2025 Toyota Highlander Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Best The 2025 Toyota Highlander has a complaint index of 0, the lowest of any year, and ranks as the Best year among 21 model years tracked. It has 10 complaints, 4 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls, with Engine the top-reported problem area.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 0/100
- #21 of 21 Highlander years
- Verdict
- Best
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 10
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 2
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21 city / 28 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2025 Toyota Highlander problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine4 (40%)
- Brakes2 (20%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (20%)
- Other2 (20%)
- Electrical System1 (10%)
- Seat Belts1 (10%)
- Steering1 (10%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (10%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some drivers report the steering became unresponsive mid-turn, leading to a crash into a fixed object.
- One owner described sudden unintended acceleration while backing up along with a grinding noise and a rapid-turning steering wheel.
- A passenger seat belt reportedly failed to extend properly despite repeated adjustments and a dealer visit.
- One owner described delayed or momentary loss of braking response during light brake application at around 15,000 miles.
- A strong odor entering the cabin through the vents was reported, with the dealer finding no exhaust leak.
- One owner reported the sunroof made a loud explosion noise and cracked while driving at highway speed, though the shield kept glass from entering the cabin.
2025 Toyota Highlander recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V128000Mar 5, 2026Structure & Body686,588 vehicles
Seats:mid/rear assembly:recliner
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.
Risk: A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 9, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyotaâs customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB06 and 26TA06.
- NHTSA 25V872000Dec 17, 2025Seat Belts39 vehicles
Seat belts:rear/other:anchorage
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The third row center seat belt roof anchor may have been installed at an incorrect angle, preventing the seat belt from properly restraining the occupant.
Risk: A seat belt that does not properly restrain an occupant increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reinstall the seat belt anchor with a new bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 25TA16.
- NHTSA 25V744000Oct 30, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,024,407 vehicles
Back over prevention:display function
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE25.
2025 Toyota Highlander fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 28 MPG
- Combined
- 24 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,700
- 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.
2025 compared with other Highlander years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2025 Toyota Highlander reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2025 Highlander ranks Best among 21 model years, with a complaint index of 0 and only 10 complaints logged so far.
- What problems does the 2025 Toyota Highlander have?
- Engine complaints make up 40% of reports, followed by brakes and collision avoidance/camera issues at 20% each. Sample complaints describe steering unresponsiveness, delayed braking, and a sunroof incident.
- Does the 2025 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2025 Highlander covering seat back locking, third-row seat belt anchor installation, panoramic view monitor software, and instrument panel software. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2025 Highlander compare to other years?
- The 2025 model has the lowest complaint index (0) of the 21 years tracked, compared to years like 2021 (complaint index 100) and 2019 (complaint index 95), which rank as Avoid.