2016 Toyota Highlander problems and recalls

Owners have filed 111 complaints on the 2016 Toyota Highlander, and NHTSA has issued 3 recalls. The most cited component is the Unknown Or Other (21 complaints).

111
Complaints
3
Recalls
14
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
11
Injuries
100.0
Severity index

Severity index 100.0 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 100.0p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 14 of 142 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 90% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 21 complaints (18.9%)21 19%Service BrakesService Brakes: 19 complaints (17.1%)19 17%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 14 complaints (12.6%)14 13%Air BagsAir Bags: 10 complaints (9.0%)10 9%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 9 complaints (8.1%)9 8%EngineEngine: 9 complaints (8.1%)9 8%TiresTires: 7 complaints (6.3%)7 6%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 7 complaints (6.3%)7 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2118.9%
SERVICE BRAKES1917.1%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1412.6%
AIR BAGS109.0%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING98.1%
ENGINE98.1%
TIRES76.3%
VISIBILITY/WIPER76.3%

Complaints filed per year

010212015: 12016: 112017: 182018: 152019: 212020: 112021: 32022: 102023: 62024: 52025: 52026: 5 (partial year)15161718192120212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20151
201611
201718
201815
201921
202011
20213
202210
20236
20245
20255
2026 (year to date)5
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (16 against 24).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18E10700027/11/2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFujian Wanda Automobile Glass Industry (Wanda) is recalling certain aftermarket Replacement Windshields sold for use in 2014-2018 Toyota Highlander vehicles. The windshields have an attached wire harness that water may leak into, possibly causing damage to the vehicle's Engine C
16V77500024/10/2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRINGToyota 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 flui
16V42000009/06/2016EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSSoutheast 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.

Other Toyota Highlander model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-10-06. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.