CarBrief

NHTSA has 4 owner complaints on file for the 2026 Toyota Highlander[1]. None of them mention a crash, a fire, or an injury[1].

4owner complaints[1]
24–35MPG combined (EPA)[2]
5★NHTSA overall rating[3]

Most reported problems

The complaint list is short so far, and each group has just one report.

Recalls

NHTSA's records show 0 recalls for the 2026 Highlander[10].

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version City / highway / combined MPG Annual fuel cost
Highlander AWD, 2.4L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive[11] 21 / 28 / 24 $2,800
Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive[2] 35 / 34 / 35 $1,900
Highlander Hybrid AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive[12] 35 / 35 / 35 $1,900

Safety ratings

Version Overall Frontal Side Rollover Rollover risk
SUV AWD[3] 5 4 5 4 16.4%
SUV AWD[13] 5 4 5 4 16.4%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine Horsepower
2026 Toyota Highlander with 2.4L 4-cylinder[14] 264 hp
2026 Toyota Highlander with 2.5L 4-cylinder[15] 186 hp

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version Length Width Height Wheelbase Curb weight
GRAND HIGHLANDER 4DR SUV[16] 201 in 78 in 70 in 116 in 4,464 lb
GRAND HIGHLANDER 4DR SUV HYBRID[17] 201 in 78 in 70 in 116 in 4,586 lb
GRAND HIGHLANDER 4DR SUV PLATINUM MAX HYBRID[18] 201 in 78 in 70 in 116 in 4,905 lb
HIGHLANDER 4DR SUV L FWD[19] 195 in 76 in 68 in 112 in 4,123 lb
HIGHLANDER 4DR SUV LE/XLE AWD[20] 195 in 76 in 68 in 112 in 4,299 lb
HIGHLANDER 4DR SUV LE/XLE HYBRID AWD[21] 195 in 76 in 68 in 112 in 4,442 lb

How 2026 compares with other years

2001: 137 complaints, 3 recalls20012002: 301 complaints, 2 recalls2003: 258 complaints, 2 recalls2004: 286 complaints, 5 recalls20042005: 225 complaints, 6 recalls2006: 648 complaints, 11 recalls2007: 234 complaints, 6 recalls20072008: 602 complaints, 12 recalls2009: 174 complaints, 10 recalls2010: 238 complaints, 11 recalls20102011: 186 complaints, 5 recalls2012: 191 complaints, 2 recalls2013: 212 complaints, 3 recalls20132014: 138 complaints, 4 recalls2015: 196 complaints, 1 recalls2016: 117 complaints, 2 recalls20162017: 274 complaints, 3 recalls2018: 274 complaints, 4 recalls2019: 506 complaints, 3 recalls20192020: 330 complaints, 5 recalls2021: 546 complaints, 5 recalls2022: 269 complaints, 6 recalls20222023: 197 complaints, 9 recalls2024: 43 complaints, 7 recalls2025: 10 complaints, 4 recalls20252026: 4 complaints, 0 recalls42026
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Highlander model year. The 2026 is highlighted[10].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
20011373
20023012
20032582
20042865
20052256
200664811
20072346
200860212
200917410
201023811
20111865
20121912
20132123
20141384
20151961
20161172
20172743
20182744
20195063
20203305
20215465
20222696
20231979
2024437
2025104
202640

NHTSA's counts for the Highlander show 4 complaints and 0 recalls for 2026[10]. Among the 26 model years listed, 0 have fewer complaints than 2026 and 25 have more[10]. The fewest complaints are for 2026 (4) and the most are for 2006 (648)[10]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2026 Highlander?

The record for this model year is thin, with 4 complaints and no crash, fire, or injury reports[1]. Each complaint group shows up once, so no single issue stands out[4]. The six groups come from 4 complaints, because at least one drive-feel report is filed under more than one group[1][7]. These are unverified owner reports, and they are not adjusted for sales. Check the recall and by-year sections on this page for the full picture[10].

Frequently asked questions

What problems do 2026 Toyota Highlander owners report?
NHTSA has 4 complaints on file[1]. They are filed under six component groups (back over prevention, visibility/wiper, power train, engine, fuel/propulsion system and seats), one complaint each, and one report can appear in more than one group[4][5][6][7][8][9].
Are there recalls for the 2026 Toyota Highlander?
Recalls are listed in the Recalls section of this page. The by-year count is in the comparison section[10].
How many complaints does the 2026 Highlander have?
There are 4 owner complaints on file with NHTSA[1]. None mention a crash, a fire, or an injury[1].
What is the gas mileage of the 2026 Toyota Highlander?
See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.
Is the 2026 Toyota Highlander reliable?
The complaint record is short so far, with 4 reports[1]. See the problems and by-year sections for details[10].

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Toyota Highlander

Compare all model years of the Toyota Highlander

Other Toyota models from 2026

All Toyota models

Similar cars from 2026: small suvs

All small suvs we cover

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 4 owner complaints on file for the 2026 Toyota Highlander (0 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. EPA rating for Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 35 city / 34 highway / 35 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  3. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
  4. 1 complaints name the back over prevention component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  5. 1 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 1 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 1 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 1 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 1 complaints name the seats component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. Owner complaints and recalls for every Toyota Highlander model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  11. EPA rating for Highlander AWD, 2.4L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 28 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  12. EPA rating for Highlander Hybrid AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 35 city / 35 highway / 35 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  13. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
  14. EPA Test Car List, 2026 Toyota Highlander with 2.4L 4-cylinder: rated 264 hp. www.epa.gov
  15. EPA Test Car List, 2026 Toyota Highlander with 2.5L 4-cylinder: rated 186 hp. www.epa.gov
  16. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, GRAND HIGHLANDER 4DR SUV: length 201 in, width 78 in, height 70 in, wheelbase 116 in, curb weight 4,464 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  17. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, GRAND HIGHLANDER 4DR SUV HYBRID: length 201 in, width 78 in, height 70 in, wheelbase 116 in, curb weight 4,586 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  18. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, GRAND HIGHLANDER 4DR SUV PLATINUM MAX HYBRID: length 201 in, width 78 in, height 70 in, wheelbase 116 in, curb weight 4,905 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  19. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, HIGHLANDER 4DR SUV L FWD: length 195 in, width 76 in, height 68 in, wheelbase 112 in, curb weight 4,123 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  20. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, HIGHLANDER 4DR SUV LE/XLE AWD: length 195 in, width 76 in, height 68 in, wheelbase 112 in, curb weight 4,299 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  21. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, HIGHLANDER 4DR SUV LE/XLE HYBRID AWD: length 195 in, width 76 in, height 68 in, wheelbase 112 in, curb weight 4,442 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.