Toyota Highlander 2014–2019 problems by year and mileage
3rd generation (XU50)
NHTSA data through 18 October 20261,501 complaints, 688 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2014 Toyota Highlander
Close- Median failure report
- 35,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 138
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2014
- Electrical system36 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise33 reports
- Body structure32 reports
Recall areas Fuel system, gasoline — delivery · Seats — mid/rear assembly · Electrical system — software
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2015 Toyota Highlander
Close- Median failure report
- 30,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 196
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2015
- Electrical system54 reports · median 39,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise44 reports
- Body structure32 reports
Recall areas Steering — electric power assist system
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2016 Toyota Highlander
Close- Median failure report
- 25,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 117
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2016
- Brakes22 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise22 reports
- Electrical system14 reports
Recall areas Electrical system — wiring · Equipment — other
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2017 Toyota Highlander
Close- Median failure report
- 20,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 273
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
† This median likely runs low (why).
Most reported on the 2017
- Transmission and driveline76 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise53 reports
- Engine49 reports
Recall areas Fuel system, gasoline — delivery · Equipment · Tires — temporary/emergency spare tire
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2018 Toyota Highlander
Close- Median failure report
- 16,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 274
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
† This median likely runs low (why).
Most reported on the 2018
- Transmission and driveline69 reports
- Brakes53 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise46 reports · median 9,000 mi
Recall areas Fuel system, gasoline — delivery · Service brakes, hydraulic — power assist · Equipment — other
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2019 Toyota Highlander
Close- Median failure report
- 12,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 503
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
† This median likely runs low (why).
Most reported on the 2019
- Transmission and driveline207 reports · median 64,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system88 reports · median 6,500 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise82 reports
Recall areas Fuel system, gasoline — delivery · Equipment — other
Check the VIN at NHTSA
Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. † Median likely runs low (complaints filed after 2020). Latest: the 2014; earliest: the 2019, and the 2014 is 5 years older (part of the gap is age).
The short answer
“Is the 2014–2019 Toyota Highlander reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 20,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 80,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 688
- Recalls
- 14
At least 40% of this generation’s complaints came after 2020, so its median likely runs low (why).
Most reported
- Transmission and driveline24.6% of complaints · median 43,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise18.7% of complaints · median 13,000 mi
- Electrical system15.4% of complaints · median 35,000 mi
Owners filed 1,501 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014–2019 Toyota Highlander; the transmission and driveline leads with 24.6% of them, and half of the 688 that record an odometer reading came by 20,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.
36% of complaints that record mileage fall within the first 12,000 miles, against 4.7 reports per 1,000 miles between 20,000 and 80,000. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2014–2019 Toyota Highlander last?
On the 2014–2019 Toyota Highlander, half of the 688 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 20,000 miles and 90% by 80,000 miles (why that is not a lifespan).
12 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 3 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Highlander reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Toyota Highlander 2014–2019 · 688 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
10,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 223 complaints
- First 12,000 miles — 36% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 3 complaints (0.4%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 905
- 25%
- 6,000
- Median
- 20,000
- 75%
- 48,000
- 90%
- 80,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 223 | 32.4% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 115 | 16.7% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 69 | 10.0% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 67 | 9.7% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 48 | 7.0% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 38 | 5.5% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 30 | 4.4% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 27 | 3.9% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 18 | 2.6% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 13 | 1.9% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 12 | 1.7% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 3 | 0.4% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 4 | 0.6% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 7 | 1.0% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 2 | 0.3% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 5 | 0.7% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.3% |
| 200,000+ | 3 | 0.4% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
Common Highlander problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Toyota Highlander 2014–2019
When each system fails
Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)
- Fuel and propulsion system148 reportsmedian 9,500middle half 4,000–18,000
- Problems owners could not categorise280 reportsmedian 13,000middle half 3,500–38,000
- Engine177 reportsmedian 16,000middle half 7,000–41,000
- Brakes139 reportsmedian 16,000middle half 6,500–42,000
- Body structure102 reportsmedian 22,000middle half 11,000–50,000
- Electrical system231 reportsmedian 35,000middle half 12,000–53,000
- Transmission and driveline369 reportsmedian 43,000middle half 13,000–90,000
- Your odometer, once entered below
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 369 | 24.6% | 43,000 | 13,000–90,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 280 | 18.7% | 13,000 | 3,500–38,000 |
| Electrical system | 231 | 15.4% | 35,000 | 12,000–53,000 |
| Engine | 177 | 11.8% | 16,000 | 7,000–41,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 148 | 9.9% | 9,500 | 4,000–18,000 |
| Brakes | 139 | 9.3% | 16,000 | 6,500–42,000 |
| Body structure | 102 | 6.8% | 22,000 | 11,000–50,000 |
| Airbag system | 62 | 4.1% | 16,000 | 6,500–30,000 |
| Steering | 58 | 3.9% | 24,000 | 6,000–56,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 56 | 3.7% | 13,000 | 6,000–28,000 |
Known problems with the 2014–2019 Highlander
Fuel System 2018–2019
Denso low-pressure fuel pump impeller can deform and bind, stopping the pump and stalling the engine. Very large multi-brand recall.
Before you buy a 2014–2019 Highlander: the 3-minute check
Generated from 688 mileage-tagged complaints, 14 recall campaigns, 1 documented problem area.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 14 campaigns cover this generation.
- Ask for fuel and propulsion system repair records. Reports on this area come at a median of 9,500 miles — on any car this age it already happened or never will; the question is whether it was fixed under warranty.
- Check fuel system on 2018–2019 cars. What it looks like: Known problems.
- Years differ here: from 117 to 503 complaints a year — compare them by model year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car.
Highlander problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer, or read the table.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi81% below | At 90k mi92% below | At 120k mi96% below | At 150k mi98% below | At 200k mi100% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 13,000–90,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 3,500–38,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 12,000–53,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 7,000–41,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 4,000–18,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Brakes | 6,500–42,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Body structure | 11,000–50,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Toyota Highlander 2014–2019 · 688 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Steps at bin edges (how to read it)
- 60,000 mi — 81% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 92% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 96% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 98% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 100% of reports below
- Median (the 50% line)
- Your odometer, once entered
Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
2014–2019 Toyota Highlander recalls (14)
NHTSA records 14 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).
The campaigns cluster around equipment (4), the fuel system (3), the electrical system (2) (why one area can repeat).
Nov 2020 · 2017–2019 · Fuel System, GasolineIf the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. 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…
What can happen. If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting…
Jan 2020 · 2018–2019 · Fuel System, GasolineIf the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. 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…
What can happen. If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service…
Mar 2019 · 2019 · EquipmentIf the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a…
The defect. Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling certain 2019 C-HR, 4Runner, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Sienna, Tundra and Yaris vehicles. The text on the load capacity label may become illegible.…
What can happen. If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact GST customer service at…
Apr 2018 · 2018 · Service Brakes, HydraulicA sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. 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…
What can happen. A sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake booster vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, or…
Dec 2017 · 2018 · EquipmentAn incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers…
Aug 2017 · 2017 · EquipmentThe roof rails may loosen and possibly detach from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the…
The defect. Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2017 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles equipped with accessory roof rail cross bars. The fasteners for the roof rails may not be torqued properly.
What can happen. The roof rails may loosen and possibly detach from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. GST will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and properly torque the fasteners, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2017. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074.…
May 2017 · 2017 · TiresA spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a…
The defect. Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not…
What can happen. A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States…
Oct 2016 · 2016 · Electrical SystemIf the brake fluid level is low and is not detected, the braking performance may be decreased, increasing the…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. If the brake fluid level is low and is not detected, the braking performance may be decreased, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. 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…
Jun 2016 · 2016 · EquipmentAn incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. 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…
What can happen. An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. 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…
Mar 2015 · 2015 · SteeringAn unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.
The defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid, and 2014-2015 RAV4 vehicles. A component of the electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have…
What can happen. An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number of the EPS ECU or steering column assembly. If the number is within the affected range, the EPS ECU will be replaced, free of…
Sep 2014 · 2014 · Fuel System, GasolineA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Toyota Avalon, Camry, Sienna, and Highlander and model year 2015 Lexus RX350 vehicles. Fuel may leak from the one of the fuel delivery pipes in the engine compartment.
What can happen. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace any of the suspect fuel delivery pipes free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at…
May 2014 · 2014 · SeatsIf the seat does not fully lock into the inboard seat track, the seat could move, increasing the risk of…
The defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander vehicles manufactured April 23, 2014, through April 29, 2014. The affected vehicles may have a second row right-hand seat assembly that does not fully lock into…
What can happen. If the seat does not fully lock into the inboard seat track, the seat could move, increasing the risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the second row right-hand seat, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer…
May 2014 · 2014 · Electrical SystemIn the event of a crash, a larger front passenger seat occupant may not be properly restrained and be at an…
The defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles may have improper software installed in the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) for the operation of the…
What can happen. In the event of a crash, a larger front passenger seat occupant may not be properly restrained and be at an increased risk of injury.
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a software update in the air bag electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer…
Feb 2014 · 2014 · Seat BeltsA seat belt that is not properly secured to its anchorage could increase the risk of injury to an occupant in…
The defect. Toyota is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander vehicles manufactured November 20, 2013, through January 18, 2014. The third row middle seat belt assembly might not have been properly secured to the vehicle floor anchorage during vehicle assembly. As…
What can happen. A seat belt that is not properly secured to its anchorage could increase the risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third row middle seat belt anchor, and, if necessary, properly secure it to the vehicle floor anchorage, free of charge. The recall is expected…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
Out of 1,501 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:
- Crashes
- 100 (6.7%)
- Fires
- 13
- Injury reports
- 69
- Fatality reports
- 1
Highlander problems by model year
The 2019 drew the most complaints of this generation, 503, most of them about the transmission and driveline, and the 2016 the fewest, 117. A typical year drew about 234.
That makes the 2019 stand out at roughly 2.1 times a typical year (what a yearly count can and cannot say).
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 138 | 95 | 35,000 | Electrical system (36) | 4 |
| 2015 | 196 | 126 | 30,000 | Electrical system (54) | 1 |
| 2016 | 117 | 77 | 25,000 | Brakes (22) | 2 |
| 2017 | 273 | 126 | 20,000† | Transmission and driveline (76) | 3 |
| 2018 | 274 | 116 | 16,000† | Transmission and driveline (69) | 4 |
| 2019 | 503 | 148 | 12,000† | Transmission and driveline (207) | 3 |
What Highlander owners reported
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a loud grinding and humming sound was heard intermittently from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a transmission failure and warned that the transmission could…
2019 · 65,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that driving the vehicle lost power and failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was an abnormal whining sound coming from the transmission and the vehicle lunged forward and unintendedly accelerated. The vehicle was taken…
2019 · 74,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, there was an audible chime followed by the message "Transmission Overheating". The vehicle started jerking and hesitating while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle. Due…
2018 · 130,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a whining sound coming from the engine compartment. Additionally, the vehicle experienced hard, rough, and jerky shifting. The check engine warning light illuminated later and the message "Traction Control Off"…
2019 · 80,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
Built from 688 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built
Other Highlander generations
- Highlander 2001–2007 1,633 reports with mileage, most about throttle and speed control
- Highlander 2008–2013 1,267 reports with mileage, most about the brakes
- Highlander 2020–2025 181 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline