YearToAvoid

2018 Toyota Highlander Structure & Body Problems

NHTSA lists 15 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 Toyota Highlander, 6% of its 265 total complaints for the year. These include 3 crashes and 1 fire, with a median failure mileage of 22,580. No related recalls are listed for this area.

Structure & Body complaints
15
6% of 265
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
22,581 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Rear hatch or sunroof glass spontaneously shattered or exploded while the vehicle was parked or driving at highway speed, with no impact reported.
  • Rear liftgate spoiler cracked and separated from the hatch when the remote opening button was used on a warm day.
  • A plastic shield above the muffler melted from exhaust heat while towing, and a trailer hitch developed a large crack that the dealer could not explain.
  • Owners reported a rattling or clicking noise from the passenger-side B-pillar area while driving on the highway.
  • A loud banging or shaking noise came from the rear of the vehicle under hard braking, accompanied by rough transmission shifting.
  • One owner described the driver's seat shape as uncomfortable, causing spine and neck strain.

When 2018 Toyota Highlander body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 13, 2018, latest Jun 25, 2026.

2018 Toyota Highlander structure & body complaints: complaints filed per month2Sep 2018Mar 2019Oct 2019Sep 2020Nov 2021Dec 2025Jun 2026
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2018 to Jun 2026; peak Apr 2019 (2).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2018 Toyota Highlander

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Structure & Body complaints by Highlander model year

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

  1. 201016 (7%)
  2. 201127 (15%)
  3. 201227 (15%)
  4. 201328 (14%)
  5. 201436 (27%)
  6. 201537 (19%)
  7. 20169 (8%)
  8. 201711 (4%)
  9. 201815 (6%)
  10. 201919 (4%)
  11. 202031 (10%)
  12. 202157 (11%)
  13. 202259 (24%)
  14. 202350 (28%)
  15. 20246 (14%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many Structure & Body complaints does the 2018 Toyota Highlander have?
NHTSA lists 15 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 Highlander, which is 6% of the 265 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Toyota Highlander related to Structure & Body issues?
No. NHTSA lists no related recalls for the Structure & Body category on the 2018 Highlander.
What mileage do Structure & Body problems typically show up at on the 2018 Highlander?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 22,580 for these complaints.
Do these Structure & Body complaints involve crashes or fires?
Yes. Of the 15 complaints, 3 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, and 4 injuries were reported.
What kinds of Structure & Body problems do owners report on the 2018 Highlander?
Owners describe shattering hatch or sunroof glass, a cracked liftgate spoiler, melted exhaust shielding, a cracked trailer hitch, and rattling noises from the B-pillar.

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.