RecallMyCar

2016 Toyota Highlander Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 2016 Toyota Highlander, and owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
111
owner complaints to NHTSA
14 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
20–28
MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 2016 Toyota Highlander

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Electrical system: wiring and fluid (service brakes)

    NHTSA 16V775000 Reported 7,056 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

    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…

    Remedy: 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…

  2. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 16V420000 Reported 4,253 vehicles potentially affected Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

    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…

    Remedy: 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.

111 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2016 Toyota Highlander have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA; 14 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 11 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 27,767 miles. Complaints peaked in 2019 with 21 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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 continue”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 1, 2026 · Seat belts

“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 insi”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 10, 2026 · Exterior lighting

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2016 Toyota Highlander (Highlander 2WD, Highlander AWD, Highlander Hybrid AWD, Highlander Hybrid AWD LE Plus). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined20–28 mpg
City / Highway18–28 / 24–28
FuelRegular
EPA classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.7/3.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S6); Automatic (S6)

Compare Toyota Highlander model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota Highlander model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1997 Toyota Highlander01
1998 Toyota Highlander01
2001 Toyota Highlander3137
2002 Toyota Highlander2301
2003 Toyota Highlander2258
2004 Toyota Highlander5286
2005 Toyota Highlander6224
2006 Toyota Highlander7277
2007 Toyota Highlander4124
2008 Toyota Highlander11404
2009 Toyota Highlander9134
2010 Toyota Highlander10216
2011 Toyota Highlander5181
2012 Toyota Highlander2182
2013 Toyota Highlander3207
2014 Toyota Highlander4136
2015 Toyota Highlander1192
2016 Toyota Highlander2111
2017 Toyota Highlander3269
2018 Toyota Highlander4268
2019 Toyota Highlander3490
2020 Toyota Highlander4319
2021 Toyota Highlander4529
2022 Toyota Highlander5260
2023 Toyota Highlander9184
2024 Toyota Highlander742
2025 Toyota Highlander410
2026 Toyota Highlander02

Checking a specific 2016 Toyota Highlander

How do I know if my 2016 Toyota Highlander has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2016 Toyota Highlander; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 16V420000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Toyota models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.