Grand Highlander
Grand Highlander: EPA mpg, towing, oil and tire specs, recalls, verified TSBs and NHTSA complaints.
Maintenance & Problems
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Toyota Grand Highlander Maintenance Schedule by Mileage
Toyota's schedule for the Grand Highlander is a service visit every 5,000 miles or 6 months, with the engine oil and filter changed every 10,000 miles or 12 months. Cabin and engine air filters are replaced at 30,000 miles, spark plugs at 40,000 miles on the 2.4L turbo (then 80,000 and 120,000), and engine coolant first at 100,000 miles or 120 months, then every 50,000 miles or 60 months. All-wheel-drive gas trucks also replace the rear differential and transfer case oil every 30,000 miles. Hybrids add an HV battery cooling intake filter check at each visit and a cleaning every 20,000 miles. Dirt and dust shorten the oil interval to 5,000 miles or 6 months.
Toyota Grand Highlander MPG: Gas, Hybrid and Hybrid MAX
The gas Grand Highlander is rated 22 to 24 mpg combined, the 2.5L Hybrid 34 to 36 mpg, and the Hybrid MAX 27 mpg. The EPA ratings are identical for model years 2024, 2025 and 2026. The front-wheel-drive gas truck gets 21 city / 28 highway / 24 combined, the 2.5L Hybrid FWD 37 / 34 / 36, and the Hybrid MAX 26 / 27 / 27. At EPA combined, a 2.5L Hybrid AWD burns about 441 gallons over 15,000 miles against 652 for a gas AWD LE/XLE, a difference of about 211 gallons a year.
Toyota Grand Highlander Oil, Tire Size and Fluid Specs
The gas Grand Highlander takes 5.6 qt of 0W-20 oil, the 2.5L Hybrid takes 4.5 qt of 0W-8, and the Hybrid MAX takes 5.6 qt of 0W-20. Tires are 255/65R18 111H or 255/55R20 107V, at 35 psi cold front and rear, with a T165/90D18 compact spare at 60 psi. Wheel nut torque is 103 ft-lbf. The fuel tank holds 17.8 gal on the gas truck and 17.2 gal on the hybrids, and all versions take regular unleaded (87 AKI). Figures are from Toyota's 2025 owner's manuals.
Toyota Grand Highlander Problems: NHTSA Complaints
NHTSA holds 314 complaints on the Toyota Grand Highlander: 235 for the 2024 model year and 79 for 2025. The 2026 truck has none on file yet. The most-mentioned components are power train (67), engine (51) and fuel/propulsion system (47), after a large "other" bucket (80). About 35 complaint texts mention stalling, shutting off or losing power, and about 36 mention hesitation, jerking or lurching. Only 2 of the 314 mention the turbo, so the complaint data does not show a turbo failure pattern. Complaints are voluntary and unverified.
Toyota Grand Highlander Recalls: Every Recall 2024–2026
NHTSA lists 7 recalls on the Toyota Grand Highlander for model years 2024 to 2026. The two most serious are both on the 2026 model: 26V437 (rear axle carriers that may break, July 2026) and 26V598 (front steering knuckles that may crack, September 2026). The 2024 model has the curtain air bag recall (24V461). A rearview camera software recall (25V744) and an instrument panel recall (25V595) cover 2024 and 2025 trucks. Two load label recalls (24V548, 26V179) are label swaps. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Toyota Grand Highlander Towing Capacity by Engine
The Grand Highlander tows 5,000 lb with the 2.4L turbo engine, gas or Hybrid MAX, and 3,500 lb with the 2.5L Hybrid. Toyota's 2025 owner's manuals rate the gas truck at a GCWR of 10,600 lb, the Hybrid MAX at 10,500 lb, and the 2.5L Hybrid at 9,635 lb (2WD) or 9,750 lb (AWD). Unbraked trailers are limited to 1,000 lb on every version. Tongue weight should be 9 to 11 percent of the trailer weight. Toyota recommends its own hitch, and the hitch's rating can be lower than the truck's.
Toyota Grand Highlander TSB List and Known Issues
We verified six Toyota bulletins that name the Grand Highlander, all read from NHTSA's PDFs. Four are service bulletins: T-SB-0103-23 (check engine light with code P05CE00 on the 2024 gas engine), T-SB-0017-24 (hesitation from 0 to 40 mph on the 2024 Hybrid), T-SB-0028-26 (clicking from the front drive shaft, which replaced T-SB-0082-24 in April 2026) and T-SB-0111-24 (hood flutter). Two are tech tips: T-TT-0741-23 (engine will not restart after a start/stop event) and T-TT-0742-23 (cannot fill the tank). Every bulletin we found applies to 2024 trucks. We found none that names the 2025 or 2026 model by number.