Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

2015 Toyota Highlander: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2015 Toyota Highlander, most recently filed March 2015. Owners have filed 192 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. In NHTSA crash tests it earned 5 stars overall.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Compare

Recalls (1)

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2015 Toyota Highlander. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 2015 Toyota Highlander. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 15V144000 Filed Mar 13, 2015

Possible Loss of Electric Power Steering

Steering · electric power assist system
Official NHTSA text
Summary
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 been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, this damage may result in failure of the electric power steering system.
Consequence
An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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 charge. The recall began on May 7, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
91.6% repairedof 110,085 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 15V144000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (192)

192 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.

17involved a crash
6involved a fire
16injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2015 Toyota Highlander, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 192.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 2015 compares with other Highlander years

Best and worst Highlander years →
2011201220132014201520162017201820192020
This year (2015)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Crash tests: 5 stars overall

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crashDriver 4★ · Passenger 5★★★★★☆
Side crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 5★★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
RolloverRollover risk 18.5%★★★★☆
Front seat of a modern car with the seat belt buckled across the passenger seat
Compare fairly. Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Ratings apply to the tested configuration.

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2015 Toyota Highlander suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 28 mpg combined

28
mpg combined
28
city
28
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$2,400
CO₂ tailpipe
313 g/mi
EPA class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle

What it costs you to run

$2,333per year
$194per month
536gallons a year

Miles ÷ 28 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

2015 Toyota Highlander configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
3.5 L 6-cyl · AV-S6 CVTAll-Wheel Drive28 / 28 / 28$2,400313
2.7 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive20 / 25 / 22$3,050398
3.5 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive19 / 25 / 21$3,200425
3.5 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automaticAll-Wheel Drive18 / 24 / 20$3,350437

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 2015 Highlander for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All Highlander years

Where to next

2015 Toyota Highlander FAQ

How many recalls does the 2015 Toyota Highlander have?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 15V144000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 2015 Toyota Highlander problems?

Owners filed 192 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (52), Unknown or other (43), Structure (32) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 2015 Toyota Highlander get?

EPA rates the 3.5 L 6-cyl · AV-S6 CVT version at 28 city, 28 highway and 28 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

What safety rating did the 2015 Toyota Highlander get?

NHTSA rated the 2015 Toyota Highlander suv fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (18.5% rollover risk).

How does the 2015 Highlander compare with other years?

Among the 2011–2020 Toyota Highlander model years at least five years old, the 2016 drew the fewest complaints (111) and the 2019 the most (490). The 2015 drew 192. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
Was this report useful?Report a data error
My Garage
Save this car and we'll flag new recall campaigns next time you visit.