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2016 Toyota Highlander

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Toyota Highlander do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 186.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

71 reports with mileage · 39 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

21 reports
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39,000 miles · May 22, 2019
Unknown Or Other

THE REAR WINDSHIELD ON OUR 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EXPLODED WITHOUT ANY PROVOCATION. PULLING INTO AN EMPTY PARKING SPACE UPON PLACING THE CAR IN PARK, THE READ WINDSHIELD EXPLODED AND SHATTERED INTO PIECES. NOTHING HIT IT. NOTHING BANGED INTO IT. JUST EXPLODED FOR NO REASON.

NHTSA ODI #11209183

42,350 miles · Mar 18, 2019
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED BY THE DEFROSTER. FROM THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE BREAK IS ON THE INSIDE GOING DOWN TO THE DEFROSTER AND THEN ACROSS THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE WHEN IT WAS STARTED, THE DEFROSTER WAS PUT ON HIGH FAN. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE CRACK APPEARED IN THE CENTER GOING …

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THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED BY THE DEFROSTER. FROM THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE BREAK IS ON THE INSIDE GOING DOWN TO THE DEFROSTER AND THEN ACROSS THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE WHEN IT WAS STARTED, THE DEFROSTER WAS PUT ON HIGH FAN. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE CRACK APPEARED IN THE CENTER GOING DOWN TOWARDS THE DEFROSTER AND THEN ACROSS THE LOWER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE.

NHTSA ODI #11187509

30,000 miles · Dec 3, 2018
Unknown Or Other

VEHICLE REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODED FOR NOT REASON. VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR TWO DAYS SAME SPOT IN HOME FENCE AREA AND I STARTED IT AND SHUT THE DRIVER DOOR AND IMMEDIATELY HEARD A SOUND AND LOOKED THE REAR MIRROR AND IT WAS GONE MEANING COMPLETE SHATTERED IN PIECES. I HAVE PICTURE TO CLARIFY THE DAMAGE AND TOYOTA COURTESY DEALER DE…

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VEHICLE REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODED FOR NOT REASON. VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR TWO DAYS SAME SPOT IN HOME FENCE AREA AND I STARTED IT AND SHUT THE DRIVER DOOR AND IMMEDIATELY HEARD A SOUND AND LOOKED THE REAR MIRROR AND IT WAS GONE MEANING COMPLETE SHATTERED IN PIECES. I HAVE PICTURE TO CLARIFY THE DAMAGE AND TOYOTA COURTESY DEALER DECLINE TO REPAIR IT SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL. I USUALLY HAVE MY GRANDCHILDREN WITH ME IN THE VEHICLE SO YOU COULD IMAGING HOW DESPERATE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR MY FAMILY AT THAT MOMENT IF THEY WERE WITH ME. PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THERE ARE SOMETIME THAT THIS CAN BE EXPEDITED WHEN IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THIS ISSUE IS ONE OF THEM. THANK YOU!

NHTSA ODI #11155575

35,000 miles · Nov 15, 2018
Exterior LightingService BrakesUnknown Or Other

BRAKES HAVE A SLIGHT VIBRATION WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS IN THE CITY AND SOMEONE IS STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY. MY LIGHTS HAVE DIMMED DRAMATICALLY SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED NEW. THE PASSENGER SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT IS FULL OF MOISTURE. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND/OR AC FAN/MOTOR IS HALFWAY FUNCTIONING AT 38K! …

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BRAKES HAVE A SLIGHT VIBRATION WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS IN THE CITY AND SOMEONE IS STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY. MY LIGHTS HAVE DIMMED DRAMATICALLY SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED NEW. THE PASSENGER SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT IS FULL OF MOISTURE. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND/OR AC FAN/MOTOR IS HALFWAY FUNCTIONING AT 38K! BY THIS, I MEAN THAT THE AC IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR KICKS ON AND OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF COOLING AND IT BLOWS 50% OF WHAT IT DID WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. CONVENIENT TOYOTA?

NHTSA ODI #11151645

12,950 miles · Oct 12, 2017
Unknown Or Other

PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED

NHTSA ODI #11033116

30,000 miles · Jul 20, 2017
Unknown Or Other

WHILE MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THE SUNROOF SHATTERED, IT WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANYTHING BUT SHATTERED WITH NO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE CAUSING GLASS DEBRIS .

NHTSA ODI #11006662

5,790 miles · Jun 4, 2017
Unknown Or Other

ON 6/4/2017 AT 7:23 PM, PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM (PCS) BEEPED AND LIT UP "BRAKE" EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS AT LEAST 4 CAR LENGTHS AWAY AND IT WAS TRAVELING FASTER THAN MY VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE IN MARCH 2017. THE PCS WARNING CAME UP EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MY MOVING VEHICLE. KOONS TOYO…

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ON 6/4/2017 AT 7:23 PM, PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM (PCS) BEEPED AND LIT UP "BRAKE" EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS AT LEAST 4 CAR LENGTHS AWAY AND IT WAS TRAVELING FASTER THAN MY VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE IN MARCH 2017. THE PCS WARNING CAME UP EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MY MOVING VEHICLE. KOONS TOYOTA LOOKED AT MY CAR ON APRIL 29 AND SAW AN EVENT IN MY CAR'S COMPUTER. A SUBSEQUENT CHECKUP ON MAY 18 AND 19, 2017 REVEALED NOTHING MORE, ACCORDING TO THEM. I WILL BRING MY CAR IN TO KOONS AGAIN BUT THEY MAY SAY THEY HAVE FOUND NOTHING SIGNIFICANT. I AM WORRIED THAT ONE DAY THIS CAR WILL SUDDENLY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSE A DANGEROUS PILE UP OF CRASHED CARS.

NHTSA ODI #10993100

4,200 miles · Apr 10, 2017
Unknown Or Other

MY WIFE TURNED OFF THE KEYLESS IGNITION OF OUR VEHICLE WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN DRIVE. SHE STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR AND IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. FORTUNATELY THE GARAGE DOOR WAS CLOSED OTHERWISE SHE MAY WOULD BEEN HIT BY THE CAR DOOR OR THE CAR WOULD HAVE ROLLED INTO THE STREET. WE LIVE IN A CUL DE SAC WHERE CHILDREN PLAY. …

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MY WIFE TURNED OFF THE KEYLESS IGNITION OF OUR VEHICLE WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN DRIVE. SHE STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR AND IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. FORTUNATELY THE GARAGE DOOR WAS CLOSED OTHERWISE SHE MAY WOULD BEEN HIT BY THE CAR DOOR OR THE CAR WOULD HAVE ROLLED INTO THE STREET. WE LIVE IN A CUL DE SAC WHERE CHILDREN PLAY. I CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS AND WAS TOLD THAT IS HOW THE IGNITION IS SUPPOSED TO FUNCTION FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE DRIVER. I SPOKE TO A TOYOTA REP WHO TOLD ME THAT WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND CONVENIENCE SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE BECOMES MORE DANGEROUS. OUR OTHER TWO CARS HAVE KEYED IGNITIONS AND REQUIRE THE TRANSMISSION TO BE IN PARK IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE KEY. I KNOW THIS IS DANGEROUS. IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE WHILE THE ENGINE IS OFF AND NO ONE IS AT THE DRIVER'S POSITION.

NHTSA ODI #10971652

205 miles · Mar 11, 2017
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE IS ON A DECLINE THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT MAINTAIN THE SET SPEED. I NOTICED THIS SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELING BETWEEN 65-75 MPH. EACH TIME THERE WAS A CAR AHEAD OF ME AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC ACCIDENTS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I…

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WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE IS ON A DECLINE THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT MAINTAIN THE SET SPEED. I NOTICED THIS SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELING BETWEEN 65-75 MPH. EACH TIME THERE WAS A CAR AHEAD OF ME AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC ACCIDENTS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE SO I CONTINUED TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AS I WOULD NORMALLY DO. AFTER IT HAPPENED AGAIN I DECIDED NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AT ALL WHICH WAS VERY FRUSTRATING CONSIDERING THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 2 WEEKS OLD AND I PURCHASED IT JUST FOR LONG FAMILY TRIPS. THERE IS ALSO A WIND WHISTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR THE NOISE ISSUE AND I WAITED THERE FOR 5 HOURS ONLY FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE AND THERE IS NO FIX FOR IT. THIS HAS TURNED OUT THE BE THE WORST CAR EXPERIENCE I'VE EVER HAD.

NHTSA ODI #10960097

50 miles · Feb 23, 2016
Unknown Or Other

I PURCHASED THE TOP OF THE LINE LIMITED PLATINUM MODEL IN ORDER TO GET SAFETY FEATURES. HOWEVER, THE WARNING CHINES FOR LANE DEPARTURE, BACK UP CROSS TRAFFIC PROTECTION ETC. ARE VERY FAINT WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER CARS THAT HAVE THESE FEATURES. WHEN THE RADIO PLAYS MUSIC THEY CAN NOT BE HEARD AT ALL RENDERING THESE PROTECTION FEAT…

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I PURCHASED THE TOP OF THE LINE LIMITED PLATINUM MODEL IN ORDER TO GET SAFETY FEATURES. HOWEVER, THE WARNING CHINES FOR LANE DEPARTURE, BACK UP CROSS TRAFFIC PROTECTION ETC. ARE VERY FAINT WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER CARS THAT HAVE THESE FEATURES. WHEN THE RADIO PLAYS MUSIC THEY CAN NOT BE HEARD AT ALL RENDERING THESE PROTECTION FEATURES USELESS. FURTHERMORE, THE VOLUME OF THE WARNING CHIMES CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY BOTH THE DEALER AND TOYOTA.

NHTSA ODI #10837845

Official recalls

2

16V775000 · Electrical System:wiring; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid

Oct 24, 2016

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Highlander vehicles manufactured May 26, 2016, to September 16, 2016. The brake fluid level sensor may not be connected to the wire harness, preventing the sensor from detecting the brake fluid level. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the brake fluid level is low and is not detected, the braking performance may be decreased, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, connect the wire harness to the sensor, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this G03.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:wiring

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Highlander vehicles manufactured May 26, 2016, to September 16, 2016. The brake fluid level sensor may not be connected to the wire harness, preventing the sensor from detecting the brake fluid level. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Consequence: If the brake fluid level is low and is not detected, the braking performance may be decreased, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, connect the wire harness to the sensor, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this G03.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Highlander vehicles manufactured May 26, 2016, to September 16, 2016. The brake fluid level sensor may not be connected to the wire harness, preventing the sensor from detecting the brake fluid level. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Consequence: If the brake fluid level is low and is not detected, the braking performance may be decreased, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, connect the wire harness to the sensor, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this G03.

16V420000 · Equipment:other:labels

Jun 9, 2016

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2015-2016 Toyota Tundra, Scion FR-S, and tC vehicles. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.