2014 Toyota Highlander Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
7/100
#15 most-complained of 16 Highlander years
The 2014 Toyota Highlander ranks 15th out of 16 model years for reported problems, with a complaint index of 7 and a "Best" verdict. It has 135 complaints, 4 recalls, and a median failure mileage of 36,700 miles, making it one of the stronger Highlander years.
- Complaints
- 135
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 5 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 1
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 19 city / 25 hwy
Top 2014 Toyota Highlander problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System37 (27%)
- Structure & Body36 (27%)
- Other34 (25%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers10 (7%)
- Engine8 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain8 (6%)
- Seat Belts5 (4%)
- Brakes4 (3%)
- Steering4 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners report difficulty seeing pedestrians or objects, citing visibility problems tied to blind spots or window design.
- Side and front airbags reportedly failed to deploy during crashes, including a T-bone collision and a head-on impact.
- Some drivers describe sudden loss of braking power, with the brake and parking brake failing to stop the vehicle.
- The power liftgate has been reported to stick or lock when outdoor temperatures drop below 32 degrees.
- A moonroof reportedly detached while driving around 40 mph after a prior dealer repair to the moonroof.
- One owner reported smoke and a burning wire smell coming from the heated seat switches near the gear shift.
2014 Toyota Highlander recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 14V576000Sep 19, 2014Fuel System15,872 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Toyota Avalon, Camry, Sienna, and Highlander and model year 2015 Lexus RX350 vehicles. Fuel may leak from the one of the fuel delivery pipes in the engine compartment.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace any of the suspect fuel delivery pipes free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
- NHTSA 14V274000May 22, 2014Structure & Body231 vehicles
Seats:mid/rear assembly
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander vehicles manufactured April 23, 2014, through April 29, 2014. The affected vehicles may have a second row right-hand seat assembly that does not fully lock into the inboard seat track in the forward first, second and third adjusting positions. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."
Risk: If the seat does not fully lock into the inboard seat track, the seat could move, increasing the risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the second row right-hand seat, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
- NHTSA 14V272000May 22, 2014Electrical System48,840 vehicles
Electrical system:software
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles may have improper software installed in the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) for the operation of the front passenger seat belt force limiter, and as a result, the force limiter may use the restraint setting designed for small occupants, such as those that weigh approximately 110 pounds, for all occupants regardless of their size. As such, some of these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: In the event of a crash, a larger front passenger seat occupant may not be properly restrained and be at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a software update in the air bag electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
2014 Toyota Highlander fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 25 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,100
- 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.
2014 compared with other Highlander years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2014 Toyota Highlander reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2014 Highlander has a complaint index of 7, the second-lowest among the 16 model years listed, and carries a "Best" verdict relative to other Highlander years.
- What problems does the 2014 Toyota Highlander have?
- NHTSA lists 135 complaints for the 2014 Highlander, led by Electrical System issues (37 complaints, 27% share) and Structure & Body issues (36 complaints, 27% share), with a median failure mileage around 40,000 and 49,000 miles respectively.
- Does the 2014 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2014 Highlander covering the fuel delivery system, a second-row seat, airbag control unit software, and a third-row seat belt anchor.
- How does the 2014 Highlander compare to other Highlander years?
- The 2014 Highlander ranks 15th worst out of 16 years tracked, with a complaint index of 7, far below higher-complaint years like 2021 (index 100) and 2019 (index 93).
- What is the fuel economy of the 2014 Toyota Highlander?
- The 2014 Highlander gets 21 mpg combined (19 city / 25 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,100 according to the EPA.