YearToAvoid

2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#7 most-complained of 16 Highlander Hybrid years

The 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has 6 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 60 out of 100 — #7 highest of 16 Highlander Hybrid model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is brakes (3 complaints, 50% of the total). Complaints report 1 injury.

Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28
27.5 city / 28 hwy

Top 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes3 (50%)
  2. Engine1 (17%)
  3. Fuel System1 (17%)
  4. Other1 (17%)
  5. Steering1 (17%)
  6. Structure & Body1 (17%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (17%)
2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per month2May 2018Jul 2018Sep 2018Oct 2018Jun 2019Jun 2020
9 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2018 to Jun 2020; peak May 2018 (2).

2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27.5 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
28 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,300
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other Highlander Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014No verdict132128
2015No verdict274028
2016Caution606028
2017No verdict203228.5
2018Caution735028.5

All Toyota Highlander Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid ranks #7 of 16 among Highlander Hybrid model years (Complaint Index 60/100, verdict: Caution). It has 6 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
The most reported problem areas are brakes (3 complaints), engine (1 complaints), and fuel system (1 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 47,013 miles.
Does the 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
EPA rates the 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid at 28 MPG combined (27.5 city / 28 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.