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: exterior lighting
9 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Sep 10, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the rear taillight covers cracked due to the high outdoor temperatures, and there was condensation inside the taillight housing. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was determined that the rear taillight covers needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the rear taillight covers needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 70,200.
Exterior lighting, Jul 20, 2022
The tail lights on the back tailgate hatch are leaking and have been leaking. The leaks are getting progressively worse and the lights are filling up with water. The vehicle has been garage kept, has low mileage, and has never been wrecked. I feel like this is a manufacturer defect.
Exterior lighting, Feb 20, 2022
Rear passenger tail light lift gate has water inside tail light housing, if this continues it will cause brake light to be burned off or malfunction and cause vehicle behind these cars unable to see the tail light and cause an accident. The problem has been seen all over toyota forum and a quick google search will provide adequate evidence or recurring problem with this vehicle and similar vehicle with the same tail light manufacturer. Some people has brought their car to the dealerships under warranty for the same issue. I thought these will resolve itself but it has not. So I'm submitting request for recall to solve these problem since removing the housing is a difficult task and might cause more electrical problems.
Exterior lighting, Aug 31, 2020
WATER INSIDE LEFT TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY AS PURCHASED USED FROM DAVE EDWARDS TOYOTA, AS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED
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
Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Nov 15, 2018
BRAKES HAVE A SLIGHT VIBRATION WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS IN THE CITY AND SOMEONE IS STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY. MY LIGHTS HAVE DIMMED DRAMATICALLY SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED NEW. THE PASSENGER SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT IS FULL OF MOISTURE. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND/OR AC FAN/MOTOR IS HALFWAY FUNCTIONING AT 38K! BY THIS, I MEAN THAT THE AC IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR KICKS ON AND OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF COOLING AND IT BLOWS 50% OF WHAT IT DID WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. CONVENIENT TOYOTA?
Exterior lighting, May 17, 2018
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT ON DARK, HILLY ROADS, THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD PROPERLY. IT IS AS IF THE LIGHTS ARE MASKED HORIZONTALLY WITH THE TOP HALF DARK. IT IS EXTREMELY SCARY TO BE DRIVING ON DARK COUNTRY ROADS THAT ARE HILLY. WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING DOWN HILL, YOU CANNOT SEE ANY DISTANCE IN FRONT OF THE CAR. GOING UPHILL IS ALMOST AS BAD. IT IS ALMOST ENOUGH TO GET RID OF THIS CAR. SUPPOSEDLY THIS IS TO KEEP FROM BLINDING ONCOMING CARS. I DON'T BUY IT! THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE BEEN TRAVELING TO STATE AND NATIONAL PARKS AND SMALLER TOWNS IN SOUTHERN MISSOURI, TENNESSEE AND NORTH CAROLINA. THE LAST OCCURRENCE WAS MAY 4TH 2018 LEAVING BRYSON CITY NORTH CAROLINA AT 9:30PM.
Exterior lighting, Mar 16, 2018
THE REAR PASSENGER TAIL LENS CONTINUES TO FOG UP. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL AND THERE IS NOT. I WOULD LIKE THE LENS REPLACED WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANT. BUT I DON'T WANT ANY ISSUES FROM THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. HOW DO I RESOLVE THE ISSUE, DO YOU ISSUE A WORK ORDER TO THE DEALERSHIP?
Exterior lighting, Jul 19, 2017
THE 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DOES NOT DISPLAY KPH (KILOMETERS PER HOUR) FOR DRIVING IN CANADA. THE NUMBERS ARE ON THE SPEEDOMETER HOWEVER, NOT ILLUMINATED AND IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. THIS SHOULD BE BASIC INFORMATION WHILE DRIVING IN CANADA. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, VEHICLES SOLD IN CANADA HAVE THE SAME ISSUE---NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE MPH WHEN DRIVEN IN THE US. I WOULD THINK THAT BEING ABLE TO BE AWARE OF ONE'S SPEED WOULD BE A BASIC SAFETY FEATURE---HOWEVER---NOT ON A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER.