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#BS-2016-TOYHIG-6E032016 Toyota Highlander
Based on reports from 136 owners and 3 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Think Twice
Based on 136 complaints, 22 crashes, 1 fires, and 3 recalls.
Top reported problems
poor mpg
2 complaints • Severity 6/10
poor seat belt placement
2 complaints • Severity 6/10
mice eating wires
1 complaints • Severity 10/10
Preview: What's in your full report
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
19 owners reported brakes issues — failures commonly reported around 25K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (52 reports) • Median: 25K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Brakes (19 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2016 Toyota Highlander: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Brakes Issues
Brakes complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2016 Toyota Highlander, with 19 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 25,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 25K-mile mark.
Electrical Issues
Electrical complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2016 Toyota Highlander, with 14 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Wheels & Tires Issues
Wheels & Tires complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2016 Toyota Highlander, with 11 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to wheels & tires-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Airbags Issues
Airbags complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2016 Toyota Highlander, with 10 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2016 Toyota Highlander. Recent trend: decreasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (3 recalls)
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
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 requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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 requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
Fujian Wanda Automobile Glass Industry (Wanda) is recalling certain aftermarket Replacement Windshields sold for use in 2014-2018 Toyota Highlander vehicles. The windshields have an attached wire harness that water may leak into, possibly causing damage to the vehicle's Engine Control Module (ECM).
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
The worst model year for the Toyota Highlander is the 2003 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.
2016 Toyota Highlander vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD)
This vehicle
136
Class avg
449
Below the class average — fewer complaints than typical small sport utility vehicle 2wd vehicles. A good sign.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 136 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 3 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Toyota Highlander Model Years
2016 Toyota Highlander: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Toyota Highlander?
Is the 2016 Toyota Highlander reliable?
How much does it cost to fix 2016 Toyota Highlander problems?
Does the 2016 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
What mileage do Toyota Highlander problems start?
What’s in the full report?
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
How is this different from Carfax?
What if the report isn’t useful?
Get the Full 2016 Toyota Highlander Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 136 owner reports. Know before you buy.