2016 Toyota Highlander problems and complaints
Owners have filed 110 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Highlander. The most-reported areas: Unknown Or Other (21), Service Brakes (19), Electrical System (14).
Key takeaways
- 110 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 14 involve a crash, 1 a fire, 10 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.
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
Steering - filed 2026-02-05
I was on Hwy 27 headed south bound at Bellecita Rd in Davenpoerrt, Fl. This is a busy four way intersection. I moved into the left hand turn lane. When the left turn green light came on I began my U-Turn to head north bound. The steering wheel would not respond to my input and the vehicle kept going straight into oncom...
Diagnose it yourself
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
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.