2016 Toyota Highlander problems and complaints
Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Highlander. The most-reported areas: Unknown Or Other (21), Service Brakes (19), Electrical System (14).
Key takeaways
- 111 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 14 involve a crash, 1 a fire, 11 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 21 | 19% |
| Service Brakes | 19 | 17% |
| Electrical System | 14 | 13% |
| Air Bags | 10 | 9% |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 | 8% |
| Engine | 9 | 8% |
| Tires | 7 | 6% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 7 | 6% |
| Steering | 6 | 5% |
| Wheels | 4 | 4% |
| Structure | 4 | 4% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 4 | 4% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Toyota Highlander SUV FWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2016 Toyota Highlander SUV AWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Seat Belts - filed 2026-10-01
The component involved was the vehicle's seat belt/restraint system. While my daughter was wearing the seat belt, it became stuck around her waist/abdomen and became extremely tight. The belt continued to tighten and would not loosen or release normally. The seat belt had to be cut in an emergency to free my daughter. ...
Exterior Lighting - filed 2026-09-10
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 neede...
Steering - filed 2026-02-22
Steering column can become worn prematurely causing loose steering and possibly loose control
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More for the 2016 Toyota Highlander
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.