YearToAvoid

2015 Toyota Highlander Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#10 most-complained of 16 Highlander years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2015 Toyota Highlander has a complaint index of 40, ranking 10th out of 16 model years and rated "Good" relative to other years. It has 192 complaints, 1 recall, and its top problem area is the Electrical System with 61 complaints (32% share).

Complaints
192
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
17 / 6
Injuries / deaths
16 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21
19 city / 25 hwy

Top 2015 Toyota Highlander problems

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

  1. Electrical System61 (32%)
  2. Other44 (23%)
  3. Structure & Body37 (19%)
  4. Steering25 (13%)
  5. Engine21 (11%)
  6. Brakes17 (9%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers13 (7%)
  8. Airbags8 (4%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain7 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report a burning smell inside the cabin, sometimes traced to the brake or dashboard area near the infotainment system.
  • Some owners describe smoke or flames coming from the dashboard near the infotainment system while the vehicle was stopped with the engine running.
  • Electrical smells have been reported alongside heated seat controls running hotter than usual, with smoke appearing to come from vents.
  • Several owners report sudden brake failure or unresponsive brake pedals at low speeds, resulting in low-speed collisions.
  • A driver's side airbag reportedly failed to deploy during a crash, and in another incident front airbags did not deploy while rear airbags did.
  • One owner described unexpected high idling or speed issues that preceded a rear-end collision.
2015 Toyota Highlander complaints: complaints filed per quarter122014 Q42016 Q22017 Q42019 Q22020 Q42022 Q22023 Q42025 Q3
248 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2015 Q3 (12).

2015 Toyota Highlander recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 15V144000Mar 13, 2015Steering110,085 vehicles

    Steering:electric power assist system

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid, and 2014-2015 Rav4 vehicles. A component of the electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, this damage may result in failure of the electric power steering system.

    Risk: An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number of the EPS ECU or steering column assembly. If the number is within the affected range, the EPS ECU will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 7, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

2015 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.

2015 compared with other Highlander 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
2013Caution53207320
2014Best7135421
2015Good40192121
2016Best13110221
2017Caution60267322.5

All Toyota Highlander years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Toyota Highlander reliable?
Compared to other Highlander model years, 2015 is rated "Good" with a complaint index of 40, ranking 10th out of 16 years tracked. It has fewer complaints (192) than several later years like 2019 (482) and 2021 (517).
What problems does the 2015 Toyota Highlander have?
The top problem area is the Electrical System, accounting for 61 complaints (32% of the total), with a median failure mileage of 43,332.5. Structure & Body issues follow with 37 complaints, and Steering with 25 complaints.
Does the 2015 Toyota Highlander have a recall?
Yes, NHTSA lists one recall, campaign 15V144000, covering the electric power steering (EPS) system. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2015 Highlander compare to other years?
The 2015 model's complaint index of 40 is lower than 2013 (53), 2017 (60), 2018 (67), and much lower than 2019 (93) and 2021 (100), which are rated "Avoid." Years like 2011, 2014, and 2016 rank better with lower complaint indexes.
Are there fire risks with the 2015 Toyota Highlander?
NHTSA data lists 6 fire-related complaints out of 192 total, several tied to the Electrical System, including reports of burning smells and smoke from the dashboard.

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.