2016 Toyota Highlander problems
What owners report to NHTSA, grouped by component, with the recalls that cover them.
NHTSA has 116 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Toyota Highlander, filed between 2015-12-28 and 2026-09-10. The most common problem areas are the service brakes (22, 19%), electrical system (14, 12%) and air bags (10, 9%). Owners reported 14 crashes, 1 fire and 11 injuries in these complaints. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for this model year.
Last updated: · Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases
2016 Toyota Highlander complaints by component
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 22 | 19% | 7 | 0 | 5 |
| Unknown or other | 22 | 19% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 14 | 12% | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Air bags | 10 | 9% | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Engine | 9 | 8% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 9 | 8% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 7 | 6% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 7 | 6% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 7 | 6% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 4% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 4% | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Wheels | 5 | 4% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 4 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 4 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint can name several components, so shares can add up to more than 100%. Crashes, fires and injuries are as reported by owners.
The top problem areas, in plain English
Each summary is built from the complaint counts and NHTSA recall notices, not from individual owner stories.
Service brakes: 22 complaints
- 22 complaints of 116 (19%) name the service brakes — the foot-brake system: pads, rotors, calipers, lines and ABS.
- 3 of them also name the air bags; owners reported 7 crashes and 5 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2016 Toyota Highlander covers this system.
Electrical system: 14 complaints
- 14 complaints of 116 (12%) name the electrical system — wiring, battery and charging, fuses, control modules and in-car electronics.
- 3 of them also name the engine; owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire and 1 injury in these complaints.
- 2 NHTSA recalls cover this system on the 2016 Toyota Highlander; the latest, campaign 18E107000, says: “The windshields have an attached wire harness that water may leak into, possibly causing damage to the vehicle's Engine Control Module (ECM).”
Air bags: 10 complaints
- 10 complaints of 116 (9%) name the air bags — frontal, side and curtain air bags, their crash sensors and control module.
- 3 of them also name the service brakes; owners reported 6 crashes and 6 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2016 Toyota Highlander covers this system.
Engine: 9 complaints
- 9 complaints of 116 (8%) name the engine.
- 3 of them also name the electrical system; none of these complaints reports a crash, fire or injury.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2016 Toyota Highlander covers this system.
Exterior lighting: 9 complaints
- 9 complaints of 116 (8%) name the exterior lighting — headlights, tail and brake lights and turn signals.
- None of these complaints reports a crash, fire or injury.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2016 Toyota Highlander covers this system.
Steering: 7 complaints
- 7 complaints of 116 (6%) name the steering — the steering wheel, column, gear and power-steering assist.
- None of these complaints reports a crash, fire or injury.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2016 Toyota Highlander covers this system.
When the complaints were filed
| Year filed | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 18 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 4 |
What is counted
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the model names HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, model year 2016. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is NHTSA's confirmed safety defect. See the 2016 Toyota Highlander recalls.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Toyota Highlander?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the 2016 Toyota Highlander's most common problem areas are the service brakes (22 of 116 complaints), electrical system (14 of 116 complaints) and air bags (10 of 116 complaints).
How many complaints does the 2016 Toyota Highlander have?
NHTSA has 116 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Toyota Highlander, including 14 reported crashes and 1 reported fire.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Toyota Highlander's problems?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2016 Toyota Highlander; 1 of the top 6 complaint areas have a matching recall. Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN for open recalls.