2016 Toyota Highlander Problems, Recalls & Reliability
137 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Toyota Highlander, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 28/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Other leads the reports, typically around 36,500 miles.
Typical
Where 2016 sits among all Highlander years
What owners report
“Traction control system activates randomly while driving on smooth roadway, dry roads. Driving down road and tcs light flashes in instrument cluster.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Highlander
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 76 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 26,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 10,000 and 42,350 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
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…
Fix: 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.…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2016 Toyota Highlander reliable?
The 2016 Toyota Highlander drew 137 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 28/100, scored against the model's worst year (2008).
What are the most common 2016 Toyota Highlander problems?
The top reported problems for the 2016 Toyota Highlander are other (25 complaints), electrical (22), and brakes & stability (19).
At what mileage do 2016 Toyota Highlander problems show up?
Owners most often report 2016 Toyota Highlander problems around 26,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 10,000 and 42,350 miles.
Does the 2016 Toyota Highlander have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2016 Toyota Highlander. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.