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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 →
110Owner complaints

Model-year median: 186.5

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
206
2013135
2014191
2015110
2016265
2017265
2018480
2019
Compare all Highlander years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Unknown Or Other
21Service Brakes
19Electrical System
14Air Bags
10Engine
9
All reported categories
Exterior Lighting
9Tires
7Visibility/wiper
7Steering
6Electronic Stability Control (esc)
4Seats
4Structure
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Wheels
4Forward Collision Avoidance
3Fuel/propulsion System
3Suspension
2Visibility
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Power Train
1Seat Belts
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

4 reports
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38,000 miles · Sep 12, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WHEN DRIVING, PERIODICALLY, UNDER NO PARTICULAR ROAD OR WEATHER CONDITION, THE "CHECK AWD SYSTEM," "ABS," "BRAKE" AND "STABILITY CONTROL" WARNING LIGHTS LIGHT UP. WHEN WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON, ONLY THE FRONT WHEELS WILL DRIVE AND STABILITY CONTROL IS INACTIVE. REAL WHEELS ARE NOT ACTIVE. THIS CONDITION MAY LAST FIVE TO TEN MINUTE…

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WHEN DRIVING, PERIODICALLY, UNDER NO PARTICULAR ROAD OR WEATHER CONDITION, THE "CHECK AWD SYSTEM," "ABS," "BRAKE" AND "STABILITY CONTROL" WARNING LIGHTS LIGHT UP. WHEN WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON, ONLY THE FRONT WHEELS WILL DRIVE AND STABILITY CONTROL IS INACTIVE. REAL WHEELS ARE NOT ACTIVE. THIS CONDITION MAY LAST FIVE TO TEN MINUTES, THEN RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS HAS OCCURRED 10 TO 15 TIMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI #11255152

25,000 miles · Aug 18, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVATES RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING ON SMOOTH ROADWAY, DRY ROADS. DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND TCS LIGHT FLASHES IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.

NHTSA ODI #11244732

50,000 miles · May 21, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

COMPLAINT FILES 3/18/2019 COMPLAINT # 11189699 ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM FAILS IN WET WEATHER. SNOW OR SLUSH OR HEAVY RAIN. FAILURE 7 TIMES. RESETS ITSELF WHEN WEATHER DRY. SENSOR IS CRACKED OR FAULTY. DEALER SAYS OWNER COST. IT SEEMS A TOYOTA FACTORY DEFECT AND SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING IN SEVERE WEATHER AND M…

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COMPLAINT FILES 3/18/2019 COMPLAINT # 11189699 ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM FAILS IN WET WEATHER. SNOW OR SLUSH OR HEAVY RAIN. FAILURE 7 TIMES. RESETS ITSELF WHEN WEATHER DRY. SENSOR IS CRACKED OR FAULTY. DEALER SAYS OWNER COST. IT SEEMS A TOYOTA FACTORY DEFECT AND SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING IN SEVERE WEATHER AND MOUNTAIN PASSES IN COLORADO. PLEASE ADVISE

NHTSA ODI #11208971

50,000 miles · Mar 18, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

TWICE THE AWD SYSTEM HAS FAILED. 12/28/2016 AND MARCH 17/ 2019. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THE THE 4WD SHUTS DOWN ALONG WITH THE TRAC AND VEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM. UNDER BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS BEING OPERATED IN EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS OF DEEP HEAVY SNOW, SLUSH, ICE AND MUD. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ALLOW THE WHEELS TO SPINS …

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TWICE THE AWD SYSTEM HAS FAILED. 12/28/2016 AND MARCH 17/ 2019. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THE THE 4WD SHUTS DOWN ALONG WITH THE TRAC AND VEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM. UNDER BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS BEING OPERATED IN EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS OF DEEP HEAVY SNOW, SLUSH, ICE AND MUD. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ALLOW THE WHEELS TO SPINS ENABLING ME TO KEEP MOVING IN THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS. I NEEDED TO SHIFT BETWEEN 1, 2 AND 3 GEARS TO ENGAGE THE HIGHER REVS TO SPINS THE TIRE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM GETTING STUCK OR SLIDING OFF THE ROAD. IN BOTH INSTANCES I WAS IN REMOTE, ISOLATED AREAS WITH NO HELP AND NO CELL SERVICE. THE DECEMBER 2016 INSTANCES WAS REPAIRED BY A TOYOTA DEALER IN OMAHA. DEALER COULD NOT READILY UNDERSTAND HOW THE PROBLEM INITIATED.

NHTSA ODI #11189699

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.