2016 Toyota Highlander
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Service brakes is the leading concern among 110 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 23rd highest complaint count among 25 Highlander model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 14 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 10 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical systemNov 27, 2018
Fujian Wanda Automobile Glass Industry (Wanda) is recalling certain aftermarket Replacement Windshields sold for use in 2014-2018 Toyota Highlander vehicles. The windshields have an attached wire harness that water may leak into, possibly causing damage to the vehicle's Engine Control Module (ECM).
The ECM damage may result in the engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Wanda will notify owners, and service centers will replace the windshields, and inspect the ECM for damage, having it replaced, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2019. Owners may contact Wanda customer service at 1-864-281-2760.
Campaign 18E107000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringOct 24, 2016
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Highlander vehicles manufactured May 26, 2016, to September 16, 2016. The brake fluid level sensor may not be connected to the wire harness, preventing the sensor from detecting the brake fluid level. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
If the brake fluid level is low and is not detected, the braking performance may be decreased, increasing the risk of a crash.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, connect the wire harness to the sensor, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this G03.
Campaign 16V775000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsJun 9, 2016
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2015-2016 Toyota Tundra, Scion FR-S, and tC vehicles. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
SET will notify owners, and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
Campaign 16V420000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
14 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Nov 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the trunk power switch failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the trunk power switch was enabled to unlock, however the trunk door did not unlock. The contact stated that the trunk power switch failed to unlatch the trunk door and the trunk door was stuck. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with battery failure due to a lack of voltage. The contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred intermittently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that a Representative provided remedy options over the phone. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred intermittently. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 26, 2023
2016 toyota highlander le model v-6 cylinder. The FUEL PUMP runs after engine has been turned off for several hours, even up to as many as 8 hours. This situation can be heard in a closed in garage, in the completely quiet of night time, and at multiple times during the same time period. It happens intermittently with various levels of gas in the tank. The length of time FUEL PUMP can run can be as little as 10 minutes to over 60 minutes.
Electrical system, Mar 16, 2023
Description of Problem (electrical issue affecting multiple systems): Engine shuts off while driving. All instrument/electronic displays shut off or flicker while driving. Steering wheel locks and vibrates. Liftgate does not open. Vehicle cannot be unlocked with fob. Vehicle does not start. May start after several attempts. Safety: My family's safety was put at risk when car stalled and almost hit by other vehicles while driving on streets and highway. Risk has continued because Toyota has not identified and fixed the problem. Dealer: The problem has been reproduced by dealer. Dealer blamed and replaced battery, but problem continued. Vehicle only inspected by dealer and nobody else. Warning Lamps/Message: No Service lights or warning messaged on.
Electrical system, Apr 25, 2022, fire
I had bought my vehicle 5 months ago in an authorized Toyota dealer, on Easter Day we got on the vehicle drove 15 minutes from home to the park, parked my vehicle, turn it off and went to the park are next to where my vehicle was parked, from where i was sitting i was able to see my vehicle and we wasn't that far, not even 5 minutes after that i walked near the vehicle and notice it was on fire. No light was on in the dashboard, everything was working fine, the vehicle just had an oil change at the begging March 2022 and now in April 2022 it caught fire. This was my dream vehicle and i worked hard to get it. Fire fighters arrived at the scene, police department as well, the police gave me a report number, also a fire department investigator was called to the scene where he certified it was a short circuit and gave me a report number as well.
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 13, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would shut-off without warning. The contact would be able to restart the vehicle a few minutes after the failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to an unknown dealer. The dealer attempted to charge him a diagnostic fee and the contact refused. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure and they sided with the dealer and insisted that he pay a diagnostic fee to have the vehicle serviced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 9, 2020
THE IPHONE 11 IS NOT COMPATIBLE WHICH CAUSES YOU NOT TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE HANDS FREE. EVERY TIME I TURN ON MY CAR AND CONTEXT MY PHONE MY CAR AUDIO DISCONNECTS. I CONFIRMED ON THE TOYOTA WEBSITE THAT THE IPHONE 11 IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH TOYOTA CARS WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE HANDS FREE. *TR
Electrical system, Jan 29, 2020
THE LIFTGATE HIT MY 73 YEAR OLD MOTHER IN THE HEAD KNOCKING HER BACKWARDS WITHOUT ANY SAFETY FEATURE STOPPING OR REVERSING THE DOOR AS IT CLOSED.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 24, 2020
INTERIOR LIGHTS ON AND OFF; WARNINGS E.G .HOOD OPEN WHEN NOT; DID NOT (LIGHT) ALERT CARS ALONG SIDE OR PASSING; MODULE CRACKED BY TAPPING TO DELETE PHONE #S PUT INTO SYSTEM BY TOYOTA TECH, NAVIGATION STARTED ON ITS OWN AND IT WAS INCORRECT!; MAPS INCORRECT TO LOCATION; MAP SHOWING NORTH AS SOUTH AND EAST AS WEST ALL WHEN CAR IN MOTION
Electrical system, Aug 18, 2019, crash
PARKING SENSORS AND PARK ASSIST RANDOMLY TURNS ITSELF OFF. WILL NOTICE THE SENSORS NOT DETECTING WHILE BACKING UP AND NOTICE DASH LIGHT IS NOT ILLUMINATED. NOT FUNCTIONING WHEN BACKING AND PARKING.
Electrical system, Aug 18, 2019
TWO SEPARATE ISSUES: 1. RAIN SENSING WIPERS ACTIVATE RANDOMLY ON CLEAR DAYS, SUN SHINING. WIPERS WILL WIPE ON TIME WHILE DRIVING RANDOMLY. A SEVERE DISTRACTION. 2. CRUISE CONTROL DISPLAY ACTIVATING RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING WITH NO VEHICLES NEARBY IN FRONT (ACTIVE CRUISE CONTROL VEHICLE). DISPLAY WILL BE NORMAL AND THEN GO BACK AND FORTH THE THE SET DISPLAY SCREEN. DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY.
Electrical system, Aug 18, 2019
VEHICLE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM ACTIVATING RANDOMLY WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES NEARBY. DASH DISPLAY LIGHTS UP WITH WARNING ACCOMPANIED WITH RAPID BEEPING WHILE DRIVING. MULTIPLE TIMES NOTED ON VIDEO FROM DASH-CAM. HAS COME ON WHILE CHANGING LANES AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BY THE DISTRACTION. HAS HAPPENED ON FREEWAY AS WELL AS CITY DRIVING. WHILE COASTING AND ACCELERATING. DATE LISTED BELOW IS APPROXIMATE.
Electrical system, Aug 20, 2018
CAR'S AWD STARTED NOT WORKING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS WAS "CHEWED" UP BY RODENTS. THEY STATED THEY SEEN IT BEFORE DUE TO A ORGANIC BASED OIL ON THE HARNESS WIRES.
Electrical system, Nov 29, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, IT AUTOMATICALLY TURNED ON WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUSH THE IGNITION SWITCH TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURNED ON. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND TURNED ON THE VEHICLE, AND THE LOUD NOISE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 23, 2016
MY CAR ENGINE STARTED ON ITS OWN AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. I WENT SHOPPING AT WALMART AND PARKED MY 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER XLE IN THE PARKING LOT. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND PUSHED THE ENGINE START/STOP BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR. MY FAMILY AND I EXITED THE CAR AND I USED THE KEYLESS ENTRY PAD TO LOCK THE DOORS. WE SHOPPED FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MIN. WHEN WE RETURNED TO THE CAR, I USED THE KEYLESS ENTRY PAD TO UNLOCK THE DOORS SO I COULD PUT OUR PURCHASES IN THE TRUNK. AS I GOT CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE I HEARD AN ENGINE RUNNING, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS THE CAR NEXT TO US. I BENT DOWN AND LISTENED UNDER THE FRONT END OF MY HIGHLANDER AND TO MY SURPRISE, I REALIZED MY CAR ENGINE WAS RUNNING. WHEN I OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD, I NOTICED A SMALL TRIANGULAR YELLOW CAUTION LIGHT WAS FLASHING BUT I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE MESSAGE SAID OTHER THAN CAUTION. IF MY CAR RANDOMLY STARTS ON ITS OWN WHILE ITS IN A GARAGE, IT COULD CAUSE TOXIC FUMES TO FILL MY GARAGE IF LEFT ON LONG ENOUGH, AND COULD CAUSE HARM OR DEATH TO SOMEONE WHO BREATHES IT IN. AFTER READING ABOUT THE BRAKE/HYDRAULIC RECALL ON SOME 2015-2016 HIGHLANDERS, COUPLED WITH THE RECENT ISSUE I HAD AT WALMART, I AM NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING MY CAR. I WISH I HAD READ ABOUT THESE ISSUE BEFORE BUYING MY CAR 30 DAYS AGO. I THOUGHT I HAD DONE MY HOMEWORK AND READ SEVERAL WEBSITES BEFORE BUYING THE CAR, BUT I WILL READ RECALL REPORTS BEFORE BUYING A CAR FROM NOW ON.