There are 5 owner-reported tires & wheels complaints for the 2009 Toyota Highlanderin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
245/55R19 is the tire size. I went to have my tires balanced and aligned on [XXX] at a local shop, Arrow. Alignment here in Eau Claire, WI. They advised me that the ply in all 4 tires was separating and that is why the ride was so rough. Presently I’m scheduled to have them all replaced to the tune of $1,034 and change this Friday, [XXX] at arrow alignment because although the tread - confirmed at a dealership to still be good - the tires themselves seem to have some sort of defect in them causing them all to have the ply separating. I’ll have them check the spare this Friday as well to ensure that is not also experiencing ply separation and if it is have that replaced as well. Fortunately this didn’t cause a horrid accident, but I’ve been driving on these at high speeds assuming I just had to get them aligned and balanced. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
OUR CAR HAS 17,000. MILES AND TURNS OUT THE TIRES ARE BARE IN SPOTS AND THE CAR HYDROPLANED AND SKIDDED AND WOULD NOT HOLD THE ROAD IN A LIGHT SNOWSTORM. WE OFTEN SKIDDED RIGHT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WE HAVE DRIVEN MANY SUVS OVER THE YEARS -WE ARE 69- AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. TOYOTA EMAILED TO US THAT THE TOYO A20 P245/55R19 OPEN COUNTRY TIRES THE CAR CAME WITH ARE NOT MEANT FOR DRIVING IN SNOW. WE LIVE IN VT AND THE CAR WAS SOLD TO US AS AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE CAR FOR DRIVING IN SNOW. I HAVE LOOKED AT THE INTERNET AND OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. MY SON JUST PURCHASE A NEW HIGHLANDER AND I WORRY HIS TIRES ARE THE SAME. *TR
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 19" RIMS WITH TOYO OPEN COUNTRY A20 TIRES ARE VERY UNSAFE. THIS TIRE/WHEEL COMBINATION WAS STANDARD ON 2008/09 LIMITED AND SPORT HIGHLANDERS. MY 2009 HIGHLANDER WOULD SLIP ALL OVER THE PLACE IN WINTER DRIVING. BY FAR THE WORST WINTER VEHICLE I EVER OWNED AND I'VE OWNED PLENTY THAT WERE NOT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE. LUCKILY THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM IS GOOD AND SAVED ME FROM SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. TOYOTA USED VERY LARGE 19" RIMS AND PERFORMANCE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES WERE WORN OUT AFTER 18 MONTHS AND 21,000 MILES. WHY TOYOTA THOUGHT BIG WHEELS AND PERFORMANCE TIRES WERE IMPORTANT TO AN SUV PURCHASER IS BEYOND ME. TOYOTA ALSO REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THEIR SAFETY DEFECT (NOT TO MENTION THE TIRES ONLY LASTED 21,000 MILES). I PURCHASED 17" RIMS ON MY OWN AND TOYO PROVIDED CREDIT FOR 2 OF THE 4 NEW OPEN COUNTRY HT TIRES AND THE SUV IS NOW MUCH SAFER - IT NO LONGER FEELS LIKE I AM RIDING ON ROLLER SKATES! *TR
TURNING RIGHT FROM CITY HIGHWAY TO CITY STREET AT ABOUT 15 MPH AND RR TIRE HAD SIDEWALL BLOWOUT. HAD TO REPLACE TIRE WITH SAME BRAND AS ONLY BRIDGESTONE AND TOYO MAKE A TIRE THIS SIZE FOR 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. 245/55R19. *TR
I INSTALLED WINTER TIRES AND WHEELS WITH OEM TPMS AND WAS NOT ABLE TO RESET THE CAR TO RECOGNIZE THESE NEW SENSORS. I'M TOLD THAT I HAVE TO HAVE THE DEALER RESET THE SYSTEM TWICE A YEAR WHEN I CHANGE WHEELS AND TIRES OR LET THE SYSTEM READ FAILURE UNTIL I SWAP BACK THE ORIGINAL WHEELS AND TIRES. THE CAR IS A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. I THINK THE TPMS IS A GREAT SYSTEM BUT THE MANUFACTURES NEED TO UPDATE THE CARS SOFTWARE TO ALLOW THE DRIVER TO UPDATE THE SYSTEM. THE DEALER CHARGES 125.00 EACH TIME FOR THIS SERVICE. THE LAW MANDATING TPMS DIDN'T INTEND TO MAKE THIS A CASH COW FOR THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026