2016 Toyota HIGHLANDER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Toyota HIGHLANDER has 137 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (15% of all complaints), specifically: when i purchased this 2016 toyota highlander le in mid december, i did not realize until i got it home, there was no interior rear door release. no release button on the dash and no interior door handle. i went back to the dealership, found my salesman and asked him if there was an interior door rel. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 16 crash reports 13 injuries

137

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

21 complaints

15%

• WHEN I PURCHASED THIS 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LE IN MID DECEMBER, I DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL I GOT IT HOME, THERE WAS NO INTERIOR REAR DOOR RELEASE. NO RELEASE BUTTON ON THE DASH AND NO INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, FOUND MY SALESMAN AND ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS AN INTERIOR DOOR REL
• I PURCHASED THE TOP OF THE LINE LIMITED PLATINUM MODEL IN ORDER TO GET SAFETY FEATURES. HOWEVER, THE WARNING CHINES FOR LANE DEPARTURE, BACK UP CROSS TRAFFIC PROTECTION ETC. ARE VERY FAINT WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER CARS THAT HAVE THESE FEATURES. WHEN THE RADIO PLAYS MUSIC THEY CAN NOT BE HEARD AT ALL R
• WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE IS ON A DECLINE THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT MAINTAIN THE SET SPEED. I NOTICED THIS SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELING BETWEEN 65-75 MPH. EACH TIME THERE WAS A CAR AHEAD OF ME AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC ACCIDENTS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“WHEN I PURCHASED THIS 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LE IN MID DECEMBER, I DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL I GOT IT HOME, THERE WAS NO INTERIOR REAR DOOR RELEASE. NO RELEASE BUTTON ON THE DASH AND NO INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, FOUND MY SALESMAN AND ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS AN INTERIOR DOOR REL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

19 complaints

14%

• RECALL VEHICLE SOLD TO ME AS NEW CAR WIHOUT REMEDY. MANUFACTURER RECALL ISSUED NHTSA #16V775 RECALL #G03 SAFETY (NONCOMPLIANCE) RECALL G03 - REMEDY NOTICE, CERTAIN 2016 MODEL YEAR HIGHLANDER, BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR SENSOR CONNECTOR
• MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH OUR TWO DAUGHTERS (AGES 12 AND 14). IT HAD JUST STARTED TO SNOW AND MY WIFE SAID THE ROAD WAS SLIPPERY SHE PUT THE CAR INTO LOW GEAR AND TRAVELED SLOWLY. SHE WAS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM OUR HOUSE WHEN SHE COULD NO LONGER CONTROL THE VEHICLE. SHE HIT A TREE, A FENCE,
• I WAS IN A PARKING LOT TRYING TO PARK MY CAR I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BREAK TO STOP THE CAR AND PUT INTO REVERSE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF STOPPING. THE HARDER I PUSHED THE BREAKS THE FASTER IT ACCELERATED AND HIT THE CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF ME.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 7 crashes

“RECALL VEHICLE SOLD TO ME AS NEW CAR WIHOUT REMEDY. MANUFACTURER RECALL ISSUED NHTSA #16V775 RECALL #G03 SAFETY (NONCOMPLIANCE) RECALL G03 - REMEDY NOTICE, CERTAIN 2016 MODEL YEAR HIGHLANDER, BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR SENSOR CONNECTOR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

14 complaints

10%

• MY CAR ENGINE STARTED ON ITS OWN AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. I WENT SHOPPING AT WALMART AND PARKED MY 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER XLE IN THE PARKING LOT. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND PUSHED THE ENGINE START/STOP BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR. MY FAMILY AND I EXITED THE CAR AND I USED THE KEYLESS ENTRY PAD TO LO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, IT AUTOMATICALLY TURNED ON WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUSH THE IGNITION SWITCH TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURNED ON. THE CO
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“MY CAR ENGINE STARTED ON ITS OWN AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. I WENT SHOPPING AT WALMART AND PARKED MY 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER XLE IN THE PARKING LOT. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND PUSHED THE ENGINE START/STOP BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR. MY FAMILY AND I EXITED THE CAR AND I USED THE KEYLESS ENTRY PAD TO LO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

10 complaints

• AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE 2016 HIGHLANDER HIT THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT THAT HAD SLOWED FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON 1-25-16 AND THE CAR WAS TRANSPORTED TO A TOYOTA AUTO BODY SHOP ON THE 26TH. SINCE THEN HIGHLANDER HAS BEEN TOTALLY REPAIRED EXCEPT FOR
• I OWN A 2016 HIGHLANDER LIMITED PLATINUM AND AFTER A MAJOR ACCIDENT I HAVE A SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY CLAIMS. YESTERDAY MY WIFE WAS IN A ROLLOVER (2 FULL ROTATIONS) ACCIDENT IN HER 2016 HIGHLANDER PLATINUM. CAR WAS DESTROYED, HER HEAD HIT BOTH THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE B-PILLAR, BOTH HA
• I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON MY CAR GOING 50 TO 60 MPH I THE ROAD CURVED AND I DID NOT I WENT INTO THE TOP OF THE DITCH HIT FRONT END AND WENT AIRBORN 30 TO 50 FEET IN THE AIR OVER THE PERSONS DRIVWAY. I LANDED ON MY BACK BUMPER WHICH THEN PROPELLED ME BACK INTO THE AIR AND I FLIPPED END OVER END LANDED ON

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE 2016 HIGHLANDER HIT THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT THAT HAD SLOWED FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON 1-25-16 AND THE CAR WAS TRANSPORTED TO A TOYOTA AUTO BODY SHOP ON THE 26TH. SINCE THEN HIGHLANDER HAS BEEN TOTALLY REPAIRED EXCEPT FOR ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

10 complaints

• MY CAR ENGINE STARTED ON ITS OWN AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. I WENT SHOPPING AT WALMART AND PARKED MY 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER XLE IN THE PARKING LOT. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND PUSHED THE ENGINE START/STOP BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR. MY FAMILY AND I EXITED THE CAR AND I USED THE KEYLESS ENTRY PAD TO LO
• OCCASIONALLY, AT A STOP SIGN/INTERSECTION OR ENTERING A HIGHWAY IF I HAVE COME TO A FULL STOP BEFORE PROCEEDING THE CAR WILL STALL. I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENS. MY WIFE AND I HAVE FOUND OURSELVES IN THIS PREDICAMENT SEVERAL TIMES NOW AND IT IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. THIS SCENARI
• 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 EXPEN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 137 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: WHEN I PURCHASED THIS 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LE IN MID DECEMBER, I DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL I GOT IT HOME, THERE WAS NO INTERIOR REAR DOOR RELEASE. NO RELEASE BUTTON ON THE DASH AND NO INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, FOUND MY SALESMAN AND ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS AN INTERIOR DOOR REL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: RECALL VEHICLE SOLD TO ME AS NEW CAR WIHOUT REMEDY. MANUFACTURER RECALL ISSUED NHTSA #16V775 RECALL #G03 SAFETY (NONCOMPLIANCE) RECALL G03 - REMEDY NOTICE, CERTAIN 2016 MODEL YEAR HIGHLANDER, BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR SENSOR CONNECTOR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: MY CAR ENGINE STARTED ON ITS OWN AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. I WENT SHOPPING AT WALMART AND PARKED MY 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER XLE IN THE PARKING LOT. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND PUSHED THE ENGINE START/STOP BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR. MY FAMILY AND I EXITED THE CAR AND I USED THE KEYLESS ENTRY PAD TO LO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE 2016 HIGHLANDER HIT THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT THAT HAD SLOWED FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON 1-25-16 AND THE CAR WAS TRANSPORTED TO A TOYOTA AUTO BODY SHOP ON THE 26TH. SINCE THEN HIGHLANDER HAS BEEN TOTALLY REPAIRED EXCEPT FOR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)