What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2018 Toyota Highlander

Typical pattern

8.7% of complaints about the 2018 Toyota Highlander came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2018 vehicle — around the middle of the 182 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.5 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (64 complaints), typically at 7.9 yr or about 92,000 miles.

Complaints
355
Median age at failure
4.5 yr
Median mileage
15,327 n=151
Crash / fire / tow
14.1% of reports
Safety recalls
5

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
64 reports · 92,000 mi
7.9 yr
4.7%
Service brakes
53 reports · 14,100 mi
4.5 yr
17%
Other
42 reports · 11,500 mi
2.3 yr
14.3%
Engine
33 reports · 14,800 mi
4.0 yr
0%
Electrical system
24 reports · 14,900 mi
3.8 yr
0%
Fuel / propulsion
22 reports · 17,500 mi
3.8 yr
4.5%
Air bags
19 reports · 21,000 mi
5.0 yr
78.9%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

20V682000 2020-11-04
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus

If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

20V012000 2020-01-13
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014

If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

18E107000 2018-11-27
Electrical system

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.

18V211000 2018-04-03
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry and Highlander vehicles, 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the oil galley in the rotor for the brake booster vacuum pump assembly may have been improperly machined possibly resulting in a sudden loss of brake assist.

A sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.

17V831000 2017-12-20
Equipment:other:labels

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Other 600 mi 5 mo in service
PCS (PRE COLLISION SYSTEM) AND PEDESTRIAN DETECTION SYSTEM DO NOT FUNCTION AS ADVERTISED BY THE MANUFACTURE AND ASSURED BY THE DEALER. THERE IS NO INDICATION OR ANY EVIDENCE THAT SUCH A SYSTEM EXISTS IN THE CAR. THEREFORE, IT GIVES YOU A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.
Other 1,500 mi 8 mo in service
I BOUGHT A 2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FROM A DEALERSHIP BRAND NEW APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 1500 MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. THERE IS A HOLE IN THE TIRE. THERE IS NO OBJECT IN THE TIRE AND I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING THAT I RAN OVER. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE BODY OR THE TIRE WELL.
Other 1,600 mi 9 mo in service
I WAS DRIVING ON A ROAD WITH TWO LANES SOUTHBOUND. NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME IN EITHER LANE. A CAR WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM THE SHOULDER. IT WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY NOR WAS IT HEADED BACK TOWARD THE HIGHWAY. THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM ATTEMPTED TO BRING ME TO A SCREECHING HALT WITHOUT WARNING AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I SUDDENLY WENT FROM 65 MPH TO ABOUT 20 MPH. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME. THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN AS SHOCKED AS I WAS BY THE ACTION OF MY VEHICLE AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE REAR-ENDED ME.
Air bags 2,200 mi 10 mo in service crash / fire / tow
RECENTLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN GOING IN REVERSE. THE SRS ALARM MALFUNCTIONED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE REVERSE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT INDICATED THAT I WAS CLOSE TO THE OBJECT.

Other Highlander model years

20232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001

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