Verdict
2016 Toyota Highlander: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2016 Toyota Highlander — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for SUV.
Owners filed 115 NHTSA complaints — more complaints than 52% of 2016 SUVs. Unknown Or Other leads the reports (16%). 3 safety recall campaigns on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2016 SUVs, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
115
Reports to NHTSA, 2016
Safety recalls
3
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
22
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
More complaints than 52% of 2016 SUVs
The bar is this car's percentile among 2016 SUVs by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Unknown Or Other issues lead owner complaints (16% of 115 reports), followed by service brakes (13%).
+ 13 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 115 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11467621, ODI 11446735, ODI 11440142, ODI 11360096, ODI 11359935.
Recalls(3)
Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.
EquipmentSep 2016 · 16V420000Details +Close −
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."
Risk: 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.
Electrical System · 16V775000Details +Close −
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."
Risk: 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.
Electrical System · 18E107000Details +Close −
Fujian 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 Control Module (ECM).
Risk: The ECM damage may result in the engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Wanda will notify owners, and service centers will replace the windshields, and inspect the ECM for damage, having it replaced, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2019. Owners may contact Wanda customer service at 1-864-281-2760.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
2016 Toyota Highlander SUV AWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
2016 Toyota Highlander SUV FWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlander Hybrid AWD LE Plus | 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| Highlander Hybrid AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 27 | 28 | 28 |
| Highlander 2WD | 2.7L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 20 | 25 | 22 |
| Highlander 2WD | 3.5L 6-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 19 | 25 | 21 |
| Highlander AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 18 | 24 | 20 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2016 Toyota Highlander: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2016 Toyota Highlander?
Owners filed 115 NHTSA complaints about the 2016 Toyota Highlander — more complaints than 52% of comparable 2016 SUVs, so it sits toward the weaker end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2016 Toyota Highlander?
The most-reported problem areas are Unknown Or Other (16% of complaints) and service brakes (13%).
How many recalls does the 2016 Toyota Highlander have?
3 recalls have been issued that affect the 2016 Toyota Highlander, covering components such as equipment. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Toyota Highlander get?
The EPA rates the 2016 Toyota Highlander between 20 and 28 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.