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
110 reports, newest first.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 18, 2019
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVATES RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING ON SMOOTH ROADWAY, DRY ROADS. DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND TCS LIGHT FLASHES IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.
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.
Engine, Aug 18, 2019
WHISTLING/SQUEAKING NOISE FROM ENGINE WHEN TURNED OFF AFTER DRIVING. TOOK A VIDEO AND SHOWED DEALER WHO THOUGHT IT WAS UNUSUAL BUT NO DIAGNOSIS ON MULTIPLE VISITS.
Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 18, 2019
NOTED FUEL ECONOMY CONTINUES TO DROP AND NOWHERE NEAR ADVERTISED MILEAGE. LAST TRIP IN VEHICLE NOTED 20 MPG ON ADVERTISED 27MPG. AROUND TOWN MILEAGE DROPPING BELOW 19 MPG.
Service brakes, Aug 18, 2019
AT LOW SPEEDS SUCH AS SLOWING FOR A STOP SIGN VEHICLE RANDOMLY BRAKES BY ITSELF WITH SUDDEN STOPPING OF VEHICLE. OCCUPANTS AND ITEMS IN VEHICLE ARE THROWN FORWARD. NORMAL BRAKE PRESSURE APPLIED. HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH MYSELF AND MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES INCLUDING 1 REPLACEMENT OF 12V BATTERY AS A SOLUTION, HOWEVER VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE ISSUES. LISTED DATE IS APPROXIMATE OF ORIGINAL OCCURRENCE. SOME INSTANCES CAPTURED ON DASH-CAM VIDEO.
Service brakes, Aug 13, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD METAL RUBBING ON THE FRONT BRAKES. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS WERE REPAIRED BY ORLAND TOYOTA (8505 W 159TH ST, TINLEY PARK, IL 60487), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ELMHURST TOYOTA (440 W LAKE ST, ELMHURST, IL 60126) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE FINE; HOWEVER, THE ROTORS WERE NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Air bags, Seat belts, Seats, Jul 5, 2019
DOES NOT HAVE ANY SIDE AIR BAG MOUNTED PASSENGER DRIVER SEAT AIR BAG OF THE FRONT PASSENGER DRIVER ALL THE ROW FILTER IN THE GUIDE DOES NOT HAVE AIR BAG AND THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK.
Service brakes, Jun 6, 2019
WHEN I AM ON REGULAR SPEED AND PUSH THE BREAK PADDLE THEN STARING IS SHACKING AND IT'S HAVE JUST 10000 MILES ON IT
Seats, May 28, 2019
2ND ROW PASSENGER SEAT, 60 PORTION SQUEAK ON BUMPY ROADS, ISSUE COMING FROM FOLDING CABLES MECHANISM, DEALERSHIP CAN'T REPLACE THE SEAT DUE TO HIGH COST AND ALSO CAN'T FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE, VERY ANNOYING NOISE FOR AN EXPENSIVE CAR MODEL XLE
Service brakes, May 22, 2019
STARTED COMPLAINING ABOUT BRAKES AT 10,000 MILES. THE DEALER TURNED REAR ROTORS AT 28,000 AND INSTALLED NEW PADS. NOW AT 37,000, THE FRONT ROTORS ARE WARPED ALSO. CANNOT BE TURNED DOWN.NO COVERAGE FROM THE DEALER. DEFECTIVE ROTORS ARE MY COMPLAINT. TOYOTA FORUMS COMPLAIN ABOUT THESES ROTORS ALL THE TIME.THE VEHICLE SHUTTERS AS BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
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.
Electronic stability control (ESC), May 21, 2019
COMPLAINT FILES 3/18/2019 COMPLAINT # 11189699 ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM FAILS IN WET WEATHER. SNOW OR SLUSH OR HEAVY RAIN. FAILURE 7 TIMES. RESETS ITSELF WHEN WEATHER DRY. SENSOR IS CRACKED OR FAULTY. DEALER SAYS OWNER COST. IT SEEMS A TOYOTA FACTORY DEFECT AND SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING IN SEVERE WEATHER AND MOUNTAIN PASSES IN COLORADO. PLEASE ADVISE
Air bags, Apr 25, 2019
TAKATA RECALL'DASHBOARD AIRBAG ICON WILL NOT RRSET
Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 18, 2019
TWICE THE AWD SYSTEM HAS FAILED. 12/28/2016 AND MARCH 17/ 2019. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THE THE 4WD SHUTS DOWN ALONG WITH THE TRAC AND VEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM. UNDER BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS BEING OPERATED IN EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS OF DEEP HEAVY SNOW, SLUSH, ICE AND MUD. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ALLOW THE WHEELS TO SPINS ENABLING ME TO KEEP MOVING IN THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS. I NEEDED TO SHIFT BETWEEN 1, 2 AND 3 GEARS TO ENGAGE THE HIGHER REVS TO SPINS THE TIRE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM GETTING STUCK OR SLIDING OFF THE ROAD. IN BOTH INSTANCES I WAS IN REMOTE, ISOLATED AREAS WITH NO HELP AND NO CELL SERVICE. THE DECEMBER 2016 INSTANCES WAS REPAIRED BY A TOYOTA DEALER IN OMAHA. DEALER COULD NOT READILY UNDERSTAND HOW THE PROBLEM INITIATED.
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?
Steering, Nov 1, 2018
I WAS JUST PROCEEDING FROM A STOP AT A 4 WAY INTERSECTION GO VERY SLOWLY WHEN I RECEIVED A WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD SAYING "EPS FAILURE, STEERING WHEEL HARDER TO TURN". I WAS THEN PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, ALMOST AS IF THE POWER STEERING WAS DISABLED. THIS WAS AT AN EXTREMELY BUSY INTERSECTION AND I ALMOST HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. EVEN WHEN TRYING TO BACK UP AND TURN, MY VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO STEER OTHER THAN GOING STRAIGHT FORWARD AND BACK. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING IT, THE ERROR WENT AWAY AND MY STEERING RESUMED AS NORMAL, BUT I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY INCIDENT AND I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF I HAD HIT THE TELEPHONE POLE, IF I HAD BEEN GOING FASTER, OR SOMEONE IN THE INTERSECTION COULD HAVE HIT ME. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE IN THE 2015 MODEL AND IT SHOULD PROBABLY BE EXPANDED AS THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO EXIST WITH THE 2016 MODEL AS WELL.
Service brakes, Oct 24, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (PRIORITY TOYOTA SPRINGFIELD, 7601 LOISDALE RD, SPRINGFIELD, VA 22150, (703) 269-1400) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Service brakes, Sep 5, 2018, crash
WHILE PARKING IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT, AT IDLE SPEED, THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP FORWARD PROGRESS. CAR STRUCK THE CURBING, CLIMBED ONTO THE DIVIDER, CROSSED THE DIVIDER AND BUMPED A PARKED CAR ON THE OTHER SIDE. WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, I PUMPED THE BRAKES, AND PUSHED THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTO THE PARK POSITION. AFTER VEHICLE STOPPED, I REVERSED CAREFULLY, WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME OFF THE DIVIDER, I SET THE FOOT BRAKE. AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, I OPENED THE HOOD AND MY SON AND I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. IT WAS FULL. RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HAD MY SON CHECK THE DISTANCE OF THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS ALMOST ON THE FLOOR. I CALLED AAA AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND FILED A CLAIM WITH TOYOTA.
Tires, Wheels, Sep 2, 2018
2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH OEM TOYO 245/55R19 OPEN COUNTRY M&S 103T TIRES AT ABOUT 70 MPH ON I95 SOUTH BOARD NEAR BRUNSWICK GA (EXIT 38?) , A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD AND THEN THE BUMPING MADE IT OBVIOUS A TIRE HAD FAILED SO THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WELL OF THE ROAD NEAR AN EXIT. THE LOCAL STATE HIGHWAY ASSISTANCE TRUCK (CHAMP) STOPPED AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND THE TOYOTA RESPONSE SERVICE TRUCK SHOWED UP ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER - THE TIRE WAS CHANGED AND WE PROCEEDED ON OUR WAY - MANY THANKS TO THE "ROAD RANGER" AND HIS TRUCK AND EXPERTISE! THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 28,500 MILES ON THEM - ESTIMATE ABOUT 55%OF ORIGINAL TREAD AND ARE MARKED: DOT 78HH CND 1016. THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A HOLE IN THE SIDEWALL THAT CAUSED SUDDEN LOSS OF PRESSURE.
Service brakes, Aug 20, 2018
DRIVING DOWNHILL OR AT SPEEDS OVER 70 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE NOT EFFECTIVE TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY. THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITH CONFIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAD DONE ONLY 25,000 MILES AND UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. THE DEALER SIMPLY MACHINED THE ROTORS AND PUT THEM BACK. HOPING IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOT DUE TO DEFECTIVE ROTORS. SHOULDN'T TOYOTA LOOK INTO THIS MORE AND PERHAPS SUGGEST REPLACING THE ROTORS INSTEAD OF INSTALLING THE SAME ROTORS?
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.
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.
Tires, Apr 17, 2018
LEFT REAR TIRE ON OUR 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BEGIN TO LOOSE AIR WHILE PASSING A SEMI TRUCK ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE TIRE PRESSURE ALARM NOTIFIED THE DRIVER OF TIRE PRESSURE LOSS FOR AN EMERGENCY STOP. UPON A COMPLETE STOP THE TIRE PRESSURE HAD DROPPED ABOUT 85 % OR SO, (NOT FLAT BUT VERY NEAR SO AND COMPLETED THE AIR LOSS WITHIN A SHORT TIME AFTER STOPPING).. WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE I WAS FOLLOWING BEHIND MY WIFE DRIVING THE HIGHLANDER AT THE TIME. TRAVEL SPEED WAS BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH AT THE TIME. THE TIRES ARE THE ORIGINAL THAT CAME ON THE TOYOTA NEW AND HAD ABOUT 27000 MILES ON THEM. UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRE IT LOOKS OBVIOUS THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF VISUAL CRUMBLED RUBBER ALL INSIDE THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALLS IN SIDE AND THE MASSIVE BLISTERS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE, WE HAD ALL THE TIRES REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE AS WE HAD NO TRUST IN THE REST OF THE TIRES AFTER THIS HAPPENED. NEITHER THE TOYO TIRE MANUFACTURER REP., THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, OR THE TOYOTA COMPANY WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE, OR OFFERED ANY CONCESSIONS AGAINST THE REPLACEMENT TIRES. PHOTOS OF THE TIRE AND OR THE TIRE ITSELF IS AVAILABLE FOR NHTSA IF THERE IS A REQUEST TO REVIEW. POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM THE TOYO TIRE MANUFACTURER, THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP OR THE TOYOTA COMPANY IS QUITE OBVIOUS TO US THAT THEY HAD NO CONCERN FOR OTHER PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE THE SAME TOYO TIRES THAT TOYOTA CHOOSE TO PUT ON THE NEW VEHICLE THAT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE TIRE BRAND IS TOYO, TIRE LINE IS OPEN COUNTRY, TIRE SIZE 245-55-19 DOT # 73HH (CND2216)