2018 Toyota Highlander problems and recalls

Owners have filed 264 complaints on the 2018 Toyota Highlander, and NHTSA has issued 5 recalls. The most cited component is the Power Train (64 complaints).

264
Complaints
5
Recalls
23
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
25
Injuries
98.6
Severity index

Severity index 98.6 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 98.6p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 13 of 122 by severity index among 2018 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 89% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2018 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Power TrainPower Train: 64 complaints (24.2%)64 24%Service BrakesService Brakes: 58 complaints (22.0%)58 22%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 43 complaints (16.3%)43 16%EngineEngine: 33 complaints (12.5%)33 12%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 24 complaints (9.1%)24 9%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 22 complaints (8.3%)22 8%Air BagsAir Bags: 19 complaints (7.2%)19 7%Fuel SystemFuel System: 14 complaints (5.3%)14 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
POWER TRAIN6424.2%
SERVICE BRAKES5822.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4316.3%
ENGINE3312.5%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM249.1%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM228.3%
AIR BAGS197.2%
FUEL SYSTEM145.3%

Complaints filed per year

023462018: 212019: 312020: 462021: 262022: 232023: 252024: 282025: 242026: 40 (partial year)18192046212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
201821
201931
202046
202126
202223
202325
202428
202524
2026 (year to date)40
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (77 against 95).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
20V68200004/11/2020FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna,
20V01200013/01/2020FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and ce
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
17V83100020/12/2017EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As
18V21100003/04/2018SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUMToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry and Highlander vehicles, 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the oil galley in the rotor for the brake booster vacuum pump

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 2026-09-05. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.