2016 Toyota Highlander Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Best The 2016 Toyota Highlander ranks 18th worst out of 21 model years, with a complaint index of 15 and a Best verdict. NHTSA logged 110 complaints, mostly about brakes (23) and electrical issues (22), with 2 recalls and no do-not-drive orders.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 15/100
- #18 of 21 Highlander years
- Verdict
- Best
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 110
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 14
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 10
- Top issue
- Brakes
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 19 city / 25 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 10 / 0
Top 2016 Toyota Highlander problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes23 (21%)
- Electrical System22 (20%)
- Other21 (19%)
- Engine13 (12%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (10%)
- Airbags10 (9%)
- Structure & Body9 (8%)
- Visibility & Wipers9 (8%)
- Steering6 (5%)
- Fuel System4 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe brakes failing to stop the vehicle despite pressing the pedal, sometimes at idle or low speed in parking lots.
- Some drivers report the brake pedal itself malfunctioning, including the rubber pad detaching and causing the foot to slip off.
- Several complaints describe airbags not deploying during crashes, including rollovers and high-speed impacts.
- Electrical system complaints include parking sensors and park-assist shutting off unexpectedly while backing up.
- One owner reported a fire near the electrical system while the vehicle was parked and turned off.
2016 Toyota Highlander recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- 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
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Toyota Highlander reliable?
- Relative to other Highlander years, the 2016 model has a Best verdict with a complaint index of 15, the second-lowest rank among 21 model years tracked by NHTSA.
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Toyota Highlander?
- NHTSA complaints point to brakes as the top issue (23 complaints, 21% share), followed by electrical system problems (22 complaints, 20%) and engine issues (13 complaints).
- Does the 2016 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2016 Highlander: one for a disconnected brake fluid level sensor wire harness and one for an inaccurate load carrying capacity label. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
- What year Toyota Highlander should I avoid?
- Among the 21 years tracked, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2008 carry Avoid verdicts with complaint indexes ranging from 75 to 100, much higher than the 2016 model's index of 15.
- Were there brake problems reported for the 2016 Highlander?
- Yes. Brakes were the top problem area with 23 complaints and 7 crashes, and the median mileage at failure was 28,000 miles.