2018 Toyota Highlander Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2018 Toyota Highlander has 265 complaints and a complaint index of 70, ranked 7th worst of 21 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Top problem areas are transmission & powertrain (25%) and brakes (23%), plus 4 recalls covering fuel pump, brake booster, and labeling issues.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 70/100
- #7 of 21 Highlander years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 265
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 23
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 25
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22.5
- 20 city / 26.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 25 / 0
Top 2018 Toyota Highlander problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain65 (25%)
- Brakes60 (23%)
- Other43 (16%)
- Engine40 (15%)
- Fuel System36 (14%)
- Electrical System28 (11%)
- Airbags19 (7%)
- Structure & Body15 (6%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras10 (4%)
- Steering10 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during front and reverse-end collisions despite forceful impacts.
- The pre-collision system reportedly did not brake or warn in time to prevent a crash with a stopped or crossing vehicle.
- Some owners describe the brake pedal pulsing and a brake warning light coming on intermittently, sometimes followed by sudden stopping.
- One owner reported the vehicle jumping a curb while braking slowly in a parking lot, with airbags not deploying.
- A melted plastic panel near the muffler was reported after towing, attributed to exhaust heat.
- One owner described the accelerator surging to over 50 mph after shifting into drive, comparing it to past unintended acceleration issues.
2018 Toyota Highlander recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V682000Nov 4, 2020Fuel System1,525,742 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
- NHTSA 20V012000Jan 13, 2020Fuel System1,830,752 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
- NHTSA 18V211000Apr 3, 2018Brakes6,046 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry and Highlander vehicles, 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the oil galley in the rotor for the brake booster vacuum pump assembly may have been improperly machined possibly resulting in a sudden loss of brake assist.
Risk: A sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake booster vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0K/JLD.
2018 Toyota Highlander fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 26.5 MPG
- Combined
- 22.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,875
- 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.
2018 compared with other Highlander years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Toyota Highlander reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 265 complaints for the 2018 Highlander with a complaint index of 70, ranking it 7th worst among 21 model years and earning a Caution verdict relative to other Highlander years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Toyota Highlander?
- The largest share of complaints involve transmission & powertrain (25%) and brakes (23%), followed by engine (15%) and fuel system (14%) issues, according to NHTSA complaint data.
- Does the 2018 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2018 Highlander, covering fuel pump replacement (two campaigns), a brake booster vacuum pump defect, and a labeling correction. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2018 Highlander compare to other model years?
- The 2018 Highlander's complaint index of 70 is worse than years like 2014, 2016, 2024, and 2025, which carry Best verdicts, but better than 2019 through 2023, which are rated Avoid.
- What mileage do problems typically show up at on the 2018 Highlander?
- Median mileage at failure across all complaints is 16,250 miles, though transmission issues tend to surface later at a median of 92,000 miles and brake issues around 18,750 miles.