Toyota Highlander Timing Overview (All Model Years)
All 4 cylinder Toyota Highlanders from 2001 up to now are equipped with a timing chain and an interference engine.
All V6 Toyota Highlanders from 2007 and older have timing belts and non-interference engines.
All V6 Toyota Highlanders from 2008 and newer have timing chains and interference engines.
Model | Years | Engine Type | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Toyota Highlander | 2001-2007, 2009-2014 | 4 Cylinder | timing chain | interference |
2001-2007 | V6 | timing belt | non-interference | |
2008-2020 | V6 | timing chain | interference | |
Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 2006-2010 | V6 | timing belt | non-interference |
2011-2020 | V6 | timing chain | interference |
Scroll down for detailed information on your particular model year.
Check Out Belt Or Chain For Other Makes And Models

Get Our Comprehensive Depreciation Data And Value Forecasts For The Toyota Highlander. (opens in new window)
Note: Replacement intervals are broad recommendations and can be affected by age, weather conditions, running conditions etc. Check with the owner's manual/ manufacturer/ dealership.
2020 Toyota Highlander
All 2020 Toyota Highlander models have a timing chain and an interference engine.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
3.5L V6, 292 hp (2GR-FKS) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2.5L 4 Cyl. Hybrid, 240 hp (A25A-FXS) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2019 Toyota Highlander
All 2019 Toyota Highlander models have a timing chain and an interference engine.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
3.5L V6, 295 hp (2GR-FKS) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2.7L 4 Cyl., 185 hp (1AR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.5L V6 Hybrid, 306 hp (2GR-FXE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2018 Toyota Highlander
All 2018 Toyota Highlander models have a timing chain and an interference engine.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
3.5L V6, 295 hp (2GR-FKS) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2.7L 4 Cyl., 185 hp (1AR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.5L V6 Hybrid, 306 hp (2GR-FXE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2017 Toyota Highlander
All 2017 Toyota Highlander models have a timing chain and an interference engine.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
3.5L V6, 295 hp (2GR-FKS) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2.7L 4 Cyl., 185 hp (1AR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.5L V6 Hybrid, 306 hp (2GR-FXE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2016 Toyota Highlander
All 2016 Toyota Highlander models have a timing chain and an interference engine.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
3.5L V6, 270 hp (2GR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2.7L 4 Cyl., 185 hp (1AR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.5L V6 Hybrid, 280 hp (2GR-FXE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2015 Toyota Highlander
All 2015 Toyota Highlander models have a timing chain and an interference engine.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
3.5L V6, 270 hp (2GR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2.7L 4 Cyl., 185 hp (1AR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.5L V6 Hybrid, 280 hp (2GR-FXE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2014 Toyota Highlander
All 2014 Toyota Highlander models have a timing chain and an interference engine.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
3.5L V6, 270 hp (2GR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2.7L 4 Cyl., 185 hp (1AR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.5L V6 Hybrid, 280 hp (2GR-FXE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2013 Toyota Highlander
All 2013 Toyota Highlander models have a timing chain and an interference engine.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
3.5L V6, 270 hp (2GR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2.7L 4 Cyl., 185 hp (1AR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.5L V6 Hybrid, 280 hp (2GR-FXE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2012 Toyota Highlander
All 2012 Toyota Highlander models have a timing chain and an interference engine.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
3.5L V6, 270 hp (2GR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2.7L 4 Cyl., 185 hp (1AR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.5L V6 Hybrid, 280 hp (2GR-FXE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2011 Toyota Highlander
All 2011 Toyota Highlander models have a timing chain and an interference engine.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
3.5L V6, 270 hp (2GR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2.7L 4 Cyl., 185 hp (1AR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.5L V6 Hybrid, 280 hp (2GR-FXE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2010 Toyota Highlander
All conventional 2010 Toyota Highlander models have timing chains and interference engines while the Highlander Hybrid has a timing belt along with a non-interference engine.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
3.5L V6, 270 hp (2GR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2.7L 4 Cyl., 185 hp (1AR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.3L V6 Hybrid, 270 hp (3MZ-FE) | timing belt | non-interference | 90k |
2009 Toyota Highlander
All conventional 2009 Toyota Highlander models have timing chains and interference engines while the Highlander Hybrid has a timing belt along with a non-interference engine.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
3.5L V6, 270 hp (2GR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
2.7L 4 Cyl., 185 hp (1AR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.3L V6 Hybrid, 270 hp (3MZ-FE) | timing belt | non-interference | 100k |
2008 Toyota Highlander
The conventional 2008 Toyota Highlander models have timing chains and interference engines while the Hybrids have timing belts and non-interference engines.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
3.5L V6, 270 hp (2GR-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.3L V6 Hybrid, 270 hp (3MZ-FE) | timing belt | non-interference | 100k |
2007 Toyota Highlander
The 4 cylinder 2007 Toyota Highlander has a timing chain and interference engine while both the conventional V6 and Hybrid V6 have timing belts and non-interference engines.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
2.4L 4 Cyl., 160 hp (2AZ-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.3L V6, 230 hp (3MZ-FE) | timing belt | non-interference | 100k |
3.3L V6 Hybrid, 270 hp (3MZ-FE) | timing belt | non-interference | 100k |
2006 Toyota Highlander
The 4 cylinder 2006 Toyota Highlander has a timing chain and interference engine while both the conventional V6 and Hybrid V6 have timing belts and non-interference engines.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
2.4L 4 Cyl., 160 hp (2AZ-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.3L V6, 230 hp (3MZ-FE) | timing belt | non-interference | 100k |
3.3L V6 Hybrid, 270 hp (3MZ-FE) | timing belt | non-interference | 100k |
2005 Toyota Highlander
The 4 cylinder 2005 Toyota Highlander has a timing chain and an interference engine while the V6 has a timing belt and a non-interference engine.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
2.4L 4 Cyl., 160 hp (2AZ-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.3L V6, 230 hp (3MZ-FE) | timing belt | non-interference | 100k |
2004 Toyota Highlander
The 4 cylinder 2004 Toyota Highlander has a timing chain and an interference engine while the V6 has a timing belt and a non-interference engine.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
2.4L 4 Cyl., 160 hp (2AZ-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.3L V6, 230 hp (3MZ-FE) | timing belt | non-interference | 90k |
2003 Toyota Highlander
The 4 cylinder 2003 Toyota Highlander has a timing chain and an interference engine while the V6 has a timing belt and a non-interference engine.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
2.4L 4 Cyl., 160 hp (2AZ-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.3L V6, 230 hp (3MZ-FE) | timing belt | non-interference | 90k |
2002 Toyota Highlander
The 4 cylinder 2002 Toyota Highlander has a timing chain and an interference engine while the V6 has a timing belt and a non-interference engine.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
2.4L 4 Cyl., 155 hp (2AZ-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.3L V6, 220 hp (3MZ-FE) | timing belt | non-interference | 90k |
2001 Toyota Highlander
The 4 cylinder 2001 Toyota Highlander has a timing chain and an interference engine while the V6 has a timing belt and a non-interference engine.
Engine Type (Engine Code) | Timing Belt Or Chain | Interference Or Non-Interference | Replacement Interval (Miles) |
---|---|---|---|
2.4L 4 Cyl., 155 hp (2AZ-FE) | timing chain | interference | lifetime |
3.3L V6, 220 hp (3MZ-FE) | timing belt | non-interference | 90k |