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: other or unspecified
21 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Oct 27, 2025, crash
I was traveling on an interstate going home from work. My speed was approximately 65mph. I noticed traffic slowing up ahead. I began to drop my speed (cost down), as I was approaching the traffic the car in front of me was applying their brakes; I had already began to apply mine. I was applying more pressure to my brakes to slow down more as the person in front of me began to slow more quickly. The person in front of me then had to slam their brakes on and I was not able to stop in time to avoid collision with the car in front of me. That driver did not come in contact with any other vehicle. The impact was at approximately 50mph. I was then very quickly hit from behind by the car behind me. The vehicle behind me hit of center and more on the right back corner of my car. My vehicle sustained significant front-end damage; the hood was folded, the grill was gone, the radiator was pushed back. As I looked up after the impact and saw my hood folded I then noticed that my air bag had not gone off. How could the air bag have not gone off in an impact such as that. My safety was compromised by the possibility of hitting the steering wheel or worse such as impacting the windshield if the crash had been worse. I do not remember if my vehicle had side curtain air bags as well. NO air bags deployed. Law enforcement was called by the driver of the car I rear ended as we agreed that she would. The driver of the vehicle that hit me I believe also called 911. Highway Patrol responded along with state incident response vehicles to protect the scene. I have filed a claim with my insurance, and the vehicle was looked at and deemed a total loss. It is not available for inspection and was taken to a salvage yard per the insurance company. I did not notice any lights on on the dash after. I also did not encounter any issues before this. I had the vehicle just over a year.
Other or unspecified, Jun 5, 2022
While driving down the road the panoramic moonroof section of the sunroof exploded. This included a lout shotgun like sound. The sound, in addition to not having sufficient roof coverage, resulted in a safety issue. Glass shards may have also been thrown to vehicles behind us. The dealer is closed today, but I will be contacting them in the morning to report the issue and to see if it is covered. I understand that this happens relatively frequently, but no recall has been issued. I have reached out to insurance and will likely be filing a claim if Toyota doesn't cover it. No party has inspected at this point. There was no warning to this.
Other or unspecified, Jan 8, 2022
UNKNOWN please investigate this vehicle. The recalls we're never addressed. The dealership I purchased the car from, AutoNation Honda Roseville refused to service this car after a maintenance required warning light and tire pressure warning light came on and gasoline averaging 9mpg I complained about on 1-5-2022
Other or unspecified, Nov 11, 2021
After shopping, we went to open the trunk of our Highlander by pressing the button. As it opened, we heard a crunching sound from the top but the trunk continued to open. It then reached the point where suddenly the top spoiler was dislodged and the back window's glass exploded outward in a thousand small pieces all over my husband. At no point did a safety mechanism turn on to stop the trunk from opening. We had a few prior experiences with the trunk failing to stop if something was in its way, demonstrating that there is an issue with the sensor or there is no sensory system in the car that would prevent it from crushing something or someone. After contacting Toyota, they stated that this was not covered under the warranty of the vehicle.
Other or unspecified, Sep 20, 2020
HAS THERE BEEN ANY RECALLS IN MY VEHICLE THAT I HAVEN'T ADDRESSED OR TAKEN CARE OF? I AM ON THE ROAD QUITE A BIT AND WAS NOTED OF SEVERAL PAST RECALLS. THANK YOU . [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Other or unspecified, Sep 19, 2020
MY SUV S SUNROOF SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON A SUBURBAN STREET WITH TWO KIDS IN CAR SEATS BEHIND ME . IT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION . GLASS IS ALL OVER THE CAR , IT HAS TO BE TOWED AND I NEED A RENTAL CAR AND I HAVE TO FILE A CLAIM FOR MY INSURANCE NOW.
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
Other or unspecified, Jan 15, 2020
HEADED TO WORK AT 5:35 AM ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020, AT 55 MPH ON MY DAILY COMMUTE IN MY 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, WESTBOUND ON I-70 BETWEEN THE CENTRAL PARK AND 270 EXITS, AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. 22 DEGREES, CLEAR DAY, MODERATE TRAFFIC WITH STEADY FLOW, NO TURNS OR FREQUENT BRAKING, NO OBJECTS THAT COULD HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN SITE, AND NO WARNING SIGNS OF WHAT WAS TO COME. SOUND REMINISCENT OF A GUNSHOT OCCURRED, AND AS I LOOKED AROUND I REALIZED THAT SHARDS OF GLASS WERE FALLING ONTO ME FROM MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF. THE FRONT PANEL OF MY SUNROOF IS BLOWN OUTWARD. 67,784 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WITH NO AFTERMARKET PARTS ASIDE FROM THE LED HEADLIGHTS. NO OTHER DAMAGE TO CAR OR MYSELF. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH VARIOUS MANUFACTURERS, INCLUDING TOYOTA. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO TOYOTA AND AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE.
Other or unspecified, Jan 9, 2020
LACK OF HANDS FREE PHONE CALLING. TOYOTA AND APPLE IPHONE 11'S ARE NOT SYNCING AND CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE.
Other or unspecified, Aug 28, 2019
WINDSHELD CRACKED OVERNIGHT WHEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE WITH NO REASON. I CONTACTED THE COMPANY AND DIDN'T GET A SOLUTION FROM THEM. THIS MUST BE SOMETHING THING RELATED TO THE COMPANY. FINALLY, I REPLACED IT WITH MY INSURANCE
Other or unspecified, May 22, 2019
THE REAR WINDSHIELD ON OUR 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EXPLODED WITHOUT ANY PROVOCATION. PULLING INTO AN EMPTY PARKING SPACE UPON PLACING THE CAR IN PARK, THE READ WINDSHIELD EXPLODED AND SHATTERED INTO PIECES. NOTHING HIT IT. NOTHING BANGED INTO IT. JUST EXPLODED FOR NO REASON.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Mar 18, 2019
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED BY THE DEFROSTER. FROM THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE BREAK IS ON THE INSIDE GOING DOWN TO THE DEFROSTER AND THEN ACROSS THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE WHEN IT WAS STARTED, THE DEFROSTER WAS PUT ON HIGH FAN. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE CRACK APPEARED IN THE CENTER GOING DOWN TOWARDS THE DEFROSTER AND THEN ACROSS THE LOWER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE.
Other or unspecified, Dec 3, 2018
VEHICLE REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODED FOR NOT REASON. VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR TWO DAYS SAME SPOT IN HOME FENCE AREA AND I STARTED IT AND SHUT THE DRIVER DOOR AND IMMEDIATELY HEARD A SOUND AND LOOKED THE REAR MIRROR AND IT WAS GONE MEANING COMPLETE SHATTERED IN PIECES. I HAVE PICTURE TO CLARIFY THE DAMAGE AND TOYOTA COURTESY DEALER DECLINE TO REPAIR IT SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL. I USUALLY HAVE MY GRANDCHILDREN WITH ME IN THE VEHICLE SO YOU COULD IMAGING HOW DESPERATE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR MY FAMILY AT THAT MOMENT IF THEY WERE WITH ME. PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THERE ARE SOMETIME THAT THIS CAN BE EXPEDITED WHEN IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THIS ISSUE IS ONE OF THEM. THANK YOU!
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?
Other or unspecified, Oct 12, 2017
PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED
Other or unspecified, Jul 20, 2017
WHILE MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THE SUNROOF SHATTERED, IT WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANYTHING BUT SHATTERED WITH NO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE CAUSING GLASS DEBRIS .
Other or unspecified, Jun 4, 2017
ON 6/4/2017 AT 7:23 PM, PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM (PCS) BEEPED AND LIT UP "BRAKE" EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS AT LEAST 4 CAR LENGTHS AWAY AND IT WAS TRAVELING FASTER THAN MY VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE IN MARCH 2017. THE PCS WARNING CAME UP EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MY MOVING VEHICLE. KOONS TOYOTA LOOKED AT MY CAR ON APRIL 29 AND SAW AN EVENT IN MY CAR'S COMPUTER. A SUBSEQUENT CHECKUP ON MAY 18 AND 19, 2017 REVEALED NOTHING MORE, ACCORDING TO THEM. I WILL BRING MY CAR IN TO KOONS AGAIN BUT THEY MAY SAY THEY HAVE FOUND NOTHING SIGNIFICANT. I AM WORRIED THAT ONE DAY THIS CAR WILL SUDDENLY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSE A DANGEROUS PILE UP OF CRASHED CARS.
Other or unspecified, Apr 10, 2017
MY WIFE TURNED OFF THE KEYLESS IGNITION OF OUR VEHICLE WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN DRIVE. SHE STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR AND IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. FORTUNATELY THE GARAGE DOOR WAS CLOSED OTHERWISE SHE MAY WOULD BEEN HIT BY THE CAR DOOR OR THE CAR WOULD HAVE ROLLED INTO THE STREET. WE LIVE IN A CUL DE SAC WHERE CHILDREN PLAY. I CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS AND WAS TOLD THAT IS HOW THE IGNITION IS SUPPOSED TO FUNCTION FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE DRIVER. I SPOKE TO A TOYOTA REP WHO TOLD ME THAT WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND CONVENIENCE SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE BECOMES MORE DANGEROUS. OUR OTHER TWO CARS HAVE KEYED IGNITIONS AND REQUIRE THE TRANSMISSION TO BE IN PARK IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE KEY. I KNOW THIS IS DANGEROUS. IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE WHILE THE ENGINE IS OFF AND NO ONE IS AT THE DRIVER'S POSITION.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Mar 11, 2017
WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE IS ON A DECLINE THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT MAINTAIN THE SET SPEED. I NOTICED THIS SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELING BETWEEN 65-75 MPH. EACH TIME THERE WAS A CAR AHEAD OF ME AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC ACCIDENTS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE SO I CONTINUED TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AS I WOULD NORMALLY DO. AFTER IT HAPPENED AGAIN I DECIDED NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AT ALL WHICH WAS VERY FRUSTRATING CONSIDERING THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 2 WEEKS OLD AND I PURCHASED IT JUST FOR LONG FAMILY TRIPS. THERE IS ALSO A WIND WHISTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR THE NOISE ISSUE AND I WAITED THERE FOR 5 HOURS ONLY FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE AND THERE IS NO FIX FOR IT. THIS HAS TURNED OUT THE BE THE WORST CAR EXPERIENCE I'VE EVER HAD.
Other or unspecified, Feb 23, 2016
I PURCHASED THE TOP OF THE LINE LIMITED PLATINUM MODEL IN ORDER TO GET SAFETY FEATURES. HOWEVER, THE WARNING CHINES FOR LANE DEPARTURE, BACK UP CROSS TRAFFIC PROTECTION ETC. ARE VERY FAINT WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER CARS THAT HAVE THESE FEATURES. WHEN THE RADIO PLAYS MUSIC THEY CAN NOT BE HEARD AT ALL RENDERING THESE PROTECTION FEATURES USELESS. FURTHERMORE, THE VOLUME OF THE WARNING CHIMES CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY BOTH THE DEALER AND TOYOTA.
Other or unspecified, Dec 28, 2015
WHEN I PURCHASED THIS 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LE IN MID DECEMBER, I DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL I GOT IT HOME, THERE WAS NO INTERIOR REAR DOOR RELEASE. NO RELEASE BUTTON ON THE DASH AND NO INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, FOUND MY SALESMAN AND ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS AN INTERIOR DOOR RELEASE. HE TOLD ME THERE WAS NOT AND "THAT'S WHY THEY OFFER THE LE PLUS MODEL WHICH HAS A POWER REAR DOOR WITH INSIDE RELEASE". EVERY VEHICLE I'VE OWNED SINCE 1998 HAS HAD AN INSIDE TRUNK OR REAR DOOR RELEASE. IT SEEMS LIKE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE TO ME, HOW WOULD ANYBODY ESCAPE FROM THE BACK IN CASE OF FIRE OR OTHER TRAGEDY? AREN'T PASSENGER VEHICLES REQUIRED TO BE MANUFACTURED WITH AN INSIDE RELEASE/DOOR HANDLE?