YearToAvoid

2016 Toyota Highlander Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

13/100

#14 most-complained of 16 Highlander years

The 2016 Toyota Highlander ranks 14th out of 16 model years for reported problems, with a complaint index of 13 and a 'Best' verdict. It has 110 complaints, 2 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls, with brakes as the top problem area.

Complaints
110
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
14 / 1
Injuries / deaths
10 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21
19 city / 25 hwy

Top 2016 Toyota Highlander problems

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

  1. Brakes23 (21%)
  2. Electrical System22 (20%)
  3. Other21 (19%)
  4. Engine13 (12%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (10%)
  6. Airbags10 (9%)
  7. Structure & Body9 (8%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers9 (8%)
  9. Steering6 (5%)
  10. Fuel System4 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the brake pedal sinking to the floor or failing to stop the vehicle at low speeds, sometimes leading to collisions.
  • Some describe the brake pedal rubber pad detaching, causing their foot to slip off and the vehicle to roll forward unexpectedly.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during moderate-speed crashes, including a rollover-type accident.
  • Parking sensors and park assist reportedly shut off randomly while backing up, without any warning light.
  • Owners describe side mirror placement that blocks visibility during left-hand turns, contributing to a collision.
  • One owner reported ongoing brake trouble since purchase that dealers could never diagnose, culminating in a failure-to-stop accident years later.
2016 Toyota Highlander complaints: complaints filed per quarter142015 Q42017 Q22018 Q42020 Q22022 Q12023 Q32025 Q2
133 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q3 (14).

2016 Toyota Highlander recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V775000Oct 24, 2016Electrical System7,056 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Highlander vehicles manufactured May 26, 2016, to September 16, 2016. The brake fluid level sensor may not be connected to the wire harness, preventing the sensor from detecting the brake fluid level. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

    Risk: If the brake fluid level is low and is not detected, the braking performance may be decreased, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, connect the wire harness to the sensor, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this G03.

  2. NHTSA 16V420000Jun 9, 2016Other4,253 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2015-2016 Toyota Tundra, Scion FR-S, and tC vehicles. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."

    Risk: An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

2016 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.

2016 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
2014Best7135421
2015Good40192121
2016Best13110221
2017Caution60267322.5
2018Caution67265422.5

All Toyota Highlander years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Toyota Highlander reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2016 Highlander has a complaint index of 13, the lowest among all 16 model years covered, earning a 'Best' verdict relative to other Highlander years.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Toyota Highlander?
Brakes account for 21% of complaints (23 of 110), followed by the electrical system at 20% (22 complaints) and engine issues at 12% (13 complaints). Median mileage at brake failure was 28,000 miles.
Does the 2016 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
Yes, two recalls were issued: one for a brake fluid level sensor wire harness issue (16V775000) and one for an inaccurate Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label (16V420000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2016 Highlander compare to other model years?
The 2016 model's complaint index of 13 is far lower than 2019 (93), 2021 (100), 2022 (87), and 2023 (80), all of which carry 'Avoid' verdicts. Among the years listed, 2016 ranks 14th worst, meaning it is one of the better years.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Toyota Highlander?
EPA rates the 2016 Highlander at 21 mpg combined (19 city / 25 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,100.

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.