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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

What owners actually said

110 reports
28,500 miles · Sep 2, 2018
TiresWheels

2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH OEM TOYO 245/55R19 OPEN COUNTRY M&S 103T TIRES AT ABOUT 70 MPH ON I95 SOUTH BOARD NEAR BRUNSWICK GA (EXIT 38?) , A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD AND THEN THE BUMPING MADE IT OBVIOUS A TIRE HAD FAILED SO THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WELL OF THE ROAD NEAR AN EXIT. THE LOCAL STATE HIGHWAY ASSISTANCE TRUCK (CHAMP) STOP…

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2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH OEM TOYO 245/55R19 OPEN COUNTRY M&S 103T TIRES AT ABOUT 70 MPH ON I95 SOUTH BOARD NEAR BRUNSWICK GA (EXIT 38?) , A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD AND THEN THE BUMPING MADE IT OBVIOUS A TIRE HAD FAILED SO THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WELL OF THE ROAD NEAR AN EXIT. THE LOCAL STATE HIGHWAY ASSISTANCE TRUCK (CHAMP) STOPPED AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND THE TOYOTA RESPONSE SERVICE TRUCK SHOWED UP ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER - THE TIRE WAS CHANGED AND WE PROCEEDED ON OUR WAY - MANY THANKS TO THE "ROAD RANGER" AND HIS TRUCK AND EXPERTISE! THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 28,500 MILES ON THEM - ESTIMATE ABOUT 55%OF ORIGINAL TREAD AND ARE MARKED: DOT 78HH CND 1016. THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A HOLE IN THE SIDEWALL THAT CAUSED SUDDEN LOSS OF PRESSURE.

NHTSA ODI #11124033

25,000 miles · Aug 20, 2018
Service Brakes

DRIVING DOWNHILL OR AT SPEEDS OVER 70 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE NOT EFFECTIVE TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY. THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITH CONFIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAD DONE ONLY 25,000 MILES AND UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. THE DEALER SIMPLY MACHINED THE ROTORS AND PUT THEM BACK. HOPING IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM…

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DRIVING DOWNHILL OR AT SPEEDS OVER 70 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE NOT EFFECTIVE TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY. THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITH CONFIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAD DONE ONLY 25,000 MILES AND UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. THE DEALER SIMPLY MACHINED THE ROTORS AND PUT THEM BACK. HOPING IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOT DUE TO DEFECTIVE ROTORS. SHOULDN'T TOYOTA LOOK INTO THIS MORE AND PERHAPS SUGGEST REPLACING THE ROTORS INSTEAD OF INSTALLING THE SAME ROTORS?

NHTSA ODI #11121106

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2018
Electrical System

CAR'S AWD STARTED NOT WORKING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS WAS "CHEWED" UP BY RODENTS. THEY STATED THEY SEEN IT BEFORE DUE TO A ORGANIC BASED OIL ON THE HARNESS WIRES.

NHTSA ODI #11120983

39,800 miles · May 17, 2018
Exterior Lighting

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT ON DARK, HILLY ROADS, THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD PROPERLY. IT IS AS IF THE LIGHTS ARE MASKED HORIZONTALLY WITH THE TOP HALF DARK. IT IS EXTREMELY SCARY TO BE DRIVING ON DARK COUNTRY ROADS THAT ARE HILLY. WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING DOWN HILL, YOU CANNOT SEE ANY DISTANCE IN FRONT OF THE CAR. GO…

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WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT ON DARK, HILLY ROADS, THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD PROPERLY. IT IS AS IF THE LIGHTS ARE MASKED HORIZONTALLY WITH THE TOP HALF DARK. IT IS EXTREMELY SCARY TO BE DRIVING ON DARK COUNTRY ROADS THAT ARE HILLY. WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING DOWN HILL, YOU CANNOT SEE ANY DISTANCE IN FRONT OF THE CAR. GOING UPHILL IS ALMOST AS BAD. IT IS ALMOST ENOUGH TO GET RID OF THIS CAR. SUPPOSEDLY THIS IS TO KEEP FROM BLINDING ONCOMING CARS. I DON'T BUY IT! THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE BEEN TRAVELING TO STATE AND NATIONAL PARKS AND SMALLER TOWNS IN SOUTHERN MISSOURI, TENNESSEE AND NORTH CAROLINA. THE LAST OCCURRENCE WAS MAY 4TH 2018 LEAVING BRYSON CITY NORTH CAROLINA AT 9:30PM.

NHTSA ODI #11096585

27,000 miles · Apr 17, 2018
Tires

LEFT REAR TIRE ON OUR 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BEGIN TO LOOSE AIR WHILE PASSING A SEMI TRUCK ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE TIRE PRESSURE ALARM NOTIFIED THE DRIVER OF TIRE PRESSURE LOSS FOR AN EMERGENCY STOP. UPON A COMPLETE STOP THE TIRE PRESSURE HAD DROPPED ABOUT 85 % OR SO, (NOT FLAT BUT VERY NEAR SO AND COMPLETED THE AIR LOSS …

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LEFT REAR TIRE ON OUR 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BEGIN TO LOOSE AIR WHILE PASSING A SEMI TRUCK ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE TIRE PRESSURE ALARM NOTIFIED THE DRIVER OF TIRE PRESSURE LOSS FOR AN EMERGENCY STOP. UPON A COMPLETE STOP THE TIRE PRESSURE HAD DROPPED ABOUT 85 % OR SO, (NOT FLAT BUT VERY NEAR SO AND COMPLETED THE AIR LOSS WITHIN A SHORT TIME AFTER STOPPING).. WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE I WAS FOLLOWING BEHIND MY WIFE DRIVING THE HIGHLANDER AT THE TIME. TRAVEL SPEED WAS BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH AT THE TIME. THE TIRES ARE THE ORIGINAL THAT CAME ON THE TOYOTA NEW AND HAD ABOUT 27000 MILES ON THEM. UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRE IT LOOKS OBVIOUS THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF VISUAL CRUMBLED RUBBER ALL INSIDE THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALLS IN SIDE AND THE MASSIVE BLISTERS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE, WE HAD ALL THE TIRES REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE AS WE HAD NO TRUST IN THE REST OF THE TIRES AFTER THIS HAPPENED. NEITHER THE TOYO TIRE MANUFACTURER REP., THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, OR THE TOYOTA COMPANY WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE, OR OFFERED ANY CONCESSIONS AGAINST THE REPLACEMENT TIRES. PHOTOS OF THE TIRE AND OR THE TIRE ITSELF IS AVAILABLE FOR NHTSA IF THERE IS A REQUEST TO REVIEW. POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM THE TOYO TIRE MANUFACTURER, THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP OR THE TOYOTA COMPANY IS QUITE OBVIOUS TO US THAT THEY HAD NO CONCERN FOR OTHER PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE THE SAME TOYO TIRES THAT TOYOTA CHOOSE TO PUT ON THE NEW VEHICLE THAT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE TIRE BRAND IS TOYO, TIRE LINE IS OPEN COUNTRY, TIRE SIZE 245-55-19 DOT # 73HH (CND2216)

NHTSA ODI #11088617

500 miles · Mar 19, 2018
TiresWheels

WE BOUGHT TIRES AND FOUND THEM TO DEFECTIVE WITHIN A FEW DAYS IN WHICH YOU HAVE 30 DAYS TO GET REFUNDED OR PAY THE DIFFERENCE FOR ANOTHER TIRES .WE DID UPGRADE TO MICHELIN TIRES BUT NOT GET THE FULL REUND FOM THE DEFECTIVE TIRES THAT GOODYEAR WANTED TO HAVE RETURNED AND INVESTIGATED ,BUT THE MANAGER HAD THEM DESTROYED TO COVER U…

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WE BOUGHT TIRES AND FOUND THEM TO DEFECTIVE WITHIN A FEW DAYS IN WHICH YOU HAVE 30 DAYS TO GET REFUNDED OR PAY THE DIFFERENCE FOR ANOTHER TIRES .WE DID UPGRADE TO MICHELIN TIRES BUT NOT GET THE FULL REUND FOM THE DEFECTIVE TIRES THAT GOODYEAR WANTED TO HAVE RETURNED AND INVESTIGATED ,BUT THE MANAGER HAD THEM DESTROYED TO COVER UP THE EVIDENCE AND WE LOST $321.00 AND NOW WE WILL HAVE SAMS ALSO INVESTIGATED BY THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY FOR SELLING DEFECTIVE TIRES FROM GOOD YEAR AND COVERING IT UP.WE DEFINETLY WILL NOT LET THIS ISSUE GO BECAUSE WE FEEL THESE TIRES WERE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SAMS AND GOOD YEAR SHOULD OF ACKNOLEGED

NHTSA ODI #11080089

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2018
Exterior Lighting

THE REAR PASSENGER TAIL LENS CONTINUES TO FOG UP. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL AND THERE IS NOT. I WOULD LIKE THE LENS REPLACED WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANT. BUT I DON'T WANT ANY ISSUES FROM THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. HOW DO I RESOLVE THE ISSUE, DO YOU ISSUE A WORK ORDER TO THE DEALERSHIP?

NHTSA ODI #11079828

20,000 miles · Feb 12, 2018
Service Brakes

WHEN THE CAR IS FULLY LOADED, THE PARKING BRAKE FAILS TO KEEP THE CAR FROM MOVING WHEN ON A HILL.

NHTSA ODI #11072443

7,100 miles · Jan 19, 2018
Engine

WHENEVER THE WEATHER IS COLDER LIKE 35 DEGREES OR LOWER I AM HAVING ISSUES STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ALREADY CHANGED THE BATTERY BUT IT DID NOT HELP. I HAD THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALER FOR 10 DAYS BUT THEY COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. IN THIS TIME I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR RENTAL AND OTHER EXPENSES. YESTERDAY IT TOOK ME 45 M…

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WHENEVER THE WEATHER IS COLDER LIKE 35 DEGREES OR LOWER I AM HAVING ISSUES STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ALREADY CHANGED THE BATTERY BUT IT DID NOT HELP. I HAD THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALER FOR 10 DAYS BUT THEY COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. IN THIS TIME I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR RENTAL AND OTHER EXPENSES. YESTERDAY IT TOOK ME 45 MINUTES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. I SPOKE TO TOYOTA AND THEY ARE NOT VERY HELPFUL.

NHTSA ODI #11063769

19,500 miles · Jan 2, 2018
Visibility/wiper

DRIVING SOUTH ON 12/20/2017, ON US-287 NEAR THE OKLAHOMA/TEXAS BORDER WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES VISIBLE IN FRONT OF US OR ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THE FRONT SECTION OF OUR SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED. LUCKILY THE SHADE WAS DRAWN OR SMALL PIECES OF GLASS WOULD HAVE FALLEN DOWN ON MY FAMILY. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND NEARLY CLOUDLESS BLUE SK…

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DRIVING SOUTH ON 12/20/2017, ON US-287 NEAR THE OKLAHOMA/TEXAS BORDER WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES VISIBLE IN FRONT OF US OR ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THE FRONT SECTION OF OUR SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED. LUCKILY THE SHADE WAS DRAWN OR SMALL PIECES OF GLASS WOULD HAVE FALLEN DOWN ON MY FAMILY. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND NEARLY CLOUDLESS BLUE SKY DAY. DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY THEY SAID IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN A ROCK. THEY OFFERED NO PROOF THAT IT WAS A ROCK AND I FIND IT NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ANYTHING ELSE. WHILE DRIVING WE DID HAVE A FAIRLY DRASTIC TEMPERATURE CHANGE FROM THE MID 20'S TO THE MID 60'S. WE WERE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI #11058116

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.