Model line

Toyota Highlander

Every Toyota Highlander model year on file, 1997 to 2026. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.

Owner complaints, all model years5,729575 involved a crash, fire, injury or death

Model years301997 to 2026

Recall campaigns54Distinct campaigns listing it

Service bulletins5,528Summed across model years

By model year

The 2021 model year drew the most complaints, 523

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.

Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.

Components

Powertrain leads the Toyota Highlander complaint record

Owner complaints across all model years, by component.

Powertrain

1,027

Brakes

751

Engine and cooling

717

Electrical system

632

Visibility and wipers

530

Speed control

445

Structure

443

Steering

365

Fuel system

362

Airbags

355

Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.

Model years

The record for each Toyota Highlander model year

Peer index compares complaints with the median vehicle of the same model year and body class (100 is the median). It corrects for age, not for how many were sold.

Toyota Highlander by model year
Year	Body	Complaints	Severity index	Peer index	Recalls	Investigations	Bulletins
2026	SUV	2	0.0	33	0	0	24
2025	SUV	10	20.0	77	4	0	36
2024	SUV	42	16.7	210	7	0	64
2023	SUV	182	7.7	910	9	0	130
2022	SUV	259	6.9	1,126	5	0	160
2021	SUV	523	5.2	1,743	4	0	180
2020	SUV	317	5.4	1,132	4	0	186
2019	SUV	489	4.9	1,164	3	0	162
2018	SUV	267	9.7	643	5	0	253
2017	SUV	267	9.7	524	4	0	265
2016	SUV	111	15.3	271	3	0	269
2015	SUV	192	13.0	422	2	0	318
2014	SUV	136	5.9	309	5	0	418
2013	SUV	207	14.0	647	3	2	369
2012	SUV	182	11.0	628	2	2	320
2011	SUV	181	8.8	593	5	2	315
2010	SUV	216	9.7	609	10	2	331
2009	SUV	134	9.0	609	9	2	292
2008	SUV	404	14.6	697	13	2	281
2007	SUV	123	9.8	184	4	0	171
2006	SUV	277	12.3	668	7	2	179
2005	SUV	224	16.5	329	6	1	159
2004	SUV	286	12.2	465	5	1	164
2003	SUV	258	13.2	806	2	0	113
2002	SUV	301	11.0	926	2	0	120
2001	SUV	137	16.1	548	3	0	135
2000	Not decoded	0	None	None	0	1	45
1999	Not decoded	0	None	None	0	1	25
1998	Not decoded	1	0.0	100	0	1	25
1997	SUV	1	0.0	7	0	1	19

Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.

Latest recalls

Recent campaigns covering the Toyota Highlander

26V-128 Mar 5, 2026
Second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment
Seats · 687k vehicles
25V-872 Dec 17, 2025
Third row center seat belt roof anchor may have been installed at an incorrect angle, preventing the seat belt from properly restraining the occupant
Seat belts · 39 vehicles
25V-744 Oct 30, 2025
Software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse
Back-over prevention · 1.02M vehicles
25V-595 Sep 11, 2025
Due to an error in the instrument panel software at vehicle startup, the instrument panel may fail to display vehicle speed, brake system, and…
Electrical system · 591k vehicles
25V-040 Jan 29, 2025
Electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and…
Airbags · 1,716 vehicles
24V-548 Jul 23, 2024
Load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values
Equipment · 34k vehicles
24V-452 Jun 18, 2024
20-inch accessory tires with an insufficient load rating for the vehicle's Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) were installed
Tires · 4,763 vehicles
24V-419 Jun 6, 2024
Installed tires have an insufficient load rating
Tires · 4,869 vehicles
23V-865 Dec 20, 2023
Short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying
Airbags · 1000k vehicles
23V-720 Oct 26, 2023
During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching
Structure · 751k vehicles

Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.