Toyota Highlander and Kluger XU50 buying guide

2014 to 2020. An XU50 suits a family that wants a big, durable V6 seven seater and checks the recalls and paint.

Big jobs

Peeling paint. Toyota had paint adhesion trouble on several models, with paint peeling in large sheets and white the worst affected. Most cars were fixed.

Bluetooth and head unit. Poor Bluetooth with drop outs, poor clarity and pairing trouble is widely reported, and dealer visits often have not fixed it.
Ex emergency service vehicles. Ex police, ambulance and fire vehicles were often cold started and driven hard, and police duty belts wear the seat bolsters.
Towing and salt water boat launching. A big tow hitch can mean heavy towing, and regular boat launching in salt water shows as surface rust at the rear.
Underbody scrapes. Dents and scrapes underneath point to off road use, and most Klugers should be free of them.

Recalls. Recalls cover a possible poor weld in the fuel line, a power steering circuit board that can lose assistance, the brake booster and stability control that may not default to on.
Leather trim. Neglected leather dries out and turns brittle before cracking.

Is it a pre 2017 car with the 6 speed auto or a facelift with the 8 speed?
Have all the recalls been done, including the fuel line and power steering board?
Has it been used for towing or launching a boat?
Was it ever a police, ambulance or fire service vehicle?
Has it been repainted under the Toyota paint programme?

Researched 2026-11-04. General guidance from owner and specialist sources. Check the specific car with an independent inspection.