Toyota Highlander
3.5L V6 — Toyota's universal six-cylinder for midsize through SUV. Cam tower oil leak like the Tundra V8, but less common. Budget for water pump around 80k miles. Overall one of the most reliable V6 engines on the market, 250k+ mile lifespans documented.
Highlander XU40 V6 — the competent family SUV
270 hp V6 in the Highlander: enough power for anything. Reliable engine, solid automatic. Not an adventure SUV, but a faithful family hauler.
Engine Weaknesses 3
RTV sealant at cam tower ages. Same issue as Toyota V8 engines, less common on V6.
Symptoms: Oil smell, oil trail at front of engine
Water pump with plastic impeller wears out. Replace during timing belt/chain service.
Symptoms: Coolant loss, drip under engine
Slightly elevated oil consumption at higher mileage — normal for the series. Regular monitoring sufficient.
Symptoms: Oil level drops between changes
Vehicle Weaknesses 3
On hybrid variants, the inverter can fail at high mileage. Expensive component, complex replacement.
Front struts wear faster than expected, especially on rough roads.
Brake rotors warp well below 60k miles. Accelerated on heavy vehicle under load.