{ "slug": "toyota-highlander-problems-nhtsa-complaints", "title": "Toyota Highlander Problems: NHTSA Complaints 2024–2026", "url": "https://toyotadata.com/guides/toyota-highlander-problems-nhtsa-complaints/", "markdown": "https://toyotadata.com/guides/toyota-highlander-problems-nhtsa-complaints.md", "description": "NHTSA owner complaints on the Toyota Highlander 2024–2026: 53 filed, brakes and fuel/propulsion lead, with crashes, injuries and the 2026 truck at zero.", "quickAnswer": "NHTSA holds 53 complaints on the Toyota Highlander for model years 2024 to 2026: 43 for 2024, 10 for 2025 and none for 2026. After a general \"other\" bucket (15 mentions), the most-named components are service brakes (10), fuel/propulsion system (8), electrical system (7) and engine (6). Six complaints report a crash and six report an injury. None report a fire or a death. Complaints are voluntary and unverified, and the numbers are small, so treat them as a pointer, not a failure rate.", "platforms": [ "Highlander" ], "category": "Maintenance & Problems", "author": "Rob Krause", "published": "2026-10-21T16:00:00Z", "updated": "2026-10-21T16:00:00Z", "sections": [ { "heading": "Complaints by Model Year", "url": "https://toyotadata.com/guides/toyota-highlander-problems-nhtsa-complaints/#complaints-by-model-year" }, { "heading": "Safety Outcomes Reported", "url": "https://toyotadata.com/guides/toyota-highlander-problems-nhtsa-complaints/#safety-outcomes-reported" }, { "heading": "What the Counts Say", "url": "https://toyotadata.com/guides/toyota-highlander-problems-nhtsa-complaints/#what-the-counts-say" }, { "heading": "The 2026 Highlander", "url": "https://toyotadata.com/guides/toyota-highlander-problems-nhtsa-complaints/#the-2026-highlander" }, { "heading": "How to Use This", "url": "https://toyotadata.com/guides/toyota-highlander-problems-nhtsa-complaints/#how-to-use-this" }, { "heading": "Frequently Asked Questions", "url": "https://toyotadata.com/guides/toyota-highlander-problems-nhtsa-complaints/#frequently-asked-questions" }, { "heading": "Related Guides", "url": "https://toyotadata.com/guides/toyota-highlander-problems-nhtsa-complaints/#related-guides" } ], "faqs": [ { "q": "What are the most common Toyota Highlander problems?", "a": "By NHTSA complaint count for 2024 to 2026, service brakes (10), fuel/propulsion system (8), electrical system (7) and engine (6) are the most-named components, after a general \"other\" group (15)." }, { "q": "How many complaints does the Highlander have?", "a": "53 as of October 21, 2026: 43 for the 2024 model year, 10 for 2025 and none for 2026." }, { "q": "Has the Highlander had any injuries reported?", "a": "Complaints report 6 injuries and 6 crashes in total. No fires and no deaths are reported." }, { "q": "Do NHTSA complaints prove a defect?", "a": "No. They are unverified owner reports. They show where to look, and recalls show what Toyota has confirmed." } ], "related": [ { "title": "Toyota Highlander Complaints by Year: 2008–2023", "url": "https://toyotadata.com/guides/toyota-highlander-complaints-by-year-2008-2023/" }, { "title": "Toyota Highlander MPG by Year: 2008–2023", "url": "https://toyotadata.com/guides/toyota-highlander-mpg-by-year-2008-2023/" }, { "title": "Toyota Highlander Recalls 2008–2023: Every Campaign", "url": "https://toyotadata.com/guides/toyota-highlander-recalls-2008-2023/" }, { "title": "Toyota Highlander MPG: Gas and Hybrid 2024–2026", "url": "https://toyotadata.com/guides/toyota-highlander-mpg-gas-hybrid-2024-2026/" } ], "content_markdown": "> QUICK ANSWER\n>\n> **NHTSA holds 53 complaints on the Toyota Highlander for model years 2024 to 2026: 43 for 2024, 10 for 2025 and none for 2026.** After a general \"other\" bucket (15 mentions), the most-named components are **service brakes (10)**, **fuel/propulsion system (8)**, **electrical system (7)** and **engine (6)**. Six complaints report a crash and six report an injury. None report a fire or a death. Complaints are voluntary and unverified, and the numbers are small, so treat them as a pointer, not a failure rate.\n\nThe current Highlander's complaint list is short compared with many Toyotas. That is partly a sign of a well-liked truck and partly the effect of low volume in these model years. This guide counts what the complaints name and says plainly what the data does and does not show.\n\n**How this list is built.** On October 21, 2026 we queried NHTSA's complaints-by-vehicle service for the Toyota Highlander, model years 2024, 2025 and 2026, and counted the components each complaint names. We did not rank by severity. A single complaint can name several components, so component counts overlap. Complaints are not failure rates, they are not verified by NHTSA or Toyota, and they do not account for how many trucks were sold.\n\n
\n\nNHTSA complaints on the Toyota Highlander, by component (2024–2025 model years)\nNHTSA complaints on the Toyota Highlander, by component (2024–2025 model years)\nOne complaint can name more than one component, so bars add to more than 53.\n\n0\n\n3\n\n6\n\n9\n\n12\n\n15\nOther / unknown\n\n15\nService brakes\n\n10\nFuel / propulsion\n\n8\nEngine\n\n6\nElectrical system\n\n7\nSpeed control\n\n4\nStructure\n\n4\nPower train\n\n3\nForward collision\n\n3\n\n
\n\n## Complaints by Model Year\n\n| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS |\n| --- | --- |\n| 2024 | 43 |\n| 2025 | 10 |\n| 2026 | 0 |\n| **Total** | **53** |\n\n## Safety Outcomes Reported\n\nAcross the 53 complaints, **6 mention a crash**, **0 mention a fire**, **6 report an injury** and **0 report a death**. These are what owners reported, not findings.\n\n## What the Counts Say\n\n**Brakes lead the named components.** Service brakes appear in 10 complaints, the largest single named system. Two of those also name the engine or electrical system, and one names vehicle speed control. Toyota has not issued a brake recall on the Highlander in model years 2024 and 2025.\n\n**Fuel and propulsion, engine and power train** together appear in about 17 mentions. We cannot tell from component labels alone whether these are hybrid system, gas engine or transmission concerns.\n\n**Driver assistance** (vehicle speed control and forward collision avoidance) shows up in 4 and 3 complaints, often alongside brakes. That pattern is worth noting, but it is a handful of reports.\n\n**Known recalls.** The confirmed defects are on the [recall list](/guides/toyota-highlander-recalls-2024-2026/): the second-row seat recliner (26V128), the third-row center belt anchor (25V872), tire load ratings and software.\n\n## The 2026 Highlander\n\nNHTSA has no complaints on file for the 2026 Highlander as of our query. A zero is not a clean bill of health on a truck that has been on sale for a short time. Check your VIN for recalls.\n\n## How to Use This\n\n1. **Run the VIN** for open recalls. That is where Toyota has confirmed defects.\n2. **Write down the details** if the truck does something odd: speed, weather, warnings and the date. Dealers act on specifics.\n3. **File your own complaint** at nhtsa.gov if something is wrong. The database is only as good as the reports in it.\n\n## Frequently Asked Questions\n\n### What are the most common Toyota Highlander problems?\n\nBy NHTSA complaint count for 2024 to 2026, service brakes (10), fuel/propulsion system (8), electrical system (7) and engine (6) are the most-named components, after a general \"other\" group (15).\n\n### How many complaints does the Highlander have?\n\n53 as of October 21, 2026: 43 for the 2024 model year, 10 for 2025 and none for 2026.\n\n### Has the Highlander had any injuries reported?\n\nComplaints report 6 injuries and 6 crashes in total. No fires and no deaths are reported.\n\n### Do NHTSA complaints prove a defect?\n\nNo. They are unverified owner reports. They show where to look, and recalls show what Toyota has confirmed.\n\n## Related Guides\n\n- [Toyota Highlander Recalls: Every Recall 2024–2026](/guides/toyota-highlander-recalls-2024-2026/)\n- [Toyota Highlander MPG: Gas and Hybrid 2024–2026](/guides/toyota-highlander-mpg-gas-hybrid-2024-2026/)\n- [Toyota Grand Highlander Recalls: Every Recall 2024–2026](/guides/toyota-grand-highlander-recalls-2024-2026/)\n- [Toyota Grand Highlander MPG: Gas, Hybrid and Hybrid MAX](/guides/toyota-grand-highlander-mpg-gas-hybrid-hybrid-max/)\n- [Toyota RAV4 Known Issues: NHTSA Complaints by Year](/guides/toyota-rav4-known-issues-nhtsa-complaints-by-year/)\n\nSources: NHTSA, [complaints by vehicle](https://www.nhtsa.gov/) (Toyota Highlander, model years 2024–2026), queried October 21, 2026." }