miles (64,373 to 80,437 kilometers).
However, there is always a chance that a specific hybrid system component, most frequently the huge battery pack, will malfunction. The typical warranty on a hybrid system for a vehicle sold today is eight years or one hundred thousand miles (160,934 kilometers) (241,402 kilometers). However, the expenditures might be astronomical if you’re unlucky and your car’s hybrid battery fails after you’ve reached those milestones. The price of a replacement hybrid battery has decreased for the most part, which is fantastic news. Early hybrid vehicles’ batteries might cost up to $8,000 at the time. Currently, budget for slightly over $2,000 today.
How dependable are Toyota hybrids?
The Toyota Prius, the hybrid crossover that launched the entire trend, will always be associated with hybrid cars. Over the course of two decades, it has even demonstrated its dependability, solidifying its place in the market and winning over customers.
Toyota is known for producing some of the most dependable engines, and the Prius is no exception. A remarkable 10-year/150,000-mile warranty is included with its hybrid battery. It is one of the most trustworthy automobiles available because to its low operating expenses and smooth hybrid powertrain.
What is the main issue with hybrid vehicles?
Battery Problems The battery systems are a hybrid car’s main flaw. Almost all hybrid vehicles employ powertrain-integrated batteries. That means that the automobile occasionally runs on battery power, which is wonderful news when you’re driving. Better gas mileage is the end outcome.
How can I tell if my hybrid battery has to be replaced?
Standard cars, vans, and SUVs work differently from hybrid-powered vehicles. When your hybrid automobile is getting close to the end of its useful life, it will offer you lots of warning signs. If you are unfamiliar with the warning indications, though, you could not detect a problem until the day your car won’t start.
Your hybrid battery may be on its last legs if:
- You frequently use your internal combustion engine.
- Your miles per gallon are declining.
- Your battery is struggling to maintain a charge.
- Unusual engine noises can be heard.
The lifespan of hybrid batteries is limited. After between eight and 10 years of use, most batteries eventually fail. Your battery may be covered by a warranty if it fails before eight years of use. The cost of repairing a dead hybrid battery, though, is often your burden outside of that.
Do hybrid batteries have warranties?
What could be better than a warranty on your hybrid car? owning a hybrid car with an extended warranty! Driving a hybrid has a lot of benefits, and you probably don’t want to give those up anytime soon, so it’s nice to have ongoing coverage for anything that goes wrong with your car. But for what are you protected? Do hybrid batteries go under extended warranties? The solution, however, is somewhat intricate.
The battery is covered under the usual hybrid vehicle’s standard warranties for eight years or 100,000 miles. The bad news is that your hybrid battery is probably not covered by your extended warranty. Why? Because one component of your car that should ultimately need replacing due to wear and tear is the battery. So, those kinds of wear-and-tear parts are typically not covered by extended warranties. The good news is that it’s likely your car’s manufacturer will cover the battery under its own warranty as opposed to the vehicle’s guarantee. If such is the case, you will be covered in the event that something goes wrong and you need a replacement.