YearToAvoid

2015 Toyota Highlander Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 21 engine complaints for the 2015 Toyota Highlander, 11% of its 192 total complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 11,562 miles. No related recalls are listed for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
21
11% of 192
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
11,562 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while parking or at low speeds, in several cases leading to a crash into a wall, curb, or pole.
  • Some describe the vehicle losing power or stalling at highway speeds, with the check engine light and other warning lights coming on and steering becoming difficult.
  • Several complaints mention the throttle body needing cleaning after episodes of surging while driving.
  • One owner reported a chemical odor from the catalytic converter undercoating causing headaches and sore throat.
  • Owners also report the vehicle unexpectedly decreasing speed at low speeds despite pressing the accelerator pedal, with dealers unable to duplicate or confirm the fault.

When 2015 Toyota Highlander engine complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 6, 2015, latest Aug 27, 2026.

2015 Toyota Highlander engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Oct 2015May 2016Sep 2018Feb 2019Oct 2020Sep 2024Jul 2025
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2015 to Aug 2026; peak Oct 2015 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2015 Toyota Highlander

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Highlander model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201036 (17%)
  2. 201133 (18%)
  3. 201231 (17%)
  4. 201358 (28%)
  5. 20148 (6%)
  6. 201521 (11%)
  7. 201613 (12%)
  8. 201758 (22%)
  9. 201840 (15%)
  10. 201982 (17%)
  11. 202025 (8%)
  12. 202150 (10%)
  13. 202217 (7%)
  14. 202332 (18%)
  15. 20246 (14%)
  16. 20254 (40%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2015 Toyota Highlander have?
NHTSA lists 21 engine complaints for the 2015 Toyota Highlander, which is 11% of all 192 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2015 Toyota Highlander engine problems?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the engine complaints reported on the 2015 Toyota Highlander.
At what mileage do 2015 Highlander engine problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure for engine-related complaints is 11,562 miles, according to NHTSA data.
Did the 2015 Highlander engine issues cause any crashes?
NHTSA data links 5 crashes and 2 fires to complaints filed in the engine problem area for the 2015 Highlander, with 4 injuries reported.
How does the 2015 Highlander compare to other years for engine complaints?
The 2015 Highlander's 21 engine complaints and 11% share are lower than the 2013 (58 complaints, 28% share) and 2017 (58 complaints, 22% share) model years.

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.